Android 17 takes inspiration from Apple with its Continue On feature

Google has introduced Continue On, a feature for Android 17 that allows you to start a task on your phone and continue it on a compatible tablet. Similar to Apple's Handoff, this tool aims to sync devices seamlessly. For now, it only works from phone to tablet, but the company plans to make it bidirectional in the future.

Smartphone and tablet lying flat on a wooden desk, screen of phone showing a video editing timeline mid-scroll, tablet screen displaying the same timeline with a glowing transfer arrow floating between devices, hand reaching from phone toward tablet during the handoff process, technical illustration style, clean white background, subtle blue connection lines linking both screens, UI elements like progress bars and sync icons visible, photorealistic render with soft studio lighting, no text or numbers on screens, cinematic depth of field

How Android device synchronization works 🤖

Continue On relies on your Google account and proximity services like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct. When it detects a linked tablet, the system transfers the state of the active app, allowing you to resume tasks such as watching a video or editing a document. Initially unidirectional, Google is working on a bidirectional version to exchange tasks between both devices. No cables or complex setups are required.

The feature that will make you forget where you left your phone 📱

Because yes, now you can start reading an article on your phone and finish it on the tablet. The problem is that, since it only works from phone to tablet, if you lose your phone, the tablet stays in standby mode. But don't worry: when the bidirectional version arrives, you'll be able to pass the task back to the phone... just before it shuts down due to low battery. Ironies of progress.