GoKawiilGoogle's Pixel Drop update for June 2026 is packed with new features. It brings AirDrop support to older, budget Pixel phones. Magic Cue, which surfaces information about what's on the screen, expands to more chat apps. And perhaps most importantly, Android 17 finally has a stable build, with no major bugs or quirks so far.
I installed it on my Pixel 10 Pro this morning and I didn't expect a feature called Bubbles to become my favorite so quickly. It's the multitasking upgrade I didn't know I needed.
At a time when Google seems totally focused on Gemini Intelligence, it's refreshing to see Android 17 arrive with so many quality features and additions. (Last year's Android 16 launched with a number of bugs that frustrated Android phone owners.)
The app Bubbles feature, true to its name, allows you to create a pop-up bubble for any app, so you can run it as an overlay on your home screen. But what's the use and fun in doing that when you can simply run an app in full-screen mode? Let me tell you.
Bubbles is the multitasking boost Android needed
Bubbles let you group multiple apps and run them in a floating window that occupies most of your screen. You simply press and hold on an app icon, tap Bubble and the app opens in a new floating window. You can even add more apps to create a floating taskbar at the top of your screen, making multitasking between apps much faster -- without needing to swipe from one to another at the bottom of the display.
Bubbles helped me file invoices quicker than my usual process. Prakhar Khanna/CNET
For instance, I had to fact-check something tech-related in an Instagram Reel. So I triggered an Instagram app bubble and added Chrome for Search and Keep for note-taking, putting them within easy reach. This Android 17 feature works well for multitasking on a traditional phone. I still prefer a foldable for this kind of thing, though, since it lets me keep multiple apps open in full-screen view simultaneously.
But most people don't have a folding phone, making Bubbles all the more brilliant, especially compared to Split-Screen, which feels more cramped than useful on a 6.3-inch screen.
Samsung's One UI has a similar pop-up window, but Bubbles in Android 17 feels more intuitive and thoughtful. I realized it today when I had to send invoices for the last two weeks.
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