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New distribution data cited from Google via Android Studio shows Android 16 now leads all Android versions with 25.4% of active devices as of October 2026, up sharply from 7.5% in December. Android 17, released in June, has reached only 1% of devices, while older versions like Android 13 and Android 11 still hold 11.8% and 10.5% shares respectively.
Google has rolled out Android 17 QPR3 Beta 3 to Pixel 6a and newer devices enrolled in its Pixel Beta program, following Beta 2 released about a week earlier. The update restores the app lock feature, reinstates some lock screen blur that had been removed, adds a camera shortcut to Quick Settings, fixes an AM/PM display issue for lock screen alarms, and resolves dozens of other bugs.
DuckDuckGo publicly criticized Samsung for embedding a non-removable Google search bar on One UI 9 home screens, even for users who prefer other search engines. The bar, unlike a typical widget, cannot be long-pressed or dragged away, though Samsung does allow users to turn it off entirely through Home screen settings. The change builds on Android 17's revamped search widget system, which Motorola has also adopted.
A SIM Manager connector has surfaced in Gemini on a Pixel 9 running Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2, letting the assistant set up new eSIM profiles, convert physical SIMs to eSIMs, transfer or restore profiles, and delete them. Google has not announced the feature, and it does not appear on non-Pixel devices tested, suggesting an early or accidental rollout. Testing confirmed the connector actually triggers the eSIM setup process rather than just displaying placeholder prompts.
Google has begun accepting enrollment applications from third-party Android app stores for its Registered App Stores program, with a streamlined installation flow set to launch December 1. The program, available outside the US on Android 17 QPR2 and later, is optional for developers, and stores that don't enroll will see no change to their current installation process.
Google is updating Android's permission system so apps can request rights to edit a single contact rather than full WRITE_CONTACTS access to an entire address book. The change introduces standardized intents for individual insert or edit actions, building on contact-reading restrictions already introduced in Android 17. Initial pieces are expected to arrive with Android 17 QPR2 later this year, ahead of broader changes in Android 18.
OnePlus has begun pushing stable Android 17 updates to the OnePlus 13, 13R, 13s, and 15R, starting with users in India. The update replaces OxygenOS with ColorOS, bringing redesigned Quick Settings and notifications, smoother animations, better memory management, and new AI tools including detection of AI-generated voices and face swaps during calls. Each device has its own build number, and the rollout is happening in batches rather than all at once.
Code found in the Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 by Android Authority suggests Google is developing multi-profile support for Health Connect, its on-device tool for managing fitness and health app data. Currently, Health Connect only works for a single user per device, meaning other profiles can't access its permissions or stored data.
An Android Authority teardown of the second Android 17 QPR3 beta uncovered hidden code for an 'App restore on reboot' feature aimed at Googlebooks. The strings show three settings: always restore previously open apps, never restore them, or ask each time after a restart. A similar feature, called Welcome Recap, already exists on Chromebooks and also shows weather and meeting info.
Android Authority reports that Google's Pixel VIPs widget has been significantly upgraded, becoming more interactive with a new full-screen layout showing more contact information. Despite calling the update an improvement over the original Android 16 version, the outlet identifies several shortcomings, including limited third-party app support beyond WhatsApp and no ability to search notes attached to contacts.
Google's Android 17 update introduces the ability to 'bubble' any app, not just messaging apps, keeping its icon floating on top of the screen for quick access. Users can place up to five bubbled apps along the left or right edge of the home screen by long-pressing an app and selecting the Bubble option. The feature currently works only on Pixel devices, though Google says it will expand to other manufacturers.
OnePlus has started pushing the stable Android 17-based ColorOS update to the OnePlus 15 and Pad 4, ahead of the rollout timeline it had previously announced. The update marks OnePlus's continued shift away from its OxygenOS branding toward the unified ColorOS software used across parent company Oppo's devices.