With every major OS update, companies like Apple and Google like to introduce various UI tweaks and redesigns. This is meant to give the operating system a slight makeover, while also improving on past designs. With Android, it’s Material 3 Expressive . Now, we’ve seen Google roll out the update to various apps like the Pixel Recorder , Files by Google , and more. But now, it looks like Material 3 Expressive has made its way to Gmail .
Gmail gets Material 3 Expressive makeover
According to a report from 9to5Google, Google has started rolling out an update to Gmail that introduces the Material 3 Expressive design . Google had initially started testing out the change for Gmail back in June, but it looks like it is now available on a wider scale.
Overall, Gmail will still function the way you’re used to. However, the use of the new design language makes some small tweaks to the overall look. For starters, as you can see in the screenshots below, Google has placed the message list in one container featuring rounded corners at the top and bottom.
Secondly, the swipe actions, which give users access to functions like archive, delete, mark as read/unread, now have a pill-shaped animation. It’s a nice, modern, and dare we say playful touch. Lastly, when opening an email, the same motif is being used. The top half now features the app bar and subject line.
Note that the app hasn’t been given a full makeover yet. As 9to5Google notes, Google hasn’t made any changes to the Compose screen and homescreen widget. However, we expect that the company will eventually introduce those changes.
What is this new design about?
Google first introduced Material 3 Expressive at “The Android Show: I/O Edition” event. The new design language is an evolution of Material You, which Google introduced in Android 12. According to Google, the new design is meant to make interfaces feel more engaging and “alive” through “naturally, springy animations.”
Users can look forward to interactions that respond with fluid, physics-based movements that feel more “organic,” or so Google claims. To a certain extent, this is kind of the same vibes we’re getting with Apple’s upcoming iOS 26. Google is slowly rolling out the design changes across its apps and services, so it could be a while before Android gets the full makeover.
