Ahead of Google I/O next week, Google unveiled a significant update for Android and Wear OS with Material 3 Expressive, one of their largest updates in years. This update focuses on personalization, smooth interactions, and enhancing user experience.
Mindy Brooks, VP of Product Management and User Experiences for Android, explained that Material 3 Expressive builds upon their “Material You” design introduced nearly four years ago, offering even “more customization options”. This update aims to help users express their individuality while ensuring fluid and engaging interactions.
Key Features of Material 3 Expressive on Android
- Fluid Animations: The system introduces natural, springy animations across the interface, such as subtle responses when dismissing notifications or apps. Users will feel satisfying haptic feedback when removing notifications or apps, providing a more dynamic experience.
- Dynamic Color Themes: Android now supports updated color schemes, giving users the ability to personalize their devices with ease. Google Photos, Fitbit, and Gmail are among the apps that will also adopt these visual updates.
- Quick Settings Customization: Users can now add more of their favorite toggles like Flashlight and Do Not Disturb directly to the Quick Settings menu for easy access.
- Live Updates: The new Live Updates feature allows users to track time-sensitive notifications like delivery progress from apps like Uber Eats, right on the screen.
Mindy Brooks emphasized, “important stuff doesn’t get buried” in your notifications, ensuring that critical updates stay in the foreground.
New Features in Android 16
- Live Updates: Developers can use the ProgressStyle template to show live progress updates, which will be useful for deliveries and navigation apps.
- Professional Media and Camera Features: Android 16 brings features like hybrid auto exposure, precise color temperature adjustments, and the Advanced Professional Video format to improve content creation.
- Desktop Windowing: Tablets will see improvements with a desktop-like interface.
- Accessibility Enhancements: Android 16 will include better accessibility features, making the system more inclusive.
Matthew McCullough, VP of Product Management for Android Developer, mentioned that Material 3 Expressive will not only enhance personalization but will also make devices more functional and engaging.
Material 3 Expressive on Wear OS
For Wear OS, Material 3 Expressive introduces a design tailored to enhance the round display. Key improvements include:
- Color-Theming: Users can now apply their chosen watch face theme system-wide.
- Responsive Feedback: Actions like controlling media or using the pin pad will feel more fluid and responsive.
- Battery Life Improvements: Wear OS 6 offers up to 10% more battery life due to performance optimizations.
Additional Developments
- Gemini AI Assistant: Gemini will be available across a range of Android devices, offering assistance through various platforms such as smartwatches, Android Auto, and Google TV.
- Security and Privacy: Google is expanding scam detection in Google Messages to identify more fraudulent messages, while the FindHub platform will offer satellite connectivity and better device tracking.
Android Show I/O Edition Video
According to the Android Show I/O Edition video, Material 3 Expressive introduces several key updates:
- Personalized Design: Android 16 now allows deeper personalization, including dynamic colors that adapt across the system and apps.
- Fluid Animations: Natural animations are now integrated throughout the system for smoother interactions.
- Responsive Components: Interface elements are designed to better respond to user interactions, creating a more tactile and engaging experience.
- Enhanced Typography: Android 16 introduces bolder, more expressive typography.
- Live Updates: The addition of real-time progress notifications for apps like rideshare and delivery services.
- Home Screen Customization: The grid layout will allow for better customization and cleaner organization.
- Quick Settings: More controls can now be added to Quick Settings for quicker access.
- Background Blur: A subtle blur effect adds depth without draining battery life.
Gemini Integration
- System-Wide Assistant: Gemini will be integrated into Android 16, providing users with an AI-powered assistant accessible across multiple devices and contexts. It includes real-time help through features like Gemini Live, where users can share their screen or camera feed for assistance.
- Gemini Across Devices: The assistant will also be available on Wear OS, Android Auto, Google TV, and other devices within the Android ecosystem.
- Security and Privacy: Google is enhancing scam detection in Messages and expanding the FindHub network, which will also integrate satellite connectivity for device location tracking in remote areas.
Availability
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Material 3 Expressive is set to roll out on Android 16 and Wear OS 6 later this year.
Google I/O 2025 is scheduled for May 20-21 at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, with additional software and hardware announcements anticipated.