The latest update, Android 17 Beta 3, introduces an enhanced blur effect that extends beyond the notification shade to include the widget picker, allowing users to see their homescreen and app icons through a translucent background. This feature builds upon the previous update, Android 16, which first incorporated translucency into the Quick Settings and notification area.
Additionally, the app launch transition now includes a blur effect, which can be subtle due to the swift transition from the icon to the full screen. In earlier versions, the background remained unchanged during this process. Upcoming updates are expected to implement similar visual enhancements to the power menu and volume picker, although these features have not yet been activated in the current beta version.
Google anticipates finalizing these visual updates ahead of the stable release slated for June. In this version, users also gain the ability to manage app themes more effectively and experience redesigned multitasking ‘Bubbles’ along with a refreshed screen recorder.