GoKawiilShimul Sood / Android Authority
Software experience can make or break a smartphone for me, which is exactly why I keep gravitating toward Pixels. Google’s handsets feel easygoing in a way very few Android phones manage, and I love it.
So naturally, the moment Android 17 started making headlines with features like app memory limits, more granular controls, and improved location transparency, my curiosity kicked in. I get irrationally excited about new software updates, so resisting the beta was never really an option. I installed it on my Google Pixel 10a just to see how these features would actually feel in day-to-day use.
Simply put, this has turned into one of the more interesting beta experiences I’ve had in a while. There’s a surprising amount to explore beneath the surface, and I’ve spent days poking around every little corner of it. But somewhere in the middle of all that experimenting, one multitasking feature took over how I use my phone.
How do you currently multitask on your phone? 91 votes Split screen all the way. 19 % I just switch between apps. 60 % I barely multitask on mobile. 21 %
My phone now multitasks like my brain
Shimul Sood / Android Authority
The bubbles feature in Android 17 has fixed one of the biggest multitasking frustrations I’ve always had with slab phones. Before moving to the Pixel 10a, I was using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has completely changed my expectations around multitasking. When you get used to having multiple apps open side by side on a large folding display, going back to a “normal” phone suddenly becomes much more limiting than you’d imagine.
No, I am not comparing them, but that shift hit me immediately on the Pixel 10a. Whenever I needed to jump between apps, I found myself constantly relying on the recent apps menu — close one, scroll through the app carousel, open another, then repeat the whole process. It worked, sure, but it never felt smooth after experiencing how effortless multitasking could be.
That’s where Android 17’s app bubbles have changed that rhythm for me. I’ve pinned the apps I use most, and now switching between them feels absolutely instant. I just tap a bubble, jump into the app, swipe over to another one when needed, and continue whatever I was doing without constantly breaking my flow.
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