Google just issued beta 2 of Android 7.1.2 and as always the case the first recipients are the tech giant's signature devices namely the current flagship Pixel and Pixel XL phones, the Nexus 5X and 6P, the Nexus Player and the Pixel C tablet. These devices will soon jump to build NPG47I of the Android Nougat OS.

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This was announced by Googler Orrin Hancock, WCCFTech reported, adding that Android 7.1.2 will likely be made public at the start of April. The same report said that while 7.1.2 will come first to Nexus and Pixel devices, the OS update will provide a glimpse of the massive new features that most Android devices will eventually get a taste of.

Cases in point are the fingerprint gesture and the swipe down notification that were first seen with the Pixel phones and the LG-made Nexus 5X (the latter in the most recent OS upgrade). The same features will soon become official for the Nexus 6P (assembled by Huawei) and eventually to other Android-based mobile devices.

Other notable changes include the new multitasking menu for the Pixel C and the "Powered by Android" boot screen text for the Pixel and Pixel XL, which 9to5Google said are among of key cosmetic changes and feature bumps. Again, these enhancements are expected to soon find their way on branded Android smartphones and tablets.

Also, 9to5Google noted on its report that Android 7.1.2 highlighted Google's promise of security patch for March, which is in line with the regular maintenance schedule for the Google mobile OS. Of note is that while the patch deployment is supposedly happening every month, this latest bump came a bit late.

For those in the Android Beta Program, the 323.2MB-heavy update file is ready to access but for the rest of the Stock Android crowd the update will only go live at the start of April at the earliest, as mentioned above.

The usual update route for Android 7.1.2 will be Nexus and Pixel devices will get the first taste then OEMs and devices locked on service providers will their crack on the new Android sweet. But in most cases, many Android-based devices will simply skip the later Nougat versions and go straight to the next Android or version 8.0.

That likely will be Android Oreo that is expected to get introduced this coming May via the Google I/O 2017. The same OS will be firing up the Pixel 2 models that likely are scheduled for release date on October 2017.