What Motorola's Android 17 Beta releases are telling us about new features

Motorola has been trying to improve how fast and reliably it updates Android on its phones

With its Android 17 Beta rolling out on some devices such as the Moto Edge 60 Pro, we now have an idea about some of the new features that Motorola is bringing to its high-end phones receiving the new Android build.

For example, the Android 17 Beta for the Moto Edge 60 Pro adds a new AI assistant named Qira, a Dynamic Island-style Live Updates feature around the camera cutout, and greatly improved haptics. Changes to the UI include resizable Quick Tiles, a Volume slider that borrows liberally from the Pixel line, and refinements to the HelloUI app drawer.

Some of the changes found in Motorola's Android 17 Beta release

X subscriber @Fanboy_Moto posted a screenshot of the Android 17 Beta update notification. The image shows that the update weighs in at 5GB and, besides previously mentioned changes, the update includes:

• Tinted icons.
• Slightly changed opening and closing app animations.
• New status bar icons.

What did Motorola do to improve the HelloUI app drawer?

Earlier, we told you that the Moto Edge 60 Pro's Android 17 Beta update included refinements to the HelloUI app drawer. @Fanboy_Moto shared a list of these refinements:

• No MotoAI in the search bar.
• Better Background Blur.
• Folders now have a 3×3 grid instead of a 2×2 grid.
• Create folder button.
• Removed Apps Titles.
• All apps are now tinted.

At least one X subscriber called it a great update, even though another Edge 60 Pro user said the Android 17 Beta update caused his phone to get a little warm.

To install the Android 17 Beta on your eligible Motorola device, you need to register for the Motorola Feedback Network by creating an account on the Motorola Community website, adding in details of your phone, and opting in for the beta program. If you are approved for the program, Motorola will send the beta directly to you to install.

Where you can find the Motorola Android 17 Beta now

Right now, the Android 17 Beta is available in markets such as India and Brazil for the Motorola Signature, the Motorola Edge 70 and Edge 70 Fusion, and the Motorola Edge 60 Pro.

Based on Motorola's history, the stable version of Android 17 won't be rolled out until late Q3 or Q4, which translates to August through October. As we move to the end of 2026 and into early 2027, Android 17 will be pushed out for the mid-range Edge and Moto G lines.

In the US, Motorola is the third-largest smartphone brand with a solid 11% slice of the American smartphone pie ahead of the Pixel's 3% share, trailing Samsung's 24% and Apple's 60%. These are based on Q1 2026 smartphone shipments. Globally, Motorola is in the top ten, although it does better in Latin America.

According to IDC, in the U.S., Motorola has close to a 50% market share in the foldable market, putting it ahead of Samsung and Google. Globally, it is third, trailing Samsung and Huawei. With the expected release of the iPhone Ultra later this year, the foldable phone market is going to look much different.

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