Android is getting vibes, literally. Google just announced a major visual refresh for Android 16, and it’s not just about pretty colors. At The Android Show: I/O Edition, they pulled the curtain back on Material 3 Expressive, and if you’re rocking a Pixel, you’ll be the first to see it roll out later this year.
Let’s break down what’s coming!
What’s Material 3 Expressive?
Google says Material 3 Expressive is all about adding emotion to your interface. Think smoother interactions, richer animations, and yes—little haptic rumbles that make you feel stuff.
Here’s the vibe:
- Springy animations: Dismiss a notification? You’ll feel a satisfying haptic bump, and nearby notifications will subtly react.
- Depth via blur: The background blur in Quick Settings and Recents gives everything a soft-focus glow that makes foreground content pop.
- New fonts and color themes: Typography gets bolder, and dynamic theming is getting smarter and more personalized.
- Responsive components: Everything adapts more fluidly, from your sliders to your icons.
Oh, and no worries about lag or battery drain, Google promises everything stays smooth and efficient.
Your Lock Screen’s Getting Smarter
Pixel users, your lock screen is first in line for the upgrade:
- Notifications now shift things around. The day/date and weather move to the right of the clock when alerts are present.
- Live Updates will show real-time info (like food delivery or rideshare ETA) on both the lock screen and always-on display (AOD). Tap it next to the clock for full details.
Related: Android Desktop Mode Is Shaping Up to Be Google’s DeX Moment
Redesigned Status Bar & Quick Settings
Pull down your shade and boom—blurred backgrounds keep your wallpaper in view. Some UI changes you’ll notice:
- New status bar icons: Clean, distinct visuals for quick glances.
- Pill-shaped buttons: For Notification history, Clear all, and settings.
- Resizable Quick Settings tiles: Fit more actions, and they morph from pills to rounded rectangles when toggled.
- Updated sliders: Both brightness and volume sliders now look chunkier and easier to use, complete with new handles.
Google Apps Are Joining the Party
This redesign won’t stop at Android’s system UI. Google apps like Keep are getting the expressive treatment too, and expect more Gemini-powered widgets with that fresh Material 3 vibe.
Material 3 Expressive Is Coming to Wear OS 6, Too
Wear OS 6 is getting in on the glow-up, with a redesign that makes the most of your watch’s round display.
- Curved, fluid animations: Everything from scrolling lists to pin pads and media controls flows naturally around the circular screen.
- Depth and motion: Lists animate with subtle depth effects, and transitions are buttery smooth with shape-morphing elements.
- Dynamic color theming: Your watch face theme now colors the entire system UI, giving your watch a personalized, cohesive look.
- Stretchy glanceable buttons: Buttons now adapt to the screen’s shape—easy to tap and space-efficient.
- More engaging Tiles: Quick access to key info like favorite contacts or workouts is now more intuitive and stylish.
- Battery life boost: All this and still up to 10% better battery life. Yes, please.
When Can You Try It?
Android 16 with Material 3 Expressive drops later this year, kicking off with Pixel phones.
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