I downloaded Android 17, so why does my smartphone still feel exactly the same?

If you have a Google Pixel device, did you know Android 17 dropped recently? Unless you’re in the industry or a tech enthusiast, I bet you didn’t.

I didn’t even realize it had come out yet. I thought it was still in Beta. Whoops.

So I looked over at my significant other and asked him, “Hey, is your Pixel running Android 17?” He responded, “Honestly, I have no idea.”

I think that response says it all, really.

So I opened up the settings to check. Sure enough, Android 17 had been running on his phone this whole time, and neither of us even noticed.

I could have sworn there was a lot of hype around this update, so what happened?

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Posts By  Rajesh Pandey

New foldable phone features for the few

I can’t get excited for something I likely won’t be able to use

I went to the official Google blog post to check in about what was added recently, and there was one really disappointing word I kept coming across: Foldables.

There were some notable updates with Android 17, such as the handheld gaming mode.

On the surface, this looks really cool, but it not only assumes you have a foldable Pixel device, but also that you enjoy gaming.

Although I fall into the latter category, I do not own a foldable Pixel, so this update was irrelevant to me.

There was also a big push towards the new bubble system with a focus on how it can fit seamlessly on your foldable device.

Google promotes a locked Bubble Bar at the bottom of your screen for better multitasking, but again, only if you’re using a larger-screen device.

Yet another miss for me. The phone I was using had a typical 6.3-inch screen.

Essentially, half of the featured updates were irrelevant to me.

Maybe Google is just trying to promote its foldable phone line by enticing new device users.

Cool, I guess, but disappointing for the rest of us who don’t have it in the budget to switch, or just plain don’t want one.

Bubbles and screen reactions don’t align with my style of device use

Content creators might be the target audience

Ok, so the Bubble Bar is out, the Gaming mode is out. What am I left with? Two things that I’m only learning about after the fact.

First, the bubble system. Not the bar, though. This was another feature I didn’t notice until I read the actual updates list.

By long clicking an app icon, then clicking the little picture-in-picture icon, my apps can now float on top of my screen and can be quickly switched between like tabs.

Maybe I’m just being negative, but I’m really not digging this. It’s kind of cool in a multitasking sort of way, but it doesn’t wow me. It did make me say, “Oh, huh.”

I guess it can be good for when I have multiple tabs open and need to switch between them quickly, but that was never a problem I needed to solve before, so I’m left feeling lukewarm about the whole thing.

I’d love to hear outside perspectives of niche situations where this system is going to improve their workflow for some cool hobby, so please let me know if that’s you.

Secondly, this Screen Reaction feature. Again, I would never have known it was there without being told. I’ll concede on this point though; I think this will be popular for TikTokkers and other short-form content creators.

I’m certainly not the target audience; perhaps other social media creators will think it’s great.

I’m a bit skeptical right off the bat since it automatically removes the background for you, and I know from professional experience that these features can be frustrating to work with if you don’t give a clear, clean background and excellent lighting.

Under the hood security and safety updates, as expected

If you run unauthorized ROMs, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise

With every big OS update, there are going to be security updates, and Android 17 is no exception.

This stuff is a lot more under the hood, so I won’t fault them for not noticing these changes. I expect them to keep me safe without interfering with my day-to-day life.

I like a lot of the stuff mentioned in the blog post about updated security. Additional measures to block scammers, detect threats, and provide more options for lost phones.

I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who has a problem with these features (scam calls especially).

There’s one thing that is briefly mentioned, though, that I’ve noticed a few users online are unhappy with.

A new security feature meant to ensure your phone is using a verified version of the OS. This is a good thing for most users, but a handful of people intentionally run unverified OS versions on their devices.

I’m not going to condone running unauthorized stuff on your phone. It’s risky and probably against certain policies.

But there are people who do, and it’s worth mentioning that they will likely be affected negatively by this update.

It’s easy to be critical now; I’m still holding out

There might be better things on the horizon

Alright, I’ll get off the bandwagon of complaints for a bit.

It’s important to remember that this OS drop is just the beginning of what’s to come.

Android intentionally releases more tools and features during Quarterly Platform Releases and Pixel Feature Drops.

I’ll be looking at this optimistically. There’s probably more cool stuff coming our way. I’m just hoping the majority isn’t for a device I don’t own or have access to.

This was a swing and a miss for most

Perhaps if you own a foldable Pixel, love games, create social media content, and love to multitask, you’ll disagree with my takes.

But I feel like the vast majority of us didn’t notice this update at all.

I suppose that’s better than noticing it for the wrong reasons, but for now I’ll bide my time until I see a new feature that really catches my eye.