Samsung, Lenovo, and Microsoft are all planning foldables and tablets with the new OS.

Android 12.1 introduces a new taskbar user interface for tablets, dual-pane user interfaces for the notification panel and system settings, and a new recent apps view for larger screens. For standard-size screens, the smallest number of tweaks are included, such as the ability to disable Android 12's large lock-screen clock and a new UI for quickly selecting wallpaper.

If Google wishes to re-enter the tablet market, a few OS-level tweaks would be a good place to start. However, if Google truly wishes to succeed, it must update its apps to support dual-pane tablet interfaces.

Google has previously arranged company-wide Android releases. Google was ready when Android 12 introduced the new Material You design guidelines with updates for Gmail, Chrome, Play Store, YouTube Music, and Google Calendar. When Google decided that dark mode was a good idea, it updated all of its apps gradually.

Since tablets have become so popular, Google will need to make a similar push to get its employees excited about developing tablet apps. In the case of who makes the first move scenario of ecosystem development, you must first build the software before obtaining customer buy-in. Initially, the device numbers will be missing. When it was announced that Android 12L would ship with a slew of app updates, my expectations were raised.

The Android 12.1 release appears to be aimed at enabling Samsung and Lenovo to be ready for new tablet functionality by the end of the year. One of the tiniest Android releases in recent memory, it only includes the basics of the OS for tablets and not much else, as its name implies.

On two separate days in February, Google was releasing developer previews for Android 12L and Android 13. Samsung and Lenovo get the usual six months to get a new Android release out in time for the holidays by rushing the 12L features out the door now. It would be nice if there were some tablet apps available by then.