At its I/O 2025 event, Google officially introduced the next major version of Android. What does the new design language, called Material 3 Expressive, bring? Here’s everything new coming with Android 16:
On May 13, during The Android Show: I/O Edition, Google officially revealed the new design language that will arrive with Android 16. Material 3 Expressive introduces new motion physics, component updates, color schemes, expressive typography, and much more.
What Does Material 3 Expressive Bring?
Android 16 comes with major changes to the user interface. Material 3 Expressive builds on Google’s open-source design language, Material Design. It’s a refreshed version of Material You (Material 3), which was first introduced with Android 12 four years ago. It’s not a new generation like Material 4, but rather an extension of the Material You design philosophy.
Why was this update made? According to Google, Material 3 Expressive is the most thoroughly researched design revamp to date. It was created based on:
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46 global studies
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Hundreds of design variations
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Feedback from over 18,000 participants
Material 3 Expressive brings a series of user interface improvements designed to make Android feel more lively and intuitive. Some key themes include:
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More flexible, natural-feeling animations that enhance touch interactions
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New icon shapes and updated typography
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Background blur effects for depth and focus
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Updated color themes
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Home screen and Quick Settings improvements for a more dynamic layout
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A visual redesign for many Google apps
New Animations and Motion Physics
Material 3 Expressive introduces a new motion system that aims to make interactions smoother, more dynamic, and natural. For example, when you dismiss a notification, a subtle haptic feedback is paired with a soft separation animation, and other notifications slightly respond to your swipe. Similar effects will appear when closing apps from the Recent Apps screen, adjusting volume sliders, or pulling down the notification panel.
More Dynamic and Personalized Color Themes
Material 3 Expressive enhances Android’s dynamic color theming engine with richer, more detailed color palettes that improve visual hierarchy and personalization. Google says the updated system provides clearer distinctions between primary, secondary, and tertiary tones, helping users better understand which actions are most important.
The new themes aim to create visual contrast and prevent UI elements from blending into each other. At the same time, Material 3 Expressive themes will still reflect custom wallpapers and user preferences.
Typography Refresh
Typography gets a major upgrade in Material 3 Expressive, introducing new font styles designed to better capture user attention. Headlines and key actions are now larger and easier to spot thanks to improved hierarchy. Whether you’re starting a recording or checking unread messages, the new styles are meant to make those interactions feel more immediate.
Google is offering these updates to developers through the Material type scale, meaning Android apps will soon feature richer layouts and better clarity. The company also confirmed these updates will be applied to Google’s own apps.
New Shapes, Transitions, and Updated Components
Material 3 Expressive brings a new shape library with 35 different options, enabling developers to create more diverse interfaces. Android users will notice smooth shape-shifting transitions, such as soft corners morphing into squared parabolic shapes for a more fluid, interactive experience.
The component package also includes 15 new or updated UI elements such as:
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Button groups
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Split buttons
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Toolbars
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Loading indicators
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Floating action buttons (FAB)
Existing elements like app bars, icon buttons, and navigation bars also come with enhanced customization in terms of shape, size, and style.
Improved System UI
With Material 3 Expressive, the Android system interface becomes more customizable. Users can now pin more controls—like Flashlight or Do Not Disturb—for faster access. Quick Settings tiles can be resized, allowing more features to fit into the area.
The notification panel now features a subtle blur effect for added background depth.
A new feature called Live Updates allows users to track real-time progress from apps like Uber Eats or Google Maps—such as delivery times or ride-sharing status—without opening the app.
Material 3 Expressive on Pixel Watch and Wear OS
Material 3 Expressive is also coming to Wear OS, starting with the Pixel Watch. Although Google states that colors won’t be synchronized between phones and wearables, the dynamic color theming will arrive on Wear OS, and visual effects will be reflected consistently in the UI.
Animations have been designed to follow the natural curve of the Pixel Watch’s round screen, creating a more immersive and fluid experience.
Google announced that Material 3 Expressive will begin rolling out to Pixel phones later this year, following the release of the stable Android 16 build expected in June.
Source: Google https://blog.google/products/android/material-3-expressive-android-wearos-launch/
