Google released Android 17 for Pixel phones, alongside a new Pixel Drop and Wear OS 7 for Android smartwatches.
Android 17 is available now for Pixel phones, Google said. The operating system will roll out to other Android devices through the rest of the year.
The operating system adds Bubbles, a feature that lets users open mobile apps as pop-up windows instead of full-screen apps. Google also added a Bubble bar at the bottom of the screen to organize recent bubbles and make them easier to reopen.
Android 17 includes Screen Reactions, which lets users record video from the selfie camera while also capturing the phone screen. The feature brings a desktop-style recording format to Android devices for walkthroughs, tutorials and similar content.
Google added a foldable gaming mode for foldable Android devices. The mode turns one half of a foldable screen into a digital gamepad while a game runs on the other half.
Android 17 also adds more security and parental control features. The update includes more location-sharing controls, Live Threat Detection, Advanced Protection improvements and a “Mark as lost” feature in Find Hub.
Parents can set screen time limits and filter content under the new system. Google said parents can use those controls without first linking a Google Account.
The June Pixel Drop adds several AI features to Google’s Pixel phones. Gemini Omni lets users edit videos by chatting with the AI chatbot, remix images and videos, create content from a text prompt, and build a custom AI avatar that looks and sounds like the user.
Google also brought Lyria 3, its music generation model, to Pixel phones. Users can choose a song style or tempo, or upload an image to guide the generated music.
The Pixel Drop also adds model-specific updates. Google’s speech-to-voice translation with AudioLM is coming to Pixel 10am devices, while Android Quick Share with iPhone sharing support is now available on Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a devices.
Google expanded Take a Message to all compatible Pixel devices in the United States. The feature lets users record custom outgoing greetings and provides voicemail transcriptions for missed calls.
Pixel phones will also receive the features included in Android 17. The Pixel Drop and the Android 17 rollout together make Pixel devices the first phones to receive Google’s latest mobile software updates.
Wear OS 7 adds Android Live Updates to Android smartwatches. The feature lets users track sports scores, food delivery arrival times, workouts and other live activity from their wrist.
Wear OS 7 also lets users control other Android devices from a smartwatch. Users can access media playing on headphones or home speakers and view photos captured with smartglasses directly on their watch.
Google added Emergency Sharing for Pixel Watch users. If a Pixel Watch detects a fall, car accident or loss of pulse, a Pixel device can contact emergency services and notify the user’s emergency contacts.
