Android 17 Beta 2 Brings App Bubbles, Cross-Device Handoff, and Privacy Upgrades
Google isn't slowing down with Android 17 development. Just weeks after the first beta — which had its share of hiccups including spontaneous reboots and interface freezes — the company has already pushed out Android 17 Beta 2 for developers. And while the timing feels rushed, this update is quietly one of the most feature-packed betas we've seen in recent memory.
App Bubbles: Multitasking Finally Gets Serious
The headline feature is something Google is calling Bubbles — a windowing mode that lets users turn any app into a floating bubble by long-pressing its icon in the launcher. If this sounds familiar, it's because Android has had conversation bubbles for a while now. But extending that concept to any application is a significant leap.
On large-screen devices like tablets and foldables, there's also a new bubble bar in the taskbar where you can organize, move, and manage these floating apps more easily. It's the kind of multitasking feature that Android tablet users have been begging for, and it's about time Google delivered.
Cross-Device Handoff: Google's Answer to Apple Continuity
Perhaps the most interesting addition is Cross-device App Handoff. Start writing a note on your phone and continue exactly where you left off on your tablet. It's seamless task continuity across the Android ecosystem — or at least, that's the promise.
Let's be honest: Apple has offered this through Continuity for years. The fact that Google is only now shipping its own version in a developer beta tells you everything about the pace of Android's ecosystem integration. Better late than never, but Android users have been waiting too long for this basic cross-device functionality.
When active, Android displays a handoff suggestion in the launcher on nearby devices. Google says the feature supports both native app-to-app transitions and app-to-web fallback — meaning the experience works even if the native app isn't installed on the receiving device. That last part is actually clever and something Apple doesn't offer.
Privacy Gets a Quiet Upgrade
Beyond the flashy features, Android 17 Beta 2 is tightening the screws on app permissions. There's a new system-level contact picker that gives apps temporary, read-only access to specific contact fields instead of full access to your entire contacts list. This is a meaningful privacy improvement that most users won't notice but will benefit from daily.
Google is also expanding SMS OTP protection and introducing new safeguards against unauthorized local network access. These aren't headline-grabbing features, but they're the kind of under-the-hood improvements that make Android genuinely more secure.
Developer Goodies: EyeDropper API
For developers, there's a new EyeDropper API that lets apps pick a color from any pixel on the display without requiring sensitive screen capture permissions. It's a small but thoughtful addition that balances functionality with privacy.
Should You Install It?
Android 17 Beta 2 (build CP21.260206.011, roughly 510MB) is rolling out now via OTA for Pixel devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program. If you're impatient, you can sideload it or flash the factory image manually. Otherwise, the stable release is expected in mid-2026.
The bug fixes alone — particularly for the spontaneous reboots and interface freezes that plagued Beta 1 — make this a much more stable experience. But the real story here is Google finally investing in the kind of cross-device and multitasking features that turn Android from a phone OS into a true ecosystem platform. Whether they can execute on that vision remains to be seen.