Android 16 is already generating a lot of buzz and is expected to be a significant one for Google. In addition to adding new functionality, Material 3 Expressive, a significant design shift, is being introduced. It’s likely that you’ve noticed indications of it appearing in Google Keep, Gmail, and even the main Google app. It’s now time for the Google Phone app. Ahead of Android 16’s official release, the app is undergoing its most significant cosmetic overhaul in a long time.
A significant Material 3 Expressive update to the Google Phone app was noticed by the people at Android Authority. You can now use a “single tap” or a “horizontal swipe” to answer calls. The call screen displays large “Answer” and “Decline” buttons for prompt action if you choose the tap option.
The “Horizontal swipe” option, on the other hand, introduces a pill-shaped slider. A phone icon with the words “accept” and “decline” on either side is located directly in the center. To take it up, simply swipe right; to cancel, swipe left.
In the Google Phone app back then, you had to swipe up to answer a call and swipe down to reject it. For years, the app had a strong minimalist aesthetic. However, in comparison to more ostentatious dialer programs, it was beginning to feel a bit boring. Seeing Google finally give it some much-needed visual love is refreshing.
Before this update, you had to swipe down to reject calls and swipe up to answer them if you were using the Google Phone app. For a long time, Google’s default phone app has been fairly simple, concentrating on the essentials with an intuitive user interface. After falling behind other dialer apps, it’s good to see Google finally giving it a number of graphic enhancements.
Additionally, the in-call interface has seen a slight makeover, with caller images being more visible, contact names popping more, and buttons becoming bolder. The four-tab bar remains unchanged below, with a darker background.
Visual enhancements throughout the application
Furthermore, the Recent tab now has a softer, rounded edge and a cleaner background. Every call log entry is contained within a separate card-style container. The standard contact choices are still displayed when you tap any of them.
According to reports, the dialer and Favorites section also have this card-like design, so it’s not just for Recents. For a unified appearance, the sheet behind the number pad has adopted rounded corners, while the pad itself has remained same.
Google appears to be progressively implementing this server-side modification, which originally appeared last month. If you’re using the most recent beta, you may already be noticing the changes when the new Material 3 Expressive style becomes available to users.
