Google has quickly followed up the initial Android 17 beta release with a second update, offering a clearer view of upcoming features for phones and tablets. This latest beta introduces notable enhancements to multitasking capabilities.
Android 17 Beta 2 is now accessible for the Android SDK and specific Google Pixel devices, building on the first beta released on February 18. A significant new feature is “Bubbles,” a windowing mode designed for phones, foldables, and tablets. Users can create app bubbles by long-pressing an app in the launcher, allowing these windows to be freely moved across the screen, similar to desktop applications.
This “Bubbles” feature is particularly beneficial for foldables and tablets, especially those with a bottom-screen taskbar. A dedicated holding area within the taskbar allows for organizing and switching between various app bubbles. This functionality resembles macOS menu bar utilities or Windows taskbar status icons, but it encapsulates the entire application within the movable popup window.
It is important to note that this new mode is distinct from the existing messaging bubbles. It supports any application that offers reasonable multi-window compatibility, presenting the full app within the popup.
Another addition in Android 17 Beta 2 is a new Handoff API. This API enables the seamless continuation of an application’s state on a different device, either through the same app or its web counterpart. Handoff suggestions will appear in the launcher on other devices. For instance, an email open in Gmail on a phone might prompt a suggestion to open that same email on a tablet’s home screen or taskbar.
This functionality closely resembles Apple’s Handoff feature, which facilitates task transfers between Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. The introduction of similar cross-device workflow enhancements to Android is a positive development, though the extent of app support remains to be seen.
In a blog post, Google clarified that this feature aims to provide “seamless task continuity,” allowing users to resume their work precisely where they left off across their Android devices. Handoff supports both native app-to-app transitions and app-to-web fallback, ensuring flexibility and a complete experience even if the native application is not installed on the target device.
Additional features and APIs in the beta include an eye dropper tool for apps that does not require full screen access, improved touchpad support, Unicode 17 compatibility, and a new permission for local network access. A new system-level contacts picker is also present, allowing apps to request specific contact information without needing broader contacts permission.
Users can enroll a compatible Google Pixel device in the beta program to experience Android 17, or download the device image for the Android SDK emulator. The official release is anticipated in the second quarter of 2026.
Source: Android Developers Blog
