Google Messages Tests Its Material 3 Expressive Redesign With Some Users
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Google’s new design language for Android, Material 3 Expressive, won’t be a part of the initial Android 16 release. Instead, it will only debut later in the year, likely with Android 16’s first Quarterly Platform Release. Google is also working on giving its first-party apps a Material 3 Expressive makeover. As part of this, it began rolling out Gmail’s M3E redesign to some Android users. Now, Google Messages is joining the bandwagon, with its chat UI getting an Expressive revamp.
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9to5Google received a tip about this change, noting that the Material 3 Expressive UI is currently limited to the conversation interface. As part of the revamp, the threads are placed in pill-shaped containers, ditching the circles. They also use the same background as the app bar, which now features a darker shade to stand out from the chat window.
The bigger changes are visible after tapping the ‘+’ icon to bring up the option to open the Gallery, GIFs, Stickers, etc. Like message threads, these options are now placed in a pill-shaped container and use the same background as the contact bar at the top.
Left: Current Google Messages UI; Right: New Material 3 Expressive interface
Another minor change is the switch to pill-shaped containers in the Emoji menu for the GIFs, Stickers, and other tabs. Google has also moved the search bar below the tab bar in the current Material 3 Expressive design iteration. The Photomoji tab has been relocated to the far right, whereas it is the first tab in the current interface.
Other aspects of the app remain untouched, indicating that Google is still working on Messages’ Material 3 Expressive redesign.
Google Messages Material 3 Expressive redesign won’t release soon
Google seems to be testing the Material 3 Expressive UI in the latest Google Messages beta (20250528_00_RC00) via a server-side push. So, there’s no guarantee you will gain access to the new UI just because you are running the latest beta.
The company keeps testing changes in its messaging app, but they typically take a while to roll out. So, don’t expect Google Messages’ Material 3 Expressive redesign to roll out anytime soon. If anything, the company might release the Material 3 Expressive revamp of all its apps simultaneously later this year.
