Android 17 Beta 1 Arrives with Large-Screen Optimisation and Camera Improvements

Very recently, Google teased the arrival of the Android 17 Beta 1 update. Now, the tech giant has officially rolled out Android 17 Beta 1, marking the first public beta release of its next major Android update.

Announced on the Android Developers Blog, the new beta moves the platform closer to stability and gives developers broader access to final APIs and behaviour changes.

The first beta of Android 17 focuses on large-screen optimisation, runtime performance improvements and upgraded media capabilities. Additionally, it also introduces subtle system refinements across Pixel phones. 

Android 17 Beta 1 Update Features

One of the biggest changes in Android 17 Beta 1 is Google's renewed push for adaptive apps. With Android 17 (API level 37), apps targeting the new SDK will no longer be allowed to restrict orientation or resizability on devices with screens wider than 600 dp. This means developers must ensure proper support for tablets, foldables and large-screen Android devices. 

Google Pixel phones will also receive subtle UI tweaks. The home screen search bar in the Pixel Launcher has been redesigned with a cleaner, more transparent look that blends better with wallpapers while retaining shortcuts such as voice search and Lens. The overall interface remains familiar, but these refinements align with Google's ongoing visual polish across Android builds. 

Camera performance sees a practical improvement with support for smoother switching between photo and video modes without restarting the camera session. This change reduces lag when toggling capture modes in supported apps, making the experience feel more seamless.

Under the hood, Android 17 Beta 1 introduces performance enhancements aimed at improving responsiveness and reducing UI jank. Updates to the Android Runtime (ART), improvements to the system message queue and more efficient memory handling should collectively deliver smoother day-to-day performance. Google has also tightened restrictions around custom notification views to reduce memory consumption and improve system stability. 

The Android 17 Beta 1 update further refines connectivity and background behaviour, including enhancements to Wi-Fi proximity detection and improved handling of VoIP-related call history permissions. These changes are subtle but contribute to better overall system efficiency and privacy control. 

Android 17 Beta 1 Compatible Devices

The latest Android 17 Beta 1 update is rolling out over the air to these supported Google Pixel devices:

That said, as this is still a beta update, it is recommended for developers and users to test it out on secondary devices. However, we are just starting to see the latest update start taking shape and as per previous reports, we could still see Android 17 bringing system-wide blur effects. More features and refinements are expected as Google moves Android 17 towards stability and its eventual stable release later this year.