After months of speculation and four public beta versions, Android 17 has officially arrived. However, its release is somewhat underwhelming.
While owners of non-Pixel Android phones may have to wait several months for the update, Googleâs latest version feels incomplete.
Shortly after the official announcement, I eagerly installed Android 17 on my Pixel 10 Pro XL, hoping to explore the new features Google introduced last month.
Unfortunately, the much-anticipated features are not yet available. In fact, unless youâre an influencer, there is little that is genuinely new.
If youâre thinking about being an early adopter, I would advise against it. For most users, Android 17 is essentially just a security update with little else to offer.
Where are our agents?
Prior to its event focusing on Androidâs future last month, Googleâs Android Ecosystem President, Sameer Samat, announced on X that these would be the âBiggest. Android. Updates. Everâ.
As expected, a significant portion of the event highlighted Gemini Intelligence, Googleâs new vision for Android. This initiative is intended to revolutionize phone interaction, enabling AI agents to manage tedious tasks in the background.
For most people now, Android 17 is basically just a glorified security update
One would expect at least some of these features in the public release of Android 17, but that isnât the case.
Having spent considerable time examining Android 17, I havenât found any mention of Gemini Intelligence. While Gemini is still a part of the system, the groundbreaking AI features are notably absent.
Gemini Intelligence is nowhere to be found
It would be helpful if Google provided a definitive release date for Gemini Intelligence. Currently, Google states that âfeatures will roll out in waves,â with priority given to Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones.
The timeline for the new features showcased last month remains unclear. If youâre installing Android 17 expecting to experience Gemini Intelligence, prepare for disappointment.
When is Pause Point getting the go-ahead?
I understand that significant changes like Gemini Intelligence require time, although I wish Google was more upfront about this. However, Iâm puzzled as to why a simpler Digital Wellbeing feature hasnât been included.
âPause Pointâ is Googleâs proposed solution for curbing mindless phone usage. When you open a distracting app, youâll need to wait 10 seconds or switch to a pre-defined more productive activity.
Credit: Google
This mirrors third-party apps like One Sec, which have demonstrated effectiveness.
As someone keen to reduce screen time, I was eager to try Pause Point (though I think Google could have done more). Googleâs vague âcoming later this yearâ wasnât a promise that it would launch with Android 17, but itâs disappointing not to see it included.
A meagre update
So, what does Android 17 actually bring? Despite the missing features, Google has introduced some new elements in this update.
As someone who doesnât use Instagram, I care about approximately none of that
One such feature is the ability to remove app labels from the home screen, providing a cleaner aesthetic. Additionally, the separation of Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles in the quick settings panel is a welcome change, aligning Pixel phones more closely with other Android devices.
âBubblesâ might seem like an exciting addition, but the floating windows that sit at the screenâs edge are more distracting than useful. To say Iâm unimpressed by them in Android 17 would be an understatement.
Other notable features focus on enhancing the Instagram experience, particularly regarding in-app capture and AI editing tools. However, as someone who doesnât use Instagram, these updates hold little appeal.
Screen Reactions, which lets users overlay video from their selfie camera onto their phone screen without a green screen, seems promising. However, it requires a Google AI subscription to access, which was not clearly communicated at the announcement.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
In summary, unless youâre highly invested in Instagram or interested in minor quality-of-life improvements, Android 17 is easy to overlook in its current state. I upgraded hoping to discover transformative features or intriguing hidden functionalities, but for now, Google has offered the bare minimum.
While Android 17 has the potential to evolve into something notable, it presently resembles its predecessor, Android 16, in both appearance and performance.
