While we wait for the March Pixel Drop, which is poised to be a big one, Google has confirmed news about Android 17 – codenamed Cinnamon Bun.
The next major version of its mobile operating system will launch soon in beta form. This follows the release of the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 patch.
A post on Reddit is titled “Android 17 Beta 1 around the corner!” and also says that it will “kick soon”.
Google also strongly hints at the final Android 17 release date in the post by saying: “The next opportunity to exit the Beta Program without a data wipe will be towards the end of the Android 17 Beta cycle in June 2026.”
This would match up with the Android 16 launch date, which arrived in June 2025. The post also refers to the cycle as Android 17 Platform Release (26Q2) – i.e. by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
When it does arrive, it will likely start rolling out to Pixel phones first.
Note that if you’re already opted into the Android beta program, you’ll automatically receive the Android 17 Beta 1 one when it drops.
If you want to stick with the public Android 16 QPR3 update, then follow the instructions in the post and opt out of the program without wiping your data.
If you’ve not participated before then you can head to the official site to see which of your devices is compatible and opt in. As always, it’s not recommended to use the beta on a device you rely on.
Android 17 is tipped to get a blurred look and split UI elements.