Android 17 Code name "Cinnamon Bun" (leaks)

Google has gotten emotional this time. I’m not joking — literally. You already know one thing people always praised about the iPhone: its software updates. iPhones consistently get fresh features, timely upgrades, and long-term support. Android, on the other hand, used to be an open ecosystem where updates rarely reached every device.

But now Google has become emotional. And there are two major reasons behind it.

First, the leaks and rumors about Android 17, which I’m going to tell you about today, make one thing very clear: Android is evolving beyond mobile phones and turning into a full-fledged operating system. Meaning Google is now gearing up to directly compete with Apple. You’re going to see Google launching laptops, tablets, and several other device categories that were once exclusive to Apple’s ecosystem.

Second, and more importantly, if you look at the market today, even low-end phones — even from big brands like Samsung — are now offering three, four, even six years of promised software updates. And the reason is simple: Google has improved and unified its update cycle so much that it’s now easier for manufacturers to roll out consistent updates.

Because of this, if you bought an Android phone within the last year, there is a very high chance that you will receive the Android 17 update. Earlier, cheaper Android phones never got major OS upgrades; they just ran the same software throughout their life. But not anymore.

Now let’s talk about Android 17 — which is going to be revolutionary.

And by the way, its internal codename is also pretty fun: Cinnamon Bun. According to Google’s internal developers, Android 17 will bring tons of new features.

1: Full Gaming Controller Support

Google is now targeting a huge range of devices, including gaming devices. With Android 17, you’ll be able to use almost any external gaming controller with your phone. Previously, support was limited to Xbox or PlayStation controllers, and even then only a few games supported them.

Now Google is changing that. Game developers will be able to add controller support right from the start. And any company — even a small Chinese brand — can create controllers that Android will fully support.

PUBG players… this might be good news for you too, since PUBG may eventually add controller compatibility.

2: “Min Mode” — Ultra Low Refresh Rate Mode

ndroid 17 introduces “Min Mode,” a minimal mode that drops your screen refresh rate to just 1Hz when necessary — like Always-On Display, maps, workout screens, or any situation where nothing is moving on-screen.

This saves a massive amount of battery, keeps your screen on longer, and allows more apps to function like Always-On Display — not just the clock.

3: True Multi-Device & Multi-Screen Support

Google teased Desktop Mode in Android 16, but it never arrived. Now in Android 17, Google isn’t just adding Desktop Mode — they’re adding a universal multi-screen mode.

Which means:

Connect your phone to a monitor → it switches to desktop mode
Use it on a tablet → tablet mode
Foldable devices → optimized folding UI
Large screens → no more ugly black corners or unoptimized layouts

Every app will open full-screen on foldables, tablets, and large displays — out of the box.

4: Hub Mode (Google’s version of iPhone StandBy Mode)

iPhones have a StandBy Mode where, when you place the phone sideways on charging, it turns into a clock, photo frame, or info screen.

Android 17 is introducing “Hub Mode,” which does the same thing:

When your phone is charging
You can customize what appears on the screen
It becomes a smart display-like accessory on your desk or side table

5: Install Third-Party App Stores from Play Store

This is a forced change for Google, but a huge benefit for users.

Currently:

You must sideload most third-party app stores
It’s unsafe and risky

Now:

You can install other app stores directly from Google Play Store
No sideloading
No risk
Companies will receive payments directly (Google won’t take a cut)

This is why apps like Spotify force you to create an account on their website — to avoid Google or Apple’s fee. Android 17 will fix this.

6: Local Network Protection

iPhones already had this earlier, and now Android is adding it too.

Without this protection, apps like Facebook could detect:

Who else is connected to the same Wi-Fi
Which devices are nearby
And indirectly guess people’s locations

Example:
Even if a coworker has location turned off, Facebook could still detect their presence through your Wi-Fi network.

Android 17 will stop this. Apps must get permission first before accessing local network devices.

7: Double Tap to Lock

Double Tap to Lock: Simple, but useful! Many manufacturers already have this, but now it’s coming to all of Android. Tap twice, and your screen locks.
HDR Content Slider: On newer phones, instead of just choosing vague color profiles like “Simple” or “Vivid,” you’ll get a slider to fine-tune the HDR brightness and saturation to your exact preference.
Enhanced Dark Mode: Some apps still don’t support dark mode, leaving you with a blinding white screen. This feature will force Dark Mode onto every app, even unsupported ones, to save your eyes from that annoying glare.
Advanced Screen Recording: With the Desktop Mode comes new toolbars, including one for screen recording. It will allow you to record your screen and your front camera at the same time—perfect for making tutorials!
Custom Contact Picker: This is a huge win for privacy. When an app asks for your contacts, it gets the whole list. In Android 17, you can now customize the list and choose to share only specific contacts with that app.

These are the leaked and rumored features of Android 17. As Android 16 beta updates roll out, more features will become clear — because Google usually tests next-gen features in the previous version’s betas.

So features testing in Android 16 today are actually meant for Android 17 devices launching next year.