Android 17: A Glorified Security Update?

After months of leaks and four public betas, Android 17 is finally here, but it’s not quite the exciting update we were expecting. As a UK user, I was keen to experience the new features, but unfortunately, they’re not available yet.

The latest edition of Android is about as half-baked as it gets, with none of the good stuff available at launch. Unless you’re an influencer, there’s not much that’s new here at all. For most people, Android 17 is basically just a glorified security update.

Ahead of its event covering the future of Android, Google’s Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat teased the announcements as the “Biggest. Android. Updates. Ever”. However, the full, public release of Android 17 doesn’t quite live up to the hype.

I’ve spent a fair bit of time exploring Android 17, and so far, I haven’t seen Gemini Intelligence mentioned once. Gemini is still here, of course, but there’s no reference to those potentially game-changing agentic AI features.

It’d help if we actually had a firm release date for Gemini Intelligence. All Google is saying is that “features will roll out in waves” and that Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones will be prioritised.

As for when we’ll get all the new features that Google showed off last month, that’s anyone’s guess. But if you’re installing Android 17 now in the hope of getting a taste of Gemini Intelligence, you’ll be bitterly disappointed.

Google has at least added some new features in this version, such as the ability to finally remove app labels from the home screen and the splitting of Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles in the quick settings panel.

However, unless you really care about posting on Instagram or a couple of small quality of life improvements, Android 17 in its current form is instantly skippable. I ‘upgraded’ in the hopes of finding game-changing features or interesting hidden functionality, but Google has kept things to the bare minimum for now.