Google has officially unveiled a major update to the interface design of its Android mobile operating system, based on the Material 3 Expressive concept. Developers have sought to add more emotion to the interface, while making it more attractive and user-friendly. These changes will be implemented in Android 16, which will be released later this year and will first be available on Google's Pixel devices.
In Material 3 Expressive, developers are pushing for more “natural and bouncy“ animations. For example, when you dismiss a notification, the user will feel a “pleasant tactile buzz“, and nearby notifications will “react“ to that action with a short animation. Other examples include changed animations when closing apps in the recent apps list, moving the volume control, and other actions.
The background blur in the quick settings panel, notification area, and multitasking view adds a sense of depth and maintains context as you navigate your device. The updated design includes new responsive components, a sharper look, and updated dynamic color themes. Google noted that the redesign will not negatively impact the battery life of Android devices.
In addition to this, the developers have implemented support for the “Live Updates“ feature, which displays notifications from delivery apps, taxis, and other services. For example, this feature will be useful for tracking an order from a cafe or a grocery delivery service. With your device's screen unlocked, simply tap the “Live Updates“ shortcut to open the full text of all incoming notifications.
New icons will appear in the status bar. The “At a Glance“ widget, which displays useful information on the home screen, will be more compact. Pulling down the notification drop-down panel will activate the background wallpaper blur. The developers have updated many visual elements and added more interface customization options. All this is aimed at making Android 16 more attractive and user-friendly.