After months of leaks and four public betas, Android 17 is finally here. But it isn’t actually.
Ignoring the fact that non-Pixel Android phone owners will have to wait months for an upgrade, Google’s current version is about as half-baked as it gets.
Hours after the official release, I rushed to install Android 17 on my Pixel 10 Pro XL, eager to try out the exciting new features that Google unveiled last month.
However, none of the good stuff is available yet. In fact, unless you’re an influencer, there’s nothing particularly new here.
If you were considering being an early adopter, I honestly wouldn’t bother. For most people now, Android 17 is basically just a glorified security update.
Where are our agents?
Google’s Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat hyped the developments on X as the “Biggest. Android. Updates. Ever” ahead of last month’s event on the future of Android.
Unsurprisingly, much of the event focused on Gemini Intelligence, the company’s new vision for Android. It’s meant to change the way we interact with our phones by allowing us to delegate critical activities to AI agents who will perform all of the tedious administrative work in the background.
For most people now, Android 17 is basically just a glorified security update
So, it’s reasonable to anticipate at least something in a complete public release of Android 17, correct? Wrong.
I’ve spent a lot of time investigating Android 17, and I haven’t seen Gemini Intelligence referenced once. Gemini is still around, of course, but there is no mention of those potentially game-changing agentic AI characteristics.
It would be helpful if we had a set release date for Gemini Intelligence. Google is only saying that “features will roll out in waves” and that Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones will be prioritized.
It’s unclear when we’ll get all of the additional features that Google demonstrated last month. However, if you are installing Android 17 in the hopes of experiencing Gemini Intelligence, you will be disappointed.
When is Pause Point getting the go-ahead?
I understand that major improvements like Gemini Intelligence take time, even if I wish Google was more open about it. But I’m not sure why a far more basic Digital Wellbeing option didn’t make in.
“Pause Point” is Google’s proposed intervention to reduce thoughtless phone use. When you open a distracting app, you must wait 10 seconds before switching to something you’ve designated as more important.
It mirrors the experience of third-party programs like One Sec, which has strong data to back up its usefulness.
As someone who is interested in minimizing scrolling time, I was eager to experience Pause Point (even if I believe Google should have gone farther). While Google’s cryptic “coming later this year” did not confirm that it will be released alongside Android 17, it’s a shame it’s not here.
A meagre update
So, what’s actually new? Despite everything that’s missing, Google has at least added some new features in this version.
As someone who doesn’t use Instagram, I care about approximately none of that
For example, the ability to remove app labels from the home screen results in a considerably cleaner appearance and feel. Likewise, the much-requested separation of Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles in the quick settings panel. These are more examples of Pixel phones catching up with other Android cellphones, but they are still extremely welcome.
You might think of ‘Bubbles’ as an interesting new feature. However, the floating windows that appear on the side of your screen and invite distraction are, at best, an annoyance. To say they haven’t won me over with Android 17 is an understatement.
The only major new features are intended to improve the Instagram experience, particularly capturing within the app and AI editing tools. But, as someone who does not use Instagram, I am not very interested in any of this. Unless you’re a serious poster, I doubt you will.
I could see myself using Screen Reactions, which allows you to overlay video from your selfie camera on top of anything on your phone without utilizing a green screen. However, access is restricted to Google AI subscribers. I do not recall hearing it when it was announced.
Basically, unless you truly care about publishing on Instagram or a couple of minor quality-of-life enhancements, Android 17 in its current state is completely skippable. I ‘upgraded’ in the expectation of discovering game-changing improvements or intriguing secret capabilities, but Google has kept things to a bare minimum for now.
Android 17 could eventually be great but, right now, it looks and performs almost exactly like Android 16.
