5 Android 17 features that could be announced at Google's pre-I/O Android reveal including Motion Assist and app locking

Date:
Tue, 05 May 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Description:
Save the date: the next Android Show is being held on May 12, and we have
some ideas of what might be shown off there.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Google has announced the date
of the next Android Show It's being held on May 12 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6PM BST, which is 3am AEDT on May 13 Google claims this is going to be one of the biggest years for Android yet Android could be in for some big changes this year, and were about to hear about many of them, as Google has just confirmed that its holding The Android Show: I/O Edition on May 12 at 10am PT / 1pm ET
/ 6PM BST, which is 3am on May 13 for those in Australias AEDT time zone.

Youll be able to tune in live on YouTube , and if you head over to that link now, you can also enable a notification for when the event starts.

There arent too many clues about what well see, but the video description
says this is going to be one of the biggest years for Android yet, so it sounds like there could be some big Android 17-related announcements in
store. Article continues below You may like 5 features to get excited about
in Android 17 Google I/O 2026 is official: here are 5 things to expect
Android 17 beta 1 is here, with some big changes and small surprises (Image credit: Google) Last year, for reference, the Android Show included a look at Googles Material 3 Expressive interface redesign, along with Gemini Live, Gemini across new devices like watches and TVs, and new safety and security tools. While the focus was on software, we did see some phones too, but
Google was just highlighting some recently released models, rather than anything truly new. So, what could we see this year? Well, its likely that there will be some big announcements around AI so perhaps some more Gemini features.

In fact, with OpenAI reportedly working on an agentic AI phone , we wouldnt
be surprised if Google has plans to more fully integrate AI into Android phones, so it can interact with all your apps and get more done, but thats just speculation for now. That could certainly make this one of the biggest years for Android yet, though.

As far as things that theres actually evidence of, though, we could see the following five major Android features announced on May 12. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. 1. Motion Assist (Image credit: Android Authority) A lot of Android 17s features are already known thanks to various betas , but weve heard repeated rumblings that a Motion Cues feature to tackle motion sickness is in the works .

More recently, Android Authority found that this tool may have been renamed Motion Assist, and its a feature that would show a moving dot on your phones screen when youre in a moving vehicle. The dot would move in relation to the movement of your phone, as a way to help your brain keep track of movement, and in theory, reduce nausea.

Weve seen lots of evidence of this feature, including in Android code, so its almost certainly coming at some point; its just a question of when. What to read next Google adds major Android optimizations to make your phone run faster Google I/O will will revamp mobile apps with AI 5 innovations I want from Android phones 2. App lock The Google Pixel 10 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Android 17 could also get a native app lock feature, so you can lock any app you choose without hiding it away in Private Space.

This was first spotted by Android Authority , and it would mean that users of Pixel phones or any other Android device that doesnt have an app lock
feature built in already would now be able to lock specific apps behind a
PIN or biometric authentication, without having to use a third-party tool.

This could be a very useful feature, and its something you can already do on iOS, so its about time Android caught up.

Android code pointing to this feature has been dug up, so as with Motion Assist, its almost certainly something Google is working on; it just remains to be seen whether it will be ready in time for Android 17. But if it is, we may well see it at the Android Show. 3. A Liquid Glass-like look (Image credit: @jspirit) Android got a big visual overhaul last year with Material 3 Expressive, but further changes could be coming this year, as according to 9to5Google , Android 17 will include significantly more blur.

This sounds like it could bring the interface a bit more in line with Apple s recent Liquid Glass redesign, and weve even seen how elements of it might
look thanks to various leaked images, such as some from @jspirit on Telegram (via Android Authority ), showing translucent blur effects across much of the interface.

This might substantially change how Android looks, so this could be a highlight of the Android Show. 4. A new gesture control The Google Pixel 10 Pro (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Android Authority has also found a double-tap gesture to turn Pixel screens off, and while this isnt meant to be available yet, the site was able to enable it in an Android 17 beta by
digging around in the code, so its likely near completion.

This is a small, simple, but potentially quite useful addition, meaning you can turn your phone's screen off with just two quick taps, rather than having to reach for the power button.

And while this feature is reportedly just for Pixels, there's already similar functionality in phones from the likes of Samsung , OnePlus, and Xiaomi anyway. 5. Easier home screen organization (Image credit: Android Authority) Finally, Android Authority has also seen evidence of a home screen organizer feature for Google Pixel phones.

With this, it seems youd be able to choose a category for a home screen
panel, such as frequently used apps, social media, or games, and then choose from a handful of different layouts, and have the panel automatically populated with relevant apps and games.

Evidence of this feature was found in an Android 17 beta, but it wasnt fully functional, so it was clearly still a work in progress. It may or may not be ready in time for Android 17s launch, then, but theres at least a chance well see this at the upcoming Android Show. Today's best Android phone deals Contract Deals Sim Free Samsung Galaxy S26 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 40 upfront 37.50 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices gift Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 25GB data 29 upfront 38.99 /mth View at Mobiles.co.uk See all prices Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go LTE (64GB Silver) Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 50 upfront 57 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices Google Pixel 10 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 100GB data 99 upfront 24.99 /mth View at Carphone Warehouse See all prices Google Pixel 10a 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 30 upfront 36.50 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices gift Google Pixel 10 Pro 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 200GB data 9 upfront 28.99 /mth View at Mobiles.co.uk
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