Most of the biggest changes are things we already knew to expect, including Google<\/a> preventing developers from opting out of orientation and resizing requirements for apps. This is a change that might frustrate some app developers, but it should ensure that apps looks much better on large-screen devices like tablets and the best foldable phones<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The other major change here is one that isn\u2019t visible but should be noticeable, as the company has worked to improve the performance of Android phones, including adding a new “generational garbage collection” system, which should reduce the load on the CPU and lessen memory use.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n Plus, as expected, this beta also includes smoother camera transitions, with new professional-grade camera APIs aimed at preventing freezes and stutters when switching between lenses.<\/p>\n Alongside these expected changes, Android 17\u2019s first beta also has some surprises, spotted by Android Central<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n These include a slimmer design for the home-screen search bar, and the ability to swap out the AI Mode shortcut on it for other options, such as a one for translations, one for the weather, one for a dictionary, and numerous others, as you can see in the screenshots above.<\/p>\n Whatever shortcut you choose will also now sit inside the search bar, rather than next to it, though disappointingly you can only replace the AI Mode shortcut, not the voice search or Google Lens ones that sit alongside it.<\/p>\n Another appreciated change is that you\u2019re now finally able to remove the At a Glance widget, and there\u2019s a tweak to the volume panel, with this now including a settings icon at the bottom, to quickly take you to the volume settings screen. And speaking of volume, that has now been standardized for a more consistent listening experience across apps.<\/p>\n That\u2019s about it in terms of what\u2019s been dug up so far, but it\u2019s possible that other features or changes are hiding away in the beta still \u2014 or that future betas will have more changes.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to try out these new features for yourself, then as long as you\u2019ve got a Google Pixel 6<\/a> or newer you\u2019ll be able to. Just head to the Android beta program site<\/a>, sign in with your Google account, and select the Pixel device you want to install the beta to.<\/p>\n Then on your phone, head to Settings > System > Software updates, and install the beta from there \u2014 though be aware that it might have more bugs than completed Android versions will.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today’s best Android phone deals<\/p>\n Follow TechRadar on Google News<\/a> and add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!<\/p>\n And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok<\/a> for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp<\/a> too.<\/p>\n![\"Android](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/KEsCsvbBG6KWK3hqL9CWah.jpg\")
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