I've just been 'forced' to upgrade to Android 12 on my Xperia 1 III. I wasn't warned that this would change my OS version. It looked like a normal update.
The bad news is that Android 12 has some terrible new design features. I suggest avoiding it as long a possible.
The Quick Settings UI now only has four big buttons when first opened and requires more interactions to do the same things I was doing yesterday.
Google Pay has been removed from the power button long press. It is now in the Quick Settings panel. Yesterday I could unlock the phone and then long press to bring up Google Pay. It took 1 hand and 2 interactions to pay for something. Now I have to unlock the phone, slide down the Quick Settings twice and then select Google Pay. That is 4 interactions and 2 hands. It is such a stupid change that I'm a bit lost for words!!!
The UI also has big rounded corners on it now. WTH. Part of the reason I chose an Xperia 1 III was the very tight corner radius and the lack of a notch. Maximal use of space without pointless design flourishes. You guys stuck to your design guns but now that is being taken away.
The absolute worst change is an overscrolling stretch effect across the entire UI. Basically the whole screen distorts when you reach the top or bottom of a page. It is absolutely maddening and makes me feel motion sick. There is no option to turn it off.
I know that that you guys aren't responsible for Android but we need more warning about what changes will happen when we update our phones. We also need a way to roll back, in a relatively pain free way, to a previous version if things go badly like they have today. If these outrageously stupid design decisions by the Android team aren't addressed in an update soon, and I can't get Android 11 back on the phone without a lot of trouble, I think I'll just sell this phone Xperia 1 III and buy a new iPhone 13 Pro Max. That is how disturbed I am by this whole Android 12 thing! My last handful of phones have been Sony. I refused to buy a phone that either had a notch or lacked a headphone jack but if I have to switch I will dive in and embrace it. The thing is I'm always rooting for Sony phones. I recommend your phones to tons of people and passionately explain what makes them so good. I want you guys to do well. Stupid Android design choices are making hurts not only you guys but the whole Android side of the phone industry too. Have a word with them please.
