For the power user running an Android 12L custom ROM, is arguably the "Goldilocks" solution. It is not so minimal that you lose Pixel-specific features like the launcher and wallpapers, but it is light enough to fit on almost any device without storage errors.
NikGapps is a popular open-source GApps package that breaks Google apps into modular builds. The variant includes only the bare essentials: nikgapps core android 12l
Installing NikGApps Core on Android 12L is a relatively straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide: For the power user running an Android 12L
| Feature | NikGapps Core | MindTheGapps | Open GApps (Pico) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | ✅ Excellent (Active) | ✅ Very Good | ❌ Poor (Deprecated) | | File Size | ~110 MB | ~150 MB | ~140 MB | | OTA Survival Script | ✅ Yes (addon.d v3) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | | Modular Addons | ✅ 40+ addons | ❌ None | ❌ None | | Installation Speed | Fast | Moderate | Slow | The variant includes only the bare essentials: Installing
Android 12L (codename Android12L , build SQ3A.220705.003.Ax ) was released to bridge the gap between phone-centric Android 12 and the growing tablet/foldable market. Key 12L features include: