- The first beta of Android 17 is now available
- Includes improvements for large screen devices and performance optimizations.
- It also includes some interface changes and allows you to finally remove the At a Glance widget.
After a brief delay, the first beta of Android 17 has arrived, and while it’s not as feature-packed as some versions of Android, there are some changes here that could prove extremely significant.
Most of the biggest changes are things we already knew we’d expect, including Google preventing developers from opting out of guidance and resizing app requirements. This is a change that might frustrate some app developers, but it should ensure that apps look much better on large-screen devices like tablets and the best foldable phones.
The other major change here is one that’s not visible but should be noticed, as the company has worked to improve the performance of Android phones, including adding a new “generational garbage collection” system, which should reduce the load on the CPU and decrease memory usage.
Additionally, as expected, this beta also includes smoother camera transitions, with new pro-grade camera APIs aimed at preventing freezes and stutters when switching between lenses.
In addition to these expected changes, the first beta version of Android 17 also has some surprises, spotted by Android Central.
These include a slimmer design for the home screen search bar and the ability to change the AI Mode shortcut for other options, such as one for translations, one for the weather, one for a dictionary, and many others, as you can see in the screenshots above.
Any shortcut you choose will now also be located inside the search bar, rather than next to it, although unfortunately you can only replace the AI Mode shortcut, not the voice search or Google Lens ones next to it.
Another appreciated change is that you can now finally remove the At a Glance widget, and there’s a setting in the volume panel, which now includes a settings icon at the bottom, to quickly take you to the volume settings screen. And speaking of volume, it’s now been standardized for a more consistent listening experience across applications.
That’s all in terms of what’s been unearthed so far, but it’s possible that other features or changes are still hidden in the beta, or that future betas may have more changes.
If you want to try these new features for yourself, as long as you have a Google Pixel 6 or later you can do so. Simply head to the Android beta program site, sign in with your Google account, and select the Pixel device you want to install the beta on.
Then, on your phone, head to Settings > System > Software Updates and install the beta from there, though keep in mind that it might have more bugs than full versions of Android.
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