Material 3 Expressive: Google distributes phone app with new design
Google's phone app is getting a design update on Android smartphones based on the new Material 3 Expressive design language.
Not just for Android 16: Google's phone app in a new design.
(Image: Google)
Even though smartphones are being used less and less for making calls, the phone app is one of the obligatory standard applications. Google itself provides it on many Android phones, and it is now receiving a design update based on Material 3 Expressive. Google is apparently distributing the new app to all users in phases.
Google's phone app gets a new look
With the update to Android 16, Google announced Material 3 Expressive, the biggest redesign for the system in a long time, which will probably not be released until September. However, the company is already delivering the design in portions for its in-house apps from – including the phone app, which is not only installed on Pixel smartphones. This means that Material 3 Expressive is finding its way into devices from other manufacturers in small doses.
As reported by Android Police, Google is distributing the design of the new phone app to a wider user community after it was initially only available for testers of the Public Beta. The new version of the app is not only available for devices with Android 16, but also for smartphones with older OS versions, as we can confirm. The new app version has also landed on a Xiaomi smartphone with Android 14.
The update includes some visual changes. For example, favorites and recent calls have been collected in one view. The favorites are sorted at the top in a kind of carousel view that can be swiped horizontally.
(Image:Â Andreas Floemer / heise medien)
A filter is also integrated above this, allowing users to filter by missed calls, contacts and “No spam”. Google has reduced the bottom menu from four to three tabs (call list, contacts, and mailbox), although another version we have only shows two tabs. The mailbox button is missing on this one.
Another new feature is that photos of contacts are displayed in an animated, curved circle during a call. There is also a new option in the app settings that allows users to choose between two methods for answering incoming calls. By default, you now have to swipe horizontally to answer or reject a call. As an alternative option, users can tap separate buttons to answer and reject.
Google explained this UX decision by saying that the old vertical swipe method is more prone to accidental inputs when users pull their smartphone out of their pocket.
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The Phone app is just one of many other Google apps that will receive a major design update over the coming weeks and months. Gmail, the Calendar app, Google Photos, and other applications should also receive Material 3 Expressive – Google hopes that developers of other Android apps will also follow suit.
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