Google recently rolled out the first public beta of Android 17, giving both developers and eager users an early peek at what’s coming in the next big Android update. While the official stable release date remains under wraps, Google has dropped several hints about its launch timeline. The company has also confirmed that a second Android 17 beta will be available in March. This initial public beta focuses on fundamental performance upgrades, enhanced media and camera features, support for Versatile Video Coding, improved loudness management, and strengthened privacy and security controls.
Android 17’s Stable Release Window: April to June
The tech giant, headquartered in Mountain View, hasn’t yet pinpointed an exact launch date for the stable version of Android 17. However, clues within the release notes suggest a debut towards the end of the second quarter of 2026. Google refers to this stable build as the ‘Android 17 Platform Release (26Q2),’ indicating it should arrive sometime between April and June.
Further solidifying a potential June launch, the Android 17 beta 1 release notes mention that users will have “The next opportunity to exit the Beta Program without a data wipe… towards the end of the Android 17 Beta cycle in June 2026.” This statement strongly points to a full public rollout around June.
Looking ahead, Google has outlined a roadmap for subsequent updates, confirming a second Android 17 Beta for March 2026. This roadmap includes the 26Q3 release (likely Android 17 QPR1), the 26Q4 update (potentially Android 17 QPR2), and a 27Q1 release (possibly Android 17 QPR3) slated for Pixel phones in the coming months. True to form, Google Pixel devices are expected to receive these updates first before they become available to other Android phone manufacturers.
This accelerated Android launch schedule, which sees the OS released earlier than previous versions (Android 16 launched on June 10 last year, for instance), helps Google better align with smartphone release cycles. This allows hardware partners to introduce new devices with the latest Android version much sooner.
The initial Android 17 beta brings a suite of improvements, including advancements in camera and media capabilities, bolstered privacy features, new tools for optimizing connectivity, and expanded profiles for companion devices. It also offers refined permission management and introduces support for the Versatile Video Coding (VVC) standard, alongside new loudness management controls.