Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 New Features & Changes

Google has launched Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 at Google I/O, introducing some new UI features along with the usual bug fixes.

The first stable version of Android 17 is anticipated in the coming month, but Google is progressing quickly through the beta phases for Android 17 QPR1, which will underpin the first major Pixel Drop update in September.

To access the new beta, users need to be enrolled in the Android beta program, although it should run on all Pixel phones from Google Pixel 6 up to the latest Google Pixel 10 models.

Below are some of the standout features and changes in Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3, as highlighted by 9to5Google.

New animations

This latest version of Android 17 introduces several new animations. For instance, when you double-press the power button to open the camera, the Camera UI expands from the same side of the phone, moving aside the lock screen’s ‘fog of war.’

Additionally, the Quick Settings menu now has a new ‘bouncy’ animation that gently springs back as you pull it down.

More blur

Beyond animations, Google has increased the use of the background blur effect in this Android 17 beta version. As previously mentioned, ‘Blur’ is a significant element of Android 17’s visual style.

Google has revamped the media player controls within the Quick Settings menu, introducing a card layout that allows users to switch between media apps by tapping instead of swiping.

The screen recording menu now defaults to the last used app and includes toggles for recording device audio and the microphone.

Chris Martin / Foundy

Bug fixes

In the latest Android 17 beta, Google has addressed several issues, including Wi-Fi disconnections, distorted audio during media playback, UI glitches when switching to full-screen mode, disappearing Home Screen widgets, and more.

For those interested in all the bug fixes in this latest Android 17 beta, Google’s full release notes are available.