Google on Tuesday released the final version of its Android 17 operating system and its companion Wear OS 7 for smartwatches. The latest release, which will first arrive on the company’s Pixel devices, also comes with Pixel Drop, bringing new features including support for the latest AI models such as music generation model Lyria 3, multimodal Gemini Omni, and a voice translation tool for Pixel 10a with AudioLM.
The latest feature release underscores Google’s strategy to use Android and Pixel devices to showcase the latest AI technology. While rival Apple is focused on catching up in the AI space, rolling out Siri and AI upgrades to iOS 27 to the public in September, Google’s Android 17 focuses on the latest AI models and Gemini’s role in creation, communication, and other device experiences.
Today’s Pixel Drop makes Android Quick Share’s file sharing feature compatible with Apple’s AirDrop on older Pixel 8a and 9a devices. Additionally, Gemini Omni will now allow users to edit videos during conversations, and Lyria 3 will allow users to create music tracks using text prompts and images in the Gemini app. Pixel 10a devices will also feature great speech recognition translation tools from AudioLM.
Other phone features are also coming, including the ability to record a personalized outgoing voice message for callers when you’re unavailable. Additionally, the “Take a Message” feature will be available in more global markets.
Pixel Drop also brings emergency detection capabilities to Google Pixel Watch. This means that if your watch detects a car accident, fall, or lack of a pulse, it will automatically contact emergency services and your chosen emergency contacts.
Beyond AI, Android 17’s big update will give users access to features like the “bubble bar.” This is a new user interface element that lets you organize, move, and quickly access recent apps that appear as a bubble at the bottom of the screen. This feature is designed to speed up app operations and assist with multi-app workflows.
Social media users may love a new feature in Android 17 that lets you record yourself with the selfie camera and your phone’s screen simultaneously as a screen reaction video that you can share on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
This latest release also improves parental controls and security features, adding Mark as Lost functionality to Find Hub, Live Threat Detection, and other threat defenses, as well as screen time limits and content filtering tools that can be set up with a PIN without linking a Google Account.
The new foldable game mode offers a 50/50 layout with a dynamic game pad.
Meanwhile, watch owners can now receive live updates from the Phone app mirrored to their Pixel Watch. The smartwatch will also work better with other hardware such as Google’s upcoming AI glasses and headphones.
This summer, Wear OS will bring more Gemini Intelligence features, including tools to create personalized widgets with just a few words, and the ability to connect your Google apps and chat history to Gemini to provide “personal intelligence.”
Google claims the new Wear OS will improve battery life by up to 10% and also enable multi-step automation.
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