Honor has announced that the Magic 8 Pro flagship is now able to access the first Android 17 Beta, making it the first device in the Honor lineup to get hands-on with the new software generation.
The Magic 8 Pro launched globally with MagicOS 10.0 based on Android 16, and it now takes the lead as the first Honor device to venture into Android 17 territory. At this stage, the beta is aimed at developers and tech enthusiasts — it isn’t open to general users.
The purpose of the beta access is straightforward: give developers the tools to explore the new OS, test how their apps behave on Android 17, improve application performance, and evaluate how well the latest Android 17 features integrate with the hardware. Once they’ve put the software through its paces, developers can share their findings on Honor’s global X page, covering anything from bugs and stability issues to performance observations and feature feedback — all of which feeds into refining the eventual public release.

Honor’s official message to developers was clear: “Get ready! Android 17 Beta is now available for all developers on #HONORMagic8Pro! We are excited to hear your thoughts on the new features. Share your experience.”
As for what Android 17 actually brings, the developer beta includes a range of additions across productivity, customization, AI, camera, and privacy. Multitasking gets a boost through floating bubbles that can now be minimized and reopened independently for individual apps. On the camera side, the new RAW14 image format is set to enhance the AiMAGE experience with improvements to image processing, dynamic range, and color accuracy. Other additions include a customizable UI for a tidier home screen, a redesigned Photo picker with multiple layout options, and updates to the Quick Settings panel, among other changes.