Google’s mission to add an extra layer of polish to its mobile operating system continues with Android 17. With last year’s update, the company focused on upgrading its notification experience and adding a widescreen desktop mode. Unsurprisingly, Android 17 will move towards greater integration with Google’s Gemini (including the nifty ability to create app automations). But if you don’t like AI, there are still some notable additions, including file sharing with iOS, 3D emojis, and mastering addictive apps.
Google surprised us all last year by adding support for Apple’s AirDrop into Android’s Quick Share feature on the Pixel 10, 9, and 8a phones, and we’ve heard official reports that it will soon expand the feature to more devices. Today during the Android Show livestream, ahead of Google I/O, Google confirmed that the feature already works on Samsung’s Galaxy S26, Oppo’s Find X9 and N6, and Vivo’s X300 Ultra. The company also revealed that it will be moving towards the S25, S24 and Samsung’s recent foldable range; OPPO Find X8; the OnePlus 15; and Honor’s Magic V6 and V8 Pro “this year”.
While you wait, today the company is adding the ability to generate QR codes on any Android phone to let you quickly share files with iOS users over the cloud. Google also says that Quick Share will soon be available on popular apps like Whatsapp. It’s unclear why this feature isn’t widely available to all apps on Android, without additional development work, similar to iOS’s ubiquitous sharing options. And speaking of iOS, Google also claims to have collaborated with Apple to make it easier for users to switch from iOS devices to Android devices. Apple has confirmed that this feature is part of the new iOS 26.5 update.
As for these 3D emojis, they are exactly what they sound like: slightly more realistic three-dimensional emoji. You can definitely call this progress for Google, because the last time we saw a major evolution of emoji was almost a decade ago in Android Oreo O, when the company moved away from undefined amorphous blobs and toward a flatter, more distinctive design. Hopefully this upgrade is a harbinger of more design changes coming to Android 17.
Google
A potentially more useful new feature in Android 17 is Pause Point, a 10-second delay that appears when you open distracting apps, giving you a chance to rethink your life choices before scrolling through TikTok for an hour. During this window, you can set a timer for the destructive app you want to use, do a quick breathing exercise, or switch to a healthier app option like Fitbit.
Google touts Pause Point as a more convenient way to stop distracted browsing than a total lock, and it’s harder to snooze than a typical app timer. As someone absolutely guilty of wasting too much time on TikTok, Pause Point actually seems compelling. It’s also interesting to see that Google has actually added friction to disable the feature. This requires a complete reboot, giving you even more time to rethink your social media browsing habits.
Google
Ironically, Android 17 also makes it easier to produce content for social media, while making browsing a little more annoying. Google’s new Screen Reactions feature lets you quickly record a video overlaid on whatever’s on your screen, perfect for discussing the latest news or gossip. Most social media apps offer similar features, but they are potentially more useful as a core part of Android, as users can also use it to share comment videos with friends and family, without broadcasting them to the world. (Even more ironically, Android 17 also offers a host of new features for polishing your Instagram videos.)
Updated 05/12/26 at 2:30 p.m.: Added more details on AirDrop compatibility and a 3D Emoji image.
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