Google I/O is next week, but Google frontloaded a bunch of Android-specific info into its own presentation ahead of the main event. In The Android Show: I/O Edition that streamed yesterday on YouTube, Google had a lot to say about Android, Wear OS, Gemini, and more. There’ll be more to come at I/O proper on May 20, but for now, here are four takeaways from Google’s Android show this week.
1 Material 3 Expressive is on the way
Source: Google (via 9to5Google)
The next major update to Google’s Android UX has leaked pretty extensively in recent weeks, but in its Android Show stream, Google finally confirmed the details. Material 3 Expressive will build on Material You’s playful shapes and colorful accents with UI designs that are composed and weighted to draw your eye to important elements. There’s also an increased focus on motion and reactivity, with new “springy” and “natural” animations accompanying actions like swiping notifications away. Material 3 Expressive is coming not only to Android on phones and tablets, but also Wear OS.
Google’s said that Material 3 Expressive is coming later this year. The company tells us that while the new look won’t be rolling out with the initial stable Android 16 release, there’ll be a beta that introduces Material 3 Expressive elements to Pixel phones soon. The updated design language will make its way to stable Android 16 on Pixel phones, Google’s own apps, and Wear OS later in the year.
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2 Wear OS 6 is officially coming later this year
Source: Google
This week’s stream highlighted that the next wearable version of Android, Wear OS 6, is coming this year. There weren’t many specifics, but Google said that the new version is more tailored to round displays, with Material 3 Expressive elements that change size and shape as you scroll around the interface. Google also claims that Wear OS 6 will provide up to a 10 percent increase in battery life versus the Wear OS 5. Gemini integration, which we’ve been seeing hints of for months, is also planned for Wear OS 6.
According to Google, Wear OS 6 is also coming later this year. Ideally, we’ll get a more specific release window when I/O kicks off in earnest next week.
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3 Gemini is still on track for other platforms
Source: Lucas Gouveia/Android Police
Gemini has been Google’s top priority for some time now, but the AI assistant reaching the company’s various different platforms has been a slow process. In the I/O Edition Android Show, Google said that, in addition to coming to Wear OS later this year, Gemini will be making its way to cars, Google TV, and mixed-reality headsets before the end of 2025.
In cars, Gemini will first come to Android Auto, then to cars with Google built-in. In its automotive form, Gemini will give shorter, snappier responses tailored to minimize distraction while driving. It’ll also play a prominent role in Android XR headsets, which should reach market this year. Interestingly, Google didn’t mention its smart speakers or displays. Hopefully Nest Audio and Nest Hub devices won’t be left out in the cold.
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4 Find My Device is now Find Hub
Google’s Find My Device is becoming Find Hub. The updated version of Google’s device-tracking software will feature visual updates, and Google announced that there’ll be Find Hub-compatible luggage options from July and Mokobara in the near future. UWB compatibility for precise nearby tag location is also coming later this month, starting with Motorola’s Moto Tag trackers. It wasn’t clear whether that functionality would arrive before or after the new Find Hub app rolls out.
There’s more Android to come at Google I/O
Google I/O is now just days away, beginning on May 20. While Google moved some Android info out of the conference itself (presumably to free up more stage time for AI announcements), there’ll still be plenty of details to come next week. I’m hoping to get more specifics about when we can expect stable Android 16, Wear OS 6, and a broader rollout of Material 3 Expressive — but we’ll have to wait and see. Android Police will be bringing you all the latest during the show, so be sure to check back often.
