Google I/O '26 highlights key Android developer tools for building premium app experiences. Android 17 introduces RAM-based memory limits, making lean app footprints critical. The new R8 Configuration Analyzer in Android Studio helps optimize shrinking rules — Monzo saw 30% faster cold starts and 35% fewer ANRs. Jetpack Glance unifies widget development across phones, Wear OS, and cars using a Compose-based model, with RemoteCompose enabling expressive, performant UI on remote surfaces. CameraX v1.5 adds high-frame-rate and slow-motion capture with adaptive viewfinder support. The new Media3 AI Effects library provides a unified interface for features like Image Enhance, Magic Eraser, and Studio Sound, while Media3 Transformer supports multi-asset video editing.
