Android 17 Beta 1 Is Here With Performance Boost and Adaptive Apps Improvements
AndroidSaturday, 14 February 2026 at 19:27
After a brief delay, Google is now releasing Android 17 Beta 1 for Pixel devices. It arrives one day later than originally intended, and after being spotted online. Google didn’t give any reason for the delay, but it's good to see it's finally here.
This first beta carries CP21.260116.011, marking the public starting point for Android 17. At this point, this update does not bring many new features. As usual, this comes to let developers get access to the new APIs and system changes. The regular users won't see noticeable visual changes just yet. In fact, after the visual changes introduced with Android 16 QPR1, we expect Android 17 to be a smaller update, considering what is already present in Android 16.
Android 17: Better Performance and Improvements for Adaptive Apps
The release follows Google’s Android Canary strategy, introduced in June to test early builds with pre-release APIs and possible future behavior changes. It replaces the old Developer Previews and promises faster access to features. The updates also aim for a smoother development cycle with OTA updates and stable releases.
For now, a major focus of Android 17 is expanding support for adaptive apps. These apps are expected to fully use large screens instead of leaving empty sidebars. The developer opt-out option from last year has been removed for apps targeting API level 37, though games are not affected.
Google says users expect apps to work well on tablets, foldables, and desktop-style windowed environments. Interfaces should adjust to different screen sizes and device positions without wasting space. Once again, it's Google preparing for a world full of foldable and larger devices.
Of course, the performance improvements are also part of the update. The search giant says Android 17 will bring stable FPS, lower CPU usage during memory cleanup, more aggressive optimizations, and reduced memory use for notifications. The beta introduces generational garbage collection, which clears unnecessary processes from memory more often while using less CPU power.
Highlights
- The first public beta carries the build number CP21.260116.011.
- Android 17 is likely to be a smaller update compared to the visual overhaul in Android 16 QPR1.
- The update continues Google’s Android Canary approach, replacing Developer Previews.
- Strong focus on adaptive apps that properly use large screens, tablets, and foldables.
- Developer opt out for adaptive behavior has been removed for apps targeting API level 37, except for games.
- Performance improvements include more stable FPS, lower CPU usage during memory cleanup, and reduced memory use for notifications.
- Introduces generational garbage collection for better resource management.
- Adds smoother camera transitions and support for the Versatile Video Coding standard.
- New volume management API aims to improve audio consistency across apps and devices.
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Multimedia upgrades and availability
On the multimedia side, Android 17 adds smoother transitions between camera modes to reduce visible glitches. It also brings support for the Versatile Video Coding standard for more efficient video encoding and decoding. Furthermore, there is a new volume management API aimed at delivering a more consistent audio experience across apps and hardware.
Android 17 Beta 1 is available for:
- Pixel 6 series
- Pixel 7 series
- Pixel 8 series
- Pixel 9 series
- Pixel 10 series
- Pixel Tablet series
- Pixel Fold series
Google notes that more feature details will arrive in the coming months. Upcoming Pixel smartphones like the Pixel 10a are likely to become part of this program once they are released. If you're a developer and want to be part of the beta testing program, you can see all details on Google's Android 17 webpage.
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