Only five phones are getting Sony’s Android 17 update

Sony has started rolling out Android 17 to its Xperia phones, but the update is currently limited to just five models.

Sony’s website confirms that Android 17 brings Desktop mode to supported Xperia models when connected to an external display. The update also adds more customisation for the Quick Settings panel, Lock screen and Home screen, while making screen recording easier.

If you’ve been following Android 17 on Google’s Pixel phones, most of this will sound familiar. The update brings similar improvements to Sony’s phones, including expanded icon and home screen themes, more flexible Quick Settings and the ability to use a phone in a desktop-style setup with a monitor.

There is one Xperia-specific addition, though. The Xperia 1 VIII gets a new feature called Custom Looks, which gives users more control over how the camera processes their photos. It works in a similar way to Google’s Camera Looks on Pixel 11, letting you adjust things such as colour tones and save up to three custom presets.

The bigger catch is how limited the rollout currently is. Sony lists just five Xperia models as eligible for Android 17: the Xperia 1 VIII, Xperia 1 VII, Xperia 1 VI, Xperia 10 VIII, and Xperia 10 VII.

The rollout is already underway, with Xperia 1 VIII users reportedly seeing Android 17 arrive on their devices.

Sony hasn’t listed any additional Xperia models for the update at this stage, so owners of other devices will have to wait for more information. For those with one of the five supported phones, however, Android 17 brings a useful mix of customisation tweaks and a more flexible experience when the phone is connected to a larger screen.

It’s not the most dramatic Android update, but Desktop mode in particular could make compatible Xperia phones considerably more useful beyond the usual smartphone setup.