Play Store Search Gets Colorful Material 3 Expressive Design In New Update

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It’s a welcome change from the previously staid design

Material 3 Expressive, the newest design update to Android, is slowly but surely being rolled out to more of Google’s apps, and it seems like the Google Play Store is next.

Multiple Google Pixel phones shown from both front and back, displaying various color themes and interfaces.

Contained within Play Store version 46.5.19, and spotted by Telegram user @Leontylerz, an update has added the Material 3 Expressive design to the app’s search menu (via Android Authority).

Colorful and vibrant

It’s a welcome change from the previously staid design

Android has been through a number of design changes over the years, and the most recent has seen a minimalist approach to iconography. While this is clean and unobtrusive, it’s true it lacks a certain amount of punch. That’s certainly not something you can accuse Material 3 Expressive of, with its bright colors and highly contrasting icons. You can see the changes below, courtesy of @Leontylerz and Android Authority.

The icons haven’t had a massive overhaul in terms of their general silhouette, but the changes elsewhere are certainly dramatic. One of the big advantages here is a big increase in readability that makes each individual symbol stand out. It’s now much easier to quickly find the symbol you want from a glance, as each is now more individually distinct from its neighbors. We’ll be seeing a lot more of this style too, as Material 3 Expressive centers around user customization, visual hierarchy, and eye-popping color. Personally, it’s a change for the positive.

It’s entirely likely you won’t see this change yet, as it’s slowly rolling out to users across Android. We’ve already spotted Material 3 Expressive changes being made to other apps, like the Google app and the Clock app, and so, it’s only likely a matter of time before we start seeing it in other parts of Android too.