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ZDNET key takeaways
- Android 17 will drop sometime in June 2026.
- This new release is all about adding polish.
- Listed here are known, rumored, and wishlist features.
It's that time of year when Android users (and pundits) start wondering what's in the next release. Well, the good news is that Google has already announced some of the features, which are carry-overs from Android 16 QPR1 and Android 16 QPR2. This approach means that these features are in quarterly drops, often targeted at Pixel users, and may eventually reach other devices.
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Let's take a look at what Google has announced, what is rumored to be included, and what I'd like to see in Android 17.
Google-announced features
According to Android Authority, the following QPR1 carry-over features will find their way into Android 17:
- Material 3 Expressive for non-Pixel phones.
- Desktop Mode will finally display a taskbar and status bar, and many other features. There will also be customizable keyboard shortcuts when in desktop mode.
- Live Updates are capable of displaying updates to real-time events, such as ride-share arrivals and food deliveries.
- Improvements to Factory Reset Protection that restrict all functionality on phones and tablets that have been reset without owner authorization.
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As far as the QPR2 carry-over features, the list is a bit longer:
- Auto-themed icons
- Expanded dark theme
- Low-light mode
- Enhanced HDR brightness
- Disable background blur
- 90:10 split-screen multitasking on phones
- Built-in parental controls
- Identity Check will expand to apps and watches
- Secure Lock Device, which is a new system-level security state
- The ability to disable the Failed Authentication Lock feature
- Timezone change notification
- An updated interface for sideloading apps
- GUI app support in the Linux…