// ARS TECHNICA — MOBILE & WEB
Android 17 starts hitting Pixel phones and watches today
Pixels will get their OTA in the coming weeks, but don’t expect monumental changes.
Android 17 has been in testing since early this year, with the final beta hitting devices just a couple of weeks ago. Insofar as a mature operating system like Android still has big days, this is one of them. The official Android 17 build is starting its rollout on Pixel phones, adding a small set of new features and laying the groundwork for the future. This release also coincides with a Pixel Drop and a new version of Wear OS (based on Android 17) on Pixel Watches.
Google no longer uses an unmodified version of Android on its phones—the Pixel build includes numerous features that are distinct from Android 17 itself. Other device makers will include versions of some of these features when they eventually update their phones, but for now, Google’s Pixel phones are the only way to experience Android 17.
The multitasking Bubbles system in Android 17 expands on a similar (but underutilized) messaging feature. In Android 17 on Pixels, you can long-press on any app icon to open that app as a floating window. When minimized, these bubbles stay on top of other apps. On foldable phones, the bubbles dock into a “bubble bar” for easy multitasking.
Google says this interface is ideal for quick multitasking or chatting with Gemini while looking at other content. We may see Bubbles appear on other smartphones as Android 17 rolls out more widely, but Google isn’t the first to implement such a system. Samsung has had a floating app framework for years and may not want to change how it works, but Motorola could benefit, as it makes fewer tweaks to Android.
Foldable phones are also getting a new gaming interface in Android 17. Stretching phone-optimized games to a more square foldable screen can often cause distortion and awkward control placement. The updated OS offers a new approach, or at least it will eventually. Version 17 introduces a 50-50 split interface that displays the game on top and a touchscreen controller at the bottom. If you leave the phone’s hinge at an angle, it makes the device look a bit like a real handheld game machine.
However, Google notes that foldable gaming mode will take a few more months to arrive on Android 17 devices. This isn’t the only feature the company is holding back. The anti-doomscrolling Pause Point that Google revealed a few weeks ago is also slated for release later in 2026.
The initial Android 17 release includes native screen reaction video support. You’ve probably seen these vertical clips on (or reposted from) TikTok or Instagram featuring a talking head overlaid on another video. This style of content has become so popular that Google is supporting it natively in Android 17. It’s built into screen recordings, so you can add yourself as an overlay to whatever is being displayed—no green screen required.
While many parts of Android 17 will be ignored or obscured when the OS expands beyond Google phones, the new security and safety features will be nearly universal. Android 17 keeps your personal data more private when apps request access. You can grant temporary location access to apps that request it, and software that needs to read your contacts can be limited to specific entries instead of the entire address book.
You’ll also have new protections in Android 17 if your phone grows legs and walks off. The improved “Mark as lost” feature in Find Hub can lock a missing phone with biometrics in addition to a passcode, so even a thief who can guess the code won’t get access. Android 17 reduces the number of allowed passcode guesses, too. There’s also a longer wait between failed attempts.