Is your smartphone eligible for the Android 17 update?
Google has started the rollout with Pixel devices.
Image by Bangla press | Shutterstock
Google has started the rollout with Pixel devices.
- Google has launched Android 17, starting with Pixel smartphones and smartwatches.
- Notable new features include Bubbles, enhanced screen recording, and improved gaming interface.
- The update adds enhanced security features, including temporary location sharing, biometric locking, Live Threat Detection to block suspicious apps, and more.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Google has released Android 17, starting the software update rollout with Pixel smartphones and smart watches.
Other Android-based models should receive the updated software throughout the year, the company noted.
“Select advanced devices” will also get Gemini Intelligence sometime this summer.
What are the new Android 17 features?
One of the new features in Android 17 is Bubbles, which lets users turn any app into a “floating window” that can be accessed anywhere while using other apps.
Another feature focuses on users who create content. Google has updated its screen recording feature with Screen Reactions, which lets users record themselves while capturing the phone screen.
The new software update also brings fresh security features. For example, users can provide their device with temporary access to their location to share it with certain contacts.
The “Mark as Lost” feature lets users lock their smartphone with biometrics if it's stolen or lost. Even if the thief has the code to unlock the device, they’ll still be unable to access the device's information or disable location tracking.
Strong password generator
Another security-related feature is Live Threat Detection, which blocks suspicious apps and scams.
Android 17 also comes with a new gaming interface for foldable phones. The new update includes an optimized 50/50 layout with the game view on top and the gamepad below. This feature will be available in the coming months, the company announced.
Considering the ongoing RAM shortage, Android 17 also includes “app memory limits to ensure apps never use too much RAM, helping improve your device’s overall performance and battery life.”
The company has also recently added a new privacy-related indicator, a blue dot, that warns users when their location is being tracked by an app. The blue dot is an addition to another 2 indicators, the green and the orange dots, that show when apps have access to the device’s camera and microphone.
What do users think of the Android 17 update?
The release of Android 17 sparked online discussion, with some eagerly awaiting the update and others not placing much weight on the changes.
“Whoo hoo...unnoticeable ‘upgrades,’” wrote one Redditor.
“[...] I must not know how to phone or something, because these OS updates have been very underwhelming for years,” shared another user.
“At least to me, they have. I just think we've reached such a high level with these things that there isn't much left that needs to be improved.”
Many Android users were waiting for an update to improve their device’s battery life. That should be settled with the new software update, which focuses not only on new features but also bug fixes and improvements.
“No [...] download option yet. I want a fixed battery goddamnit!” wrote one user, with more users adding that they hope the new software update will be able to fix the issue.
Unlock more exclusive Cybernews content on YouTube.