Google is betting on translucency for Android 17, though calling it a visual overhaul would be generous. The update will lean harder into blur effects across the interface, extending what started with Android 16’s QPR1 into more system elements. It’s evolution, not reinvention.
The volume panel is getting the treatment first. Instead of the current solid background, users will see a translucent surface that lets the wallpaper or active app peek through. The entire control panel, the slider pill, and the audio mode selector will adopt this softer, layered look. It won’t be a neutral blur either. Google is tying it to its dynamic color system, so the effect shifts based on your theme.
According to reports from those who’ve tested internal builds, Android 17 won’t push much further than this. The big visual jump already happened with Android 16. This time, Google seems content refining rather than rethinking. The interface will look airier, maybe more cohesive, but the experience underneath stays the same.
Blur first appeared in the notification shade with Android 16 QPR1, exclusive to Pixel devices. Google framed it as a way to add depth without losing context of what’s running behind the UI. Android 17 simply spreads that logic wider.
Comparisons to Apple’s frosted glass aesthetic are unavoidable, though early impressions suggest Google’s version is more restrained. What’s less clear is whether third-party apps will follow suit. Blur isn’t part of Material 3 Expressive guidelines yet, so it might stay a system-level detail for now.
