Since Google abandoned the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL after the launch of Android 12 this year, thanks to the amazing developer community, Pixel 2 owners can still get the new Android 12 on their smartphones via a custom ROM. Android 11 was the last official version of Google’s smartphone OS available for the Pixel 2 XL, meaning users will miss out on Android 12’s visual overhaul along with Material You, a color-based theme system, a privacy panel, improved widgets, and more. While the hardware of these two phones is sufficient, Google chose not to let Pixel 2 owners get a taste of Android 12, but now at least a few Pixel 2 XLs are likely running ProtonAOSP .12.0.0 based on Android 12..
ProtonAOSP is a custom ROM created by XDA senior member Danny Lin, also known as kdrag0n. He is also credited with creating an open source version of the Material You theme system for Android 12. He came up with this ProtonAOSP build for the Pixel 2 XL. While a standalone build for the Pixel 2 is currently not available, XDA developers have mentioned that it will be available very soon.
ProtonAOSP Unveils Android 12 for Pixel 2 XL
Based on Android 12, this ProtonAOSP build has quite a few things right so users don’t have to worry about breaking core functionality. On this custom ROM, the Cellular Radio Interface Layer (RIL), camera, GPS, Bluetooth, and fingerprint reader are reported to work fine. However, the encryption is not working right now and SELinux is set to allow. However, users can give it a try if they have a Pixel 2 XL, as essentials including cellular radio and camera work just fine with this ROM. However, users may experience problems when connecting to Wi-Fi with this ROM. Here are some screenshots, just in case anyone wants to take a look.
Trying out this ROM is also not that difficult as users just need to flash the ROM as a factory image via fastboot mode. Well, at least it sounds easy to me, but rest assured that you may have to re-partition and wipe internal storage during the installation process, so if you are going to try the new ProtonAOSP on your Pixel 2 XL, follow this leadership. and see everything in this thread, otherwise we are not responsible for locked devices, dead sd cards, thermonuclear war or you get fired due to alarm app crash.