The first Android 17 beta is now available on Pixel devices
Ars Technica
by
Ryan Whitwam
February 13, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The first beta version of Android 17 is now officially available for Pixel devices following a brief cancellation earlier this week. While there are no major new features yet, the focus of this initial release is on testing system and API changes rather than user-facing updates. One of the most significant improvements in this beta is expanded support for adaptive apps, which ensures that apps can scale to different screen sizes, particularly on large-screen devices like tablets and foldables with multiple displays. This change builds on features introduced in Android 16 but now makes compliance mandatory for apps targeting Android 17 (API level 37). Developers must update their apps to support resizing and windowed multitasking, ensuring better compatibility across diverse device types.
This shift is particularly important for users of large-screen devices, as it enhances app usability by allowing them to
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Originally published on Ars Technica on 2/13/2026