Three major platforms from Google are converging this summer: Android 17 arrives on Pixel phones today, Wear OS 7 rolls out to smartwatches, and Android XR takes its first steps toward consumer availability with the Xreal Secret glasses opening for preorder.
Android 17 arrives on Pixel phones today. Following its official debut last month, Google is now rolling out Android 17 to Pixel phones alongside additional exclusive features as part of the June Pixel Drop. The biggest user interface change is the introduction of Bubbles, floating app windows that you can open with a long press. Similar floating windows already exist in many Android skins, but they are now an official part of Android 17 itself. Google is making them more useful on larger screens with a dedicated bubble bar dock at the bottom of the screen for easier multitasking on foldables and tablets.
Android foldables are getting native gamepad controls. Pixel foldables gain the new feature first, which is being added to Android 17 alongside native controller remapping, with a full rollout coming in the upcoming months. Google is baking controller support directly into the OS, allowing games to recognize physical gamepads and letting users customize button layouts.
Wear OS 7 launches with Live Updates and battery life boost. Google’s smartwatch platform gets a significant update with Live Updates, a system that keeps important real-time information like sports scores, delivery tracking, and navigation directions visible on the watch face. Battery life improvements mean the latest generation of Wear OS devices can last multiple days on a single charge under typical usage.
The Xreal Secret XR glasses are now available to preorder. The Project Secret glasses collaboration between Xreal and Google is one step closer to being something you can buy. Reservations for the second Android XR device, now dubbed the Xreal Secret, are available for $99 starting today, with a full launch in the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and South Korea expected later this Fall. The glasses run Android XR, Google’s operating system designed specifically for augmented and mixed reality headsets.
Together, these platform updates show Google’s strategy for the next era of computing: Android 17 refines the smartphone experience, Wear OS 7 strengthens its presence on the wrist, and Android XR positions the company for the post-phone future that Qualcomm and others have been building toward.
