Google may be quietly rethinking the look of Android, and a first look at Android 17 suggests visual changes that look very familiar. New evidence has emerged showing blurring effects in Android 17’s system interface, suggesting a design direction that reflects Apple’s Liquid Glass style.
Blur and transparency are not entirely new concepts for Android. What’s remarkable about this Android 17 sighting is how deliberate and system-level the impact appears to be.
A closer look at Android 17’s new blur effects
According to Android Authority, these visual elements are linked to new UI flags. The effects aren’t flashy, but they soften menus and overlays in a way that’s immediately reminiscent of Apple’s Liquid Glass approach, in which content appears to float over a blurred background.
The images show translucent backgrounds and matte graphics in areas such as the volume section, where the UI no longer looks completely solid. Instead of sharp, opaque blocks, the interface appears to blur what’s behind it, creating a layered appearance.
Android 17 could expand on this transparent design language further, potentially applying it to other system elements beyond the volume menu. The move also comes as Android phone makers increasingly experiment with glass-like and transparent interfaces, vying to emulate Apple’s controversial Liquid Glass design.
However, blur effects appear to be a work in progress and may change or even disappear before Android 17 is finalized. If they stick with it, Android 17 could bring about a noticeable change in the way the platform feels, not just how it works.
Aside from visual changes, Google is testing practical Android 17 upgrades, including a more private way to share contacts with apps. Another big change in the works is the Motion Cues features, aimed at reducing motion sickness when using your phone in moving vehicles, as well as greater system support for physical game controllers.
