OK, it's not that exciting. Sure, it's a new release of our favorite mobile operating system, but this isn't comparable to the jump from Android 15 to Android 16. That doesn't mean it's missing anything new and exciting. In fact, there's one particular feature that nearly had me shouting, "Huzzah!"

Also: Android 17 is out now, with a fresh Pixel Drop for June - here's what's new

The upgrade arrived on my Pixel 9 Pro this morning and took roughly 30 minutes to download and install. If you have a Pixel phone, you can expect the upgrade any time now; for other Android handsets, you'll need to wait until the OS arrives for your device.

I've already written about the new Android Desktop Mode, so I won't go into too much detail. Suffice it to say, this could very well be one of the features that changes the game for so many Android users. Imagine plugging your Android phone into an external monitor, and then attaching a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard to transform your phone OS into a full-blown desktop. That's what Desktop mode does.

Also: 40+ hidden Google Maps settings that every user should be taking advantage of

Desktop mode is Google's version of Samsung's DeX, and it works to perfection. Considering my testing was during the Android 17 beta phase, you can guarantee that it's even more polished now.