Google released the first beta of Android 17 on Wednesday. This update introduces performance improvements and new ways to add features to media and camera applications. A significant change is how developers will access new APIs and features of the latest version. Google is moving away from traditional developer betas and adopting a continuous Canary channel for updates, similar to its approach with the Chrome browser.
This new method means features and APIs become available to developers as soon as they pass internal testing. The Canary channel supports over-the-air updates, offering developers more integrated workflows and improved methods for testing their apps.
Google is targeting March for platform stability, with the full release of Android 17 planned for the second quarter of 2026. Last year, with Android 16, Google shifted to a two-release annual structure. This includes a major SDK release in the first half of the year and a minor SDK release in the second half. The goal is to give device makers more time to roll out updates quickly, thereby reducing fragmentation across the Android ecosystem.
Android 17 will enforce resizing restrictions on developers. They will no longer be able to opt out, which prevents forcing orientation or resizing on large-screen devices. This is Google’s effort to ensure more apps work properly on tablets and foldables across various orientations and window sizes.
The update also expands camera capabilities. New APIs will allow developers to manage camera transitions more smoothly, and there is added support for the VVC video codec. Android 17 improves audio handling by maintaining consistent volume across apps and imposing stricter controls on background audio.
Performance enhancements include decreased missed frames and a better garbage collection mechanism for memory management. Connectivity improvements feature better Wi-Fi proximity detection and more secure peer discovery.