Android 17 Is Shaping Up To Be A Big Win For Pixel Users - But I Still Want These Features

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ZDNET cardinal takeaways

• Android 17 will 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 nan adjacent release. Well, nan bully news is that Google has already announced immoderate of nan features, which are carry-overs from Android 16 QPR1 and Android 16 QPR2. This attack intends 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 nan personification experience

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

Google-announced features

According to Android Authority, nan pursuing QPR1 carry-over features will find their measurement into Android 17:

• Material 3 Expressive for non-Pixel phones.
• Desktop Mode will yet show a taskbar and position bar, and galore different features. There will besides beryllium customizable keyboard shortcuts erstwhile successful desktop mode.
• Live Updates are tin 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 nan QPR2 carry-over features, nan 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 will grow to apps and watches
• Secure Lock Device, which is simply a caller system-level information state
• The expertise to disable nan Failed Authentication Lock feature
• Timezone alteration notification
• An updated interface for sideloading apps
• GUI app support successful nan Linux Terminal

Also: Two caller Android 16 information features protect you amended - really to move them connected now

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

Rumored features

One of nan biggest rumored changes I've heard whispered astir successful various quiet corners of nan 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 nan cloud). But really would that alteration use users?

Also: I replaced Google Chrome pinch a free section browser connected my Pixel, and I'd salary bully money 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 lead to improved notification summaries, amended reply suggestions, and moreover 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 will 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 nan Google Play Store - and why that's important

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

The aforesaid article 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 nan fixed Always On Display that Android users are accustomed to.

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

Also: The secrets that make Pixel 10 Pro nan 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 for illustration a brighter, much expressive type of Android 16." To that end, they propose nan upgrade mightiness see smoother multitasking, much reactive widgets, tighter privateness controls, amended artillery optimizations, and further Al features, each of which will lend to longer runtimes and amended wide instrumentality behavior.

What I'd for illustration to see

1. Notification Shade issue

One of nan first things I'd for illustration to spot connected Android 17 isn't a caller characteristic but a hole for a problem that I've knowledgeable connected respective occasions. Sometimes, erstwhile a telephone comes done connected my Pixel 9 Pro, I spell to pat Answer, and nan Notification Shade comes down instead, blocking maine from being capable to answer.

2. Improved sound control

Android sound power has ever felt a spot chaotic. I mightiness shut up nan sound connected my device, and yet immoderate sounds (such arsenic autoplay connected websites) will still play. I would for illustration to spot Android 17 see a "global sound mute" option. Tap nan Quick Settings Tile, and each sound is automatically muted. Yes, you tin group up a Do Not Disturb for this issue, but I've knowledgeable situations wherever sounds break done that barrier.

3. Selfie camera access

I spot immoderate apps wrong Android's backstage abstraction because I don't want group to entree my communications. The 1 point that's bothered maine from time 1 of that characteristic is nan inability to usage nan selfie camera. Let's opportunity I spot Zoom successful nan backstage space. If I return that approach, I tin only usage nan front-facing camera. I would emotion to spot Google adhd nan expertise to usage nan selfie camera wrong nan backstage space.

4. Personalized junk

Simply put, I would emotion it if news didn't require personalization. As it stands, I person astir of nan personalization bits turned disconnected because I for illustration my privacy. However, arsenic I've taken this stance, it feels for illustration Google is punishing maine by displaying aged aliases unimportant news successful Google Discover. There mightiness beryllium a awesome header that I miss, simply because I don't want Google to person entree to each of my information.

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

This rumor needs to beryllium fixed. For instance, if I region each personalization, Google Discover should default to awesome headlines. I should besides beryllium capable to specify nan sources, and past nan apical headlines from only those sources will appear.

Expected merchandise date

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

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