Google announced Android 17 in 2026, bringing a set of new features to Pixel phones before rolling out to other Android devices. The update introduces floating “Bubble” app windows designed to make multitasking easier, a Screen Reaction recording mode, and a 50/50 split gaming mode aimed at foldable phones.
Alongside Android 17, Google released Wear OS 7, which adds Live Updates and improved battery life for smartwatches. The new platform also prepares devices to connect with Android XR smart glasses, which are set to launch later this fall.
The Android 17 rollout is beginning with Pixel phones first, with other devices to follow. Some features, including Gemini Intelligence, are not included in the initial release and are expected to debut later in the year.
The updates span Google’s broader device ecosystem — phones, smartwatches, and forthcoming XR hardware — and may signal how the company intends to link these platforms together going forward.
Source: The Verge