Google Rolls Out Android 17, Wear OS 7, and Android XR Ecosystem Updates

Google has begun rolling out Android 17 to Pixel phones, introducing major interface overhauls and new features designed to enhance multitasking and gaming on smartphones and foldable devices. The update includes floating "Bubble" app windows for easier multitasking, a Screen Reaction recording mode, and a 50/50 split gaming mode optimized for foldable phones. Android 17 also introduces "Continue On," a feature similar to Apple's Handoff that allows users to start tasks on their phone and resume them on compatible tablets. The rollout will reach other manufacturers throughout 2026, with some features like Gemini Intelligence debuting later in the year.

Concurrently, Google has launched Wear OS 7 for smartwatches, starting with Pixel Watch models 2, 3, and 4. The update brings Live Updates, a feature that syncs real-time information such as sports scores and meal delivery statuses across both smartwatch and phone displays. Google reports Wear OS 7 delivers up to 10 percent improved battery life compared to its predecessor. Additionally, Android 17 introduces new gamepad controls and native controller remapping for foldable devices, with these features rolling out over the coming months.

Google's Android XR ecosystem is expanding with the Xreal Aura, a collaboration between Google and Xreal that begins accepting reservations today at $99. The Aura, described as "a headset masquerading as glasses," represents the second Android XR device following Samsung's Galaxy XR headset, which launched in October 2025 at $1,799. Early reservers can claim $199 credit toward the fall launch price across the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and South Korea, with Best Buy as the first confirmed retail partner. These updates demonstrate Google's comprehensive push across mobile, wearable, and emerging spatial computing platforms.