Google's big Android redesign is official, and it's teeming with expression

Summary

Ahead of its main I/O developer conference on May 20 through 21, Google has hosted a consumer-facing Android event called The Android Show: I/O Edition.
At this event, Google officially unveiled its next-generation visual redesign for Android and Wear OS.
Leaks and APK teardowns have spoiled some of the surprise factor, but Material 3 Expressive is exciting nonetheless.

Google
has finally hosted its big consumer-facing Android presentation, dubbed The Android Show: Google I/O Edition, after having previously teased the event on its social channels earlier this month. At the event, the company officially took the wraps off its next major refresh to the look and feel of the Android operating system, in addition to

confirming the arrival of Gemini
on its Wear OS, Android Auto, Google TV, and Android XR platforms.

As indicated by rumors and APK teardowns courtesy of Android Authority, Google’s next-gen design language is called Material 3 Expressive, and it comes with new system animations, increased reliance on translucency effects, and several other notable design tweaks.

“Material 3 Expressive feels even more fluid and introduces a system of more natural, springy animations meant to bring a moment of delight to everyday routines,” says Mindy Brooks, Senior Director of Product and UX Android Platform at Google, in a statement.

The Material 3 Expressive-focused The Android Show itself serves as a prelude to Google’s larger I/O developer conference.

According to Google,

Pixel devices
will be first in line to receive the new Material 3 Expressive design language, with a timeframe of “later this year.” It’s unclear when other Android hardware makers will push out their own takes on the new Expressive design, but Google says: “There are so many more design improvements we’re working with our partners to bring to Android 16 and Wear OS 6 devices.”

The Material 3 Expressive-focused The Android Show itself serves as a prelude to Google’s larger I/O developer conference for 2025, which is slated to take place on May 20 through 21 of this year.

Google Gemini is coming to your smartwatch, TV, and car next

Gemini is soon expanding to even more Android devices, including your smartwatch and TV.

Android is about to get a lot more playful

With Material 3 Expressive, Google is refining animations, adding blurred surfaces, and more

Google Android Material Design 3 Expressive screenshots

Google / Pocket-lint

At its core, Material 3 Expressive is an evolution of the existing Material You design language first introduced in 2021’s Android 12 release. Google has been steadily iterating on its Material Design language since its initial introduction all the way back on Android 5.0 Lollipop in 2014.

In the case of this new Material 3 Expressive refresh, Google is making tweaks to many surfaces of the

Android OS
. The notification shade and quick settings panel are receiving a new translucent blur effect, as is the recent apps screen, the app drawer, and the lock screen

PIN input panel
.

System animations have also been overhauled, now featuring playful and bouncy effects that react to your touch. For example, when dismissing a notification, surrounding notifications will bend and stretch according to the inertia of each flick motion.

…after seeing the new design language in motion, I’m growing more fond of the new aesthetic.

Additional dynamic color themes are also confirmed as part of Material 3 Expressive, and Google’s sizzle highlight reel showcases a number of smaller UI tweaks across surfaces like sliders, buttons, dials, toggles, typography, and iconography, as well.

Finally, Google is also highlighting its new Live Updates feature, which is similar to

Apple’s Live Activities
on the iPhone and iPad. In short, Live Updates are notifications that provide real-time information on timely events, such as ride-sharing and food delivery status updates.

My initial impressions of Material 3 Expressive

were somewhat negative
, but after seeing the new design language in motion, I’m growing more fond of the aesthetic. I look forward to testing it out in person to see just how reactive and personal it feels in comparison to Android’s current design.

Android is about to get a face lift, and I’m not on board with the new look

Google is rumored to be overhauling the look of Android via a Material 3 Expressive theme initiative, and so far, I’m not loving the new aesthetic.

Wear OS is getting the Expressive treatment, too

Google’s dedicated OS for smartwatches is also getting a Material 3 refresh

Google Wear OS Material Design 3 Expressive screenshots

Google / Pocket-lint

Not to be outdone by the Android smartphone OS, Google’s smartwatch

Wear OS
counterpart is also set to receive the same Material 3 Expressive design refresh. Google is leaning heavily into the circular aesthetic here, with new fluid scrolling animations that trace the curvature of round smartwatch displays. Shape-morphing UI elements, updated media controls and quick settings tiles, and new glanceable buttons are all designed to make better use of screen real estate.

Ever since laying eyes on the

Motorola Moto 360
back in 2014, I’ve always been a fan of circular smartwatches, and so I’m naturally a fan of these new Material 3 Expressive optimizations for round display panels. I hope to see a renaissance of Wear OS smartwatches that wear the round aesthetic loud and proud, and, in particular, I’d love to see the Moto 360 be reborn for the modern Expressive era we’re about to enter.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is on a wrist held in front of a blurred blue background.

The best Wear OS smartwatches to keep you connected

From Google’s own Pixel watches to the hefty Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, these smartwatches have the perfect hardware to complement Wear OS.

Google’s I/O conference is fast approaching

The developer-focused event itself is set to take place May 20 through 21

Google

As mentioned, Google’s annual I/O conference for the 2025 calendar year is set to take place from May 20 through 21. As in previous years, the event will be focused primarily on the Android developer community, with several keynotes and live sessions expected to take place.

In the early days of

Google I/O
, the Android operating system itself was the main focal point of the conference. Over time, the event has become increasingly developer-focused, which makes it a curious decision for Google to host a dedicated Android-themed pre-show this time around. Arguably, it speaks to Google’s confidence in Material 3 Expressive, which it presumably sees as a major evolution to the look and feel of the platform as a whole.

Pocket-lint will have more on Google I/O in the coming weeks, including additional details on Material 3 Expressive, and further information on the company’s push for Gemini AI across Wear OS, Android Auto, Google TV, and

Android XR
.