Google rolled out the initial Android 17 beta in February, and we got the Beta 3 build at the end of March, followed by Beta 4 in April, and the QPR1 Beta 2 build in May. Google showed off plenty of new features coming to Android at The Android Show ahead of I/O.
What's notable is that non-Google devices are now eligible to install the Android 17 beta, with Samsung, Honor, OPPO, Xiaomi and other manufacturers included in the Android beta program. That's great news if you want to see what the latest version of Android has to offer, but don't have a Pixel.
Google is going all-in on AI with the introduction of Gemini Intelligence, even stating that Android is becoming an "intelligence system." This will roll out to Pixel and recent Galaxy devices later this year, and has new features that leverage Gemini and on-device AI models.
Google says the latest Android 17 build has hit platform stability, so it should be safe to use if you're looking to install it on your daily driver. I've been using it on my Pixel 10 Pro XL and haven't run into any issues as such, but if you want to play it safe, I'd suggest waiting until the stable build rolls out.
Android 17 codename
Google doesn't have dessert codenames — that ended with Android 10 — but it still uses internal codenames with Android releases. Android 14 was Upside Down Cake, Android 15 was Vanilla Ice Cream, and with Android 16, Google switched over to Baklava, and Android 17 gets Cinnamon Bun as the codename.
Android 17 is getting Bubbles — again
Google is building out floating windows as a key feature within Android, and this will make a big difference if you're using a foldable. Android 17 gets a Bubbles windowed mode that lets you easily resize windows as needed, and this is a big shift from how multitasking works on Android.
Create My Widget is the best new Android 17 feature
Widgets have been around on Android for well over a decade, and Google is now leveraging the power of on-device AI to let you customize a widget to your own liking. Basically, you can now make a brand-new widget catered to your needs. Want a widget that combines an alarm with a clock showing two time zones? You can easily set that up in Android 17.
The flexibility this offers is exciting to say the least, and as someone who has wasted a lot of time trying to set up widgets just the right way, I can't wait to start creating my own.
Rambler will make you want to use dictation
Dictation is pretty decent, but I don't use the feature as it's prone to mistakes, which means I then have to go in and correct the transcribed text. With Rambler, Google is set to roll out much better transcribing, and the feature aims to cut out filler words, providing a polished transcription instantly.
The best part is that the feature is just as usable if you're a multilingual household. We talk English, Telugu, and Hindi at home, and being able to use dictation instead of writing out messages sounds exciting.
Android 17 gets a new design — just don't call it Liquid Glass
Android 17 will see a tweaked design of its UI that's meant to mimic a frosted glass look, similar to what iOS has with Liquid Glass. As other Android brands have emulated this design already, it shouldn't look too different to what the iPhone 17 Pro offers, and given that Google's visual aesthetic doesn't stray beyond Pixels, this shouldn't affect the broader device ecosystem — if you're not a fan of the new UI.
Android 17 release date
Google switched up its Android strategy with Android 16; instead of releasing the stable build at the end of Q3 or early Q4, it introduced the release in Q2. Ostensibly, this is to ensure that devices launching in the fall — including the Pixel 10 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 — debut with the latest Android build instead of getting the update later in the year.
Android 17 is following a similar pattern. Google notes that the stable build will hit in Q2, with a minor release that includes new features and additional stability tweaks rolling out in Q4.
The stable build should roll out in June, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11 slated to be the first devices that run Android 17 out of the box. Considering the changes to the visual design and the new features, Android 17 is turning out to be quite the interesting update, and we don't have to wait too long to get our hands on the stable build.
