Android 17 expected release date, supported devices and must-know features

Table of Contents

What we know so far

Android 17 is still a few months away, Google usually announces the stable version of its mobile operating system at the Google I/O event, and this traditionally happens in May. However, the company has now replaced the traditional developer preview version with the Android Canary channel, offering continuous early builds throughout the year.That’s why, even though it’s still February, we have some hints about the new features and changes Android 17 will bring along. These include the new Material 3 Expressive UI visual overhaul that’s expected to go live on Android phones with Android 17, after Google delivered it to Pixel phones with the Android 16 QPR1 update.This new look features natural-feeling animations, new icon shapes and fonts, blur effects, new color themes, and a new look for many Google apps. In this article we’ll summarize everything we know about Android 17, all the new expected features, the beta versions, and the official release date, as well as which phones will get the new OS first.

Jump to:

Android 17 expected release date

There’s no official release date for Android 17 at the moment, but if we extrapolate from previous years, we should expect the announcement to happen at the Google I/O conference in May, and the stable release to start rolling out to Pixel phones sometime around June, 2026.

Android’s usual roadmap | Image by Android Developers

Even though Google changed the scheme, offering continuous software preview through its Android Canary channel instead of rolling out developer previews at fixed points, the schedule for Beta releases will most likely remain unchanged.

Android 17 codename

Another sweet name for Android 17 | Image by Horizon Organic”&nbsp

Google doesn’t do official codenames for its Android releases anymore, but these monikers can still be found throughout the code and in internal documents. Our friends at Android Authority dug into the November Canary Android release and found a piece of code, suggesting the next Android 17 version will be called “Cinnamon Bun.”

The name Cinnamon Bun can be found in the November Canary release | Image by Android Authority

This pretty much confirms the codename for the next Google mobile OS, though things could always change in the last minute. Cinnamon Bun makes a lot of sense, because the last version was called Baklava, and we know Google likes to do things alphabetically. Another suggestion was Cupcake, but it was already used for Android 1.5 version back in 2009.

Android 17 eligible devices

We’re still some time away from the first Android 17 Beta, so there’s no downloads available on any phone (unless you’re a developer and get early previews from the Canary page). However, the first Beta preview, and the stable release we’re expecting in June will, as always, arrive first on Google’s own Pixel brand of devices.

Android 17 OTAs and downloads will be available first on the following Pixel devices:

After the stable Android 17 starts rolling out to Pixels in June 2026, other popular flagships will start getting it. This depends mainly on the said companies, as they need to tailor Google’s OS to their specific needs and tweak their UIs. Expect the Samsung Galaxy S26 series to be getting Android 17 shortly after the Pixel phones, as well as the next Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 foldables that are launching this summer.

Android 17 features

Material 3 Expressive already landed on Pixel phones | Image by Google

Google has already announced some new features that are going to find their way to Android 17, including the new Intrusion Logging and Vulkan 1.4 support. There’s also a comprehensive list of features that will be carried over from the two Android 16 QPR versions.

Finally, there’s the Material 3 Expressive that’s already live on Pixel phones but this visual overhaul will be rolled out to other Android phones with Android 17. You can find more about Material 3 Expressive in our dedicated article.

Features that will carry over from Android 16 QPR1:

Material 3 Expressive
Desktop Mode and related changes
Live Updates
Less intrusive phone call notifications
Recents screen changes
Quicker swiping in Recents
Improvements to Factory Reset Protection
Customizable keyboard shortcuts

Features from Android 16 QPR2:

Auto-themed icons
Expanded Dark theme
Low light mode
Enhanced HDR brightness
Disable background blur
Organized Sound Settings
Ambient Always On Display: Blurred wallpaper on lock screen
Lock screen widgets
90:10 split-screen multitasking on phones
Built-in Parental Controls
Identity Check expands to apps and watches
Secure Lock Device
Disable Failed Authentication Lock
Time zone change notification
Updated UI for sideloading apps
Graphical app support in the Linux Terminal
Enhanced support for touchpads and mice

New Android 17 features:

Intrusion Logging
Better app adaptability
Vulkan 1.4 support and mandatory ANGLE support

Android 17 beta preview

If you find these features exciting and you can’t wait to try them, there’s a way to do this. You have to opt in the Android Beta and enroll, then check if your phone qualifies for the program by logging into your Google Account.

You need a Pixel device to get the Beta releases directly, but if you’re handy with downloading and booting your own images, you can get the Betas from the Android Developers site (although we don’t recommend it).

The first public Android 17 Beta is expected to roll out in early February, so stay tuned.

Read the latest from Mariyan Slavov

link