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ZDNET key takeaways

• Google partnered with Meta and Apple to improve Android.
• Adobe Premiere is launching on Android soon.
• Android 17 adds more creator-focused video-editing tools.

Android is better than iOS in numerous ways, but day-to-day app interactions aren't one of them. My favorite phones of 2026, from the foldable Oppo Find N6 to the camera-focused Vivo X300 Ultra, all run Android, but I have trouble shifting to them full-time because my most-used apps work better on iOS. Google is acknowledging and fixing this problem with Android 17. 

It is working on changes that might appeal to content creators and iPhone users who have been considering switching to Android.

Also: Android phone slow? I changed 2 developer settings for an instant speed boost

With Android 17, Google is adding more creator-focused features to help make the most of the industry-leading camera hardware available on Android phones. For those who want to switch, the company has also worked with Apple to overhaul its iOS-to-Android transfer process. Here's why Android 17 is one of the most exciting OS upgrades in recent years.

Fixing the Instagram experience

Instagram is one of my most-used apps on my iPhone. When I'm testing a new Android device, I realize that basic features aren't implemented the same way on both operating systems. For instance, I can select a 10-second-plus video on iPhone and edit the video duration within my Instagram Story.  However, on Android, that duration is set to one minute, and it doesn't always work. 

Other times, if I set a specific part of a song on my Scheduled Posts, the Android app changes it, and I see a different part being played after it goes live on my profile. The Android experience isn't reliable, and I have to double-check most of these things, whether I'm posting an Instagram Story or uploading a post.

Also: I changed 10 settings on my Pixel phone to instantly improve the user experience

However, Google is promising a more vibrant Instagram experience with Android 17. The company has teamed up with Meta to bring the best of Instagram to your phone. It is introducing an in-app ability to capture Ultra HDR and play it back, as well as built-in video stabilization and night mode integration. So, you don't need to open your phone's camera app to take the best-quality videos.

These features sound promising, but I'm more excited about the new claimed "completely optimized" capture-to-upload pipeline. Theoretically, this should help ensure that the photos and videos you upload on Instagram don't lose quality and remain sharp after you hit post. For those who prefer bigger screens, Meta will roll out a fully optimized version of its Instagram app for Android tablets.

More features to take advantage of Android's camera prowess

The latest generation of camera-centric Ultra phones from Android manufacturers is arguably better than iPhones. However, they are let down by Android's limited video-editing capabilities and rough social media sharing camera pipelines. Like Instagram, editing-focused apps aren't on the same level as their iOS versions. 

Google is working to change that with Android-exclusive features on the Edits app and an all-new Adobe Premiere app.

The Instagram Edits app is bringing Smart Enhance to help you instantly upscale your photos and videos with on-device AI, as well as a Sound Separation feature that'll help you automatically identify and separate audio, including wind, noise, and music. It aims to help creators boost the sounds that they want and remove the ones that aren't useful.

Also: I tested a BlackBerry-style Android phone with a keyboard, and it's weirdly practical in 2026

On the other hand, the Adobe Premiere app is coming to Android "this summer." 

We don't have a specific date yet, but Premiere will give you access to exclusive templates and effects "to create and post YouTube Shorts from the app," says the Google blog post. The company will also roll out a Screen Reactions feature, first on Pixel devices this summer, which aims to help you make reaction videos more easily.

Apple and Google are working together to make things easier for Android 

Google is making it easier for Android users to exist among their iPhone friends. 

After rolling out AirDrop support for Android flagship phones, the feature is all set to expand to more phones from Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor this year. I tried sharing photos from my Oppo Find X9 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra to my iPhone 17 Pro Max using the Quick Share-AirDrop feature, and it worked flawlessly.

Also: My favorite Android Auto find is these hidden shortcuts that are highly customizable

If you don't have a compatible Android phone, you can use Quick Share to generate a QR code and instantly share with iOS devices via the cloud, says Google. Plus, the company has promised to roll out Quick Share inside more apps, including WhatsApp.

Google has also worked with Apple to overhaul the iOS-to-Android transfer process. I am looking forward to trying this because it promises to wirelessly transfer your passwords, photos, contacts, messages, favorite apps, and even your home screen layout from your iPhone to your new Android phone. It will launch first on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices this year.

The two companies are working together for user safety, too. While Apple and Google have long offered encrypted messaging within iMessage and Google Messages, respectively, chats between green and blue bubbles have always been a point of concern.

Apple is now releasing an iOS 26.5 update, however, which finally brings end-to-end encryption to RCS messaging in beta. This means your messages between Android and iPhone are encrypted and protected. The feature will automatically apply to new and existing RCS conversations. It's gradually rolling out to iPhone and Android users in beta.