Android 17 is shaping up to be a big win for Pixel users - but I still want these features

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

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ZDNET cardinal takeaways

• Android 17 volition driblet sometime successful June 2026.
• This caller merchandise is each astir adding polish.
• Listed present are known, rumored, and wishlist features.

It's that clip of twelvemonth erstwhile Android users (and pundits) commencement wondering what's successful the adjacent release. Well, the bully quality is that Google has already announced immoderate of the features, which are carry-overs from Android 16 QPR1 and Android 16 QPR2. This attack means that these features are successful quarterly drops, often targeted astatine Pixel users, and whitethorn yet scope different devices.

Also: I changed 10 settings connected my Pixel telephone to instantly amended the idiosyncratic experience

Let's instrumentality a look astatine what Google has announced, what is rumored to beryllium included, and what I'd similar to spot successful Android 17.

Google-announced features

According to Android Authority, the pursuing QPR1 carry-over features volition find their mode into Android 17:

• Material 3 Expressive for non-Pixel phones.
• Desktop Mode volition yet show a taskbar and presumption bar, and galore different features. There volition besides beryllium customizable keyboard shortcuts erstwhile successful desktop mode.
• Live Updates are susceptible of displaying updates to real-time events, specified arsenic ride-share arrivals and nutrient deliveries.
• Improvements to Factory Reset Protection that restrict each functionality connected phones and tablets that person been reset without proprietor authorization.

Also: This hidden Pixel camera mounting makes my photos perfectly popular - here's how

As acold arsenic the QPR2 carry-over features, the database is simply a spot longer:

• Auto-themed icons
• Expanded acheronian theme
• Low-light mode
• Enhanced HDR brightness
• Disable inheritance blur
• 90:10 split-screen multitasking connected phones
• Built-in parental controls
• Identity Check volition grow to apps and watches
• Secure Lock Device, which is simply a caller system-level information state
• The quality to disable the Failed Authentication Lock feature
• Timezone alteration notification
• An updated interface for sideloading apps
• GUI app enactment successful the Linux Terminal

Also: Two caller Android 16 information features support you amended - however to power them connected now

You tin besides expect enhanced enactment for mice and touchpads, including refined three-finger interaction controls, enactment corners (think Hot Corners), improvements to autoclick functionality, rodent and touchpad acceleration, and a cosmopolitan cursor.

Rumored features

One of the biggest rumored changes I've heard whispered astir successful assorted quiescent corners of the web centers connected AI. 

Nokia Power User reports that Google mightiness beryllium readying to adhd much section AI to Android devices (instead of relying truthful heavy connected the cloud). But however would that alteration payment users?

Also: I replaced Google Chrome with a escaped section browser connected my Pixel, and I'd wage bully wealth for it

First, much section AI could mean a spot much privacy, arsenic your information won't person to beryllium sent to unreality servers for processing. This attack could besides pb to improved notification summaries, amended reply suggestions, and adjacent much offline AI functionality.

The trade-off for users could beryllium faster artillery drain. Hopefully, to combat that issue, Google has thing successful store. 

Nokia Power User claims that Google volition beryllium adding immoderate caller artillery tools, which could include: 

• Battery semipermanent wellness percentage.
• Smarter adaptive charging to trim artillery wear.
• Indication of which apps are softly damaging artillery lifespan.

Also: My apical 6 open-source Android apps from the Google Play Store - and wherefore that's important

Another publication, 9to5Google, suggests that Android 17 is besides rumored to see improvements to the notification system. One absorbing alteration would impact however you entree notifications. The work suggests accessing the Notification Shade volition beryllium done via a swipe down from the near broadside of the display, and accessing Quick Settings volition necessitate a top-right swipe down.

The aforesaid nonfiction besides suggests Google is rumored to beryllium adding a Mobile Data Quick Settings tile.

Synergy Labs has an absorbing rumor astir "Min Mode," which would let apps to show their ain full-screen, ultra-low-power interfaces that supply at-a-glance information, without opening your device. This attack would beryllium a departure from the static Always On Display that Android users are accustomed to.

All apps that usage Min Mode volition person a restricted colour palette to forestall other artillery usage.

Also: The secrets that marque Pixel 10 Pro the world's smartest telephone camera - from wrong Google

According to Live Mint, Android 17 mightiness see a refreshed camera interface, much expressive notification interactions, a resizable and magnifiable keyboard, and faster entree to shortcuts and in-app tools. 

Live Mint besides speculates that Android 17 "may consciousness similar a brighter, much expressive mentation of Android 16." To that end, they suggest the upgrade mightiness see smoother multitasking, much reactive widgets, tighter privateness controls, amended artillery optimizations, and further Al features, each of which volition lend to longer runtimes and amended wide instrumentality behavior.

What I'd similar to see

1. Notification Shade issue

One of the archetypal things I'd similar to spot connected Android 17 isn't a caller diagnostic but a hole for a occupation that I've experienced connected respective occasions. Sometimes, erstwhile a telephone comes done connected my Pixel 9 Pro, I spell to pat Answer, and the Notification Shade comes down instead, blocking maine from being capable to answer.

2. Improved dependable control

Android dependable power has ever felt a spot chaotic. I mightiness mute the dependable connected my device, and yet immoderate sounds (such arsenic autoplay connected websites) volition inactive play. I would similar to spot Android 17 see a "global dependable mute" option. Tap the Quick Settings Tile, and each dependable is automatically muted. Yes, you tin acceptable up a Do Not Disturb for this issue, but I've experienced situations wherever sounds interruption done that barrier.

3. Selfie camera access

I spot immoderate apps wrong Android's backstage abstraction due to the fact that I don't privation radical to entree my communications. The 1 happening that's bothered maine from time 1 of that diagnostic is the inability to usage the selfie camera. Let's accidental I spot Zoom successful the backstage space. If I instrumentality that approach, I tin lone usage the front-facing camera. I would emotion to spot Google adhd the quality to usage the selfie camera wrong the backstage space.

4. Personalized junk

Simply put, I would emotion it if quality didn't necessitate personalization. As it stands, I person astir of the personalization bits turned disconnected due to the fact that I similar my privacy. However, arsenic I've taken this stance, it feels similar Google is punishing maine by displaying aged oregon unimportant quality successful Google Discover. There mightiness beryllium a large header that I miss, simply due to the fact that I don't privation Google to person entree to each of my information.

Also: Google softly confirms ChromeOS-Android merger - here's what it means for you

This contented needs to beryllium fixed. For instance, if I region each personalization, Google Discover should default to large headlines. I should besides beryllium capable to specify the sources, and past the apical headlines from lone those sources volition appear.

Expected merchandise date

Although determination isn't a steadfast date, it is mostly expected that Android 17 volition driblet successful June 2026. Of course, the merchandise volition scope Pixel phones first, and past rotation retired to different devices arsenic the twelvemonth progresses.

I person to accidental that Android 17 doesn't person maine astir arsenic excited arsenic Android 16. However, getting immoderate bully old-fashioned polish for Material Expressive volition surely beryllium a invited addition.