After months of leaks and 4 public betas, Android 17 is lastly right here. Besides it isn’t, actually.
Ignoring the truth that non-Pixel Android cellphone homeowners can be ready months for the improve, Google’s newest version is about as half-baked because it will get.
Hours after the official announcement, I rushed to put in Android 17 on my Pixel 10 Professional XL, eager to expertise the thrilling new options that Google introduced final month.
However none of the great things is accessible but. In reality, except you’re an influencer, there’s not a lot that’s new right here in any respect.
When you have been contemplating being an early adopter, I truthfully wouldn’t hassle. For most individuals now, Android 17 is principally only a glorified safety replace.
The place are our brokers?
Forward of its occasion masking the way forward for Android final month, Google’s Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat teased the bulletins on X because the “Greatest. Android. Updates. Ever”.
Unsurprisingly, a big chunk of that occasion was devoted to Gemini Intelligence, its new imaginative and prescient for Android. It’ll supposedly remodel the way in which we work together with our telephones, permitting us at hand off key duties to AI brokers that’ll deal with all of the annoying admin within the background.
For most individuals now, Android 17 is principally only a glorified safety replace
So, it’s affordable to anticipate no less than one thing in a full, public launch of Android 17, proper? Unsuitable.
I’ve spent a good bit of time exploring Android 17, and thus far, I haven’t seen Gemini Intelligence talked about as soon as. Gemini continues to be right here, after all, however there’s no reference to these doubtlessly game-changing agentic AI options.
Gemini Intelligence is nowhere to be discovered
It’d assist if we truly had a agency launch date for Gemini Intelligence. All Google is saying is that “options will roll out in waves” and that Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy telephones can be prioritised.
As for once we’ll get all the brand new options that Google confirmed off final month, that’s anybody’s guess. However if you happen to’re putting in Android 17 now within the hope of getting a style of Gemini Intelligence, you’ll be bitterly disenchanted.
When is Pause Level getting the go-ahead?
I perceive that vast modifications akin to Gemini Intelligence take extra time, even when I want Google was extra clear about that. However I don’t get why an altogether extra primary Digital Wellbeing characteristic hasn’t made the minimize.
‘Pause Level’ is Google’s proposed intervention to scale back senseless cellphone use. Once you open an app that you simply deem to be distracting, you’ll want to attend for 10 seconds or shift to one thing that you simply’ve pre-defined as extra worthwhile.
Credit score: Google
It mimics the expertise of third-party apps akin to One Sec, about which there’s clear proof to assist its effectiveness.
As somebody with a eager curiosity in lowering scrolling time, I used to be excited to provide Pause Level a strive (even when I believe Google might’ve gone additional). Whereas Google’s imprecise “coming later this 12 months” wasn’t a affirmation that it’d launch alongside Android 17, it’s an actual disgrace to not see it right here.
A meagre replace
So, what’s truly new? Regardless of every thing that’s lacking, Google has no less than added some new options on this model.
As somebody who doesn’t use Instagram, I care about roughly none of that
For instance, the flexibility to lastly take away app labels from the house display creates a a lot cleaner appear and feel. Ditto for the much-requested splitting of Wi-Fi and cell knowledge toggles within the fast settings panel. These are extra a case of Pixel telephones catching as much as different Android handsets, nevertheless it’s nonetheless very welcome.
Foundry
You would possibly take into account ‘Bubbles’ to be an thrilling new characteristic. However the floating home windows that reside in conjunction with your show and encourage distraction are an irritation, at finest. To say they haven’t received me over in Android 17 could be an understatement.
Elsewhere, the one main new options are designed to enhance the Instagram expertise, particularly in terms of seize inside the app and AI modifying instruments. However as somebody who doesn’t use Instagram, I care about roughly none of that. Until you’re a critical poster, neither will you.
I might see myself utilizing Display screen Reactions, although, which lets you overlay video out of your selfie digicam on high of something in your cellphone – no inexperienced display required. However it requires a Google AI subscription to entry it. I don’t bear in mind listening to that when it was introduced.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Mainly, except you actually care about posting on Instagram or a few small high quality of life enhancements, Android 17 in its present type is immediately skippable. I ‘upgraded’ within the hopes of discovering game-changing options or fascinating hidden performance, however Google has saved issues to the naked minimal for now.
Android 17 might finally be nice however, proper now, it appears to be like and performs nearly precisely like Android 16.