On Tuesday, Google unveiled its new Android design language, Material 3 Expressive, at the Android show ahead of Google I/O. The update is designed to make phones more customizable and fluid, Tech Giant says.
Material 3 Expressive brings new, resilient animations that make Google feel more fluid. For example, rejecting a notification can remove the transition and feel a tactile rumble. You can feel the same kind of animation and haptics, such as dismissing apps on recent app screens, fiddling with the volume slider, and letting shades go.
Additionally, the update provides a sense of depth by subtly blurring the background, allowing you to stay in context when navigating your phone.
“In 2021, we launched you as a major leap in design focusing on the identity of users with experiences such as dynamic colour themes,” said Mindy Brooks, the Android platform, vice president of the product, during a briefing with reporters. “Now we’re building the principles of materials to bring you the latest design update called Material 3 Expressive. Material 3 Expandive is an expansion of new components and features designed to add emotion to the product UIS, providing a more comfortable and more premium and engaging experience that brings a little more joy at key moments.”
Android also gets the latest dynamic color themes, highlighting typography so that users can customize their phone to their style and preferences. Additionally, these visual customizations apply to Google apps such as Google Photos and Gmail.
Additionally, you can now customize the quick settings to add more favorite actions, such as a flashlight.
The new Live Updates feature on Android also helps you easily track progress notifications from selected apps. For example, when you place an Uber Eats Order, you will see a Glanceable Live update to check the real-time progress of your order. This feature is similar to the live activity feature in iOS.
“We’re introducing live updates as a new feature that highlights what you need to know and allows you to focus on what you care about,” Brooks said. “We were all there. We ordered. We are trying to pay attention to the conversations around the table. With Glancable Live Updates, you can easily track your orders and get back to real life. Real-time updates from your favorite streaming, ride and navigation apps are coming as part of a redesign later this year.”
All of these new design improvements will be first to reach Pixel devices later this year using Android 16.
As for Wear OS Watches, the Material 3 Expressive design is more fluid with animation scrolling tracking the circular display. Just like mobile phones, new design languages bring a sense of depth.
Additionally, Google is updating its daily experiences, including using pin pads and controlling media using motion and responsive feedback. There is also a smooth transition along with dynamic color taming on the watch, with the selected theme applied to the watch’s face to the device.
“We look forward to announce that we’re color-themed watches,” Brooks said. “Now, the theme you chose for the face of the watch can be a whole system theme in the Google app, so you can make it yourself. And when it comes to getting things done, Glanceability is one of the most important considerations. For the watch, we created a system of buttons that really embrace the display.
Tiles also become more attractive, providing easy access to information and actions, such as starting your favorite contacts and workouts.
These changes will be rolled out to Pixel Watch on WEAR OS 6 later this year.
Learn how to watch live streams and more from Google I/O.