Google has released Android 17 QPR1 Beta 4, and it’s a much more minor update than last month’s Beta 3. While it’s mostly about fixing bugs and performance optimisation, there is at least one interesting new feature.
This marks the first time we’ve seen Screen Reactions in play since Google announced it at Google I/O a few weeks ago.
As we reported at the time, this feature is aimed at content creators and lets you record yourself and your screen at the same time. It’s possible to move and resize the overlay of your face.
You can use this function to overlay your reactions to clips, social media comments and the like. It should also make tutorial videos much easier to shoot without specialist video editing software.
Other than this, Google has fixed bugs relating to external displays, Settings crashes, sounds, zoomed video recording and more. For the full rundown of bug fixes, check out Google’s own release notes.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Google’s Android 17 plans
Last month’s Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 was far more extensive, adding new animations and blur effects, media playback elements, and more.
Both of these latest betas relate to the QPR1 update, which will be the first major update of Android 17. Google’s next mobile OS is expected to roll out soon, possibly in July ahead of the Pixel 11 phones, with Android 17 QPR1 due around three months after (likely in September).
To sign up to the Android beta programme, simply head over to the Android Beta web page, log in to your Google account, and find your listed device and ‘Opt in’. You can then install the Beta through the usual System Updates screen in the Settings menu.
Any Pixel phone can run the beta from the Pixel 6a (note, not the rest of the Pixel 6 range) onwards.