Google Unveils Biggest Android, Wear OS Design Overhaul in Years

Google has unveiled Material 3 Expressive, a major design overhaul for Android 16 and Wear OS that enhances personalization and fluidity across devices. Building on the Material You design, Material 3 Expressive introduces springy, natural animations, subtle blur effects, haptic feedback, and expanded color themes and fonts to create a more responsive and customizable user experience. New features include a Live Updates notification system for real-time tracking of deliveries and rideshares, as well as greater customization of Quick Settings. Android Auto is also being upgraded with Gemini AI integration, enabling hands-free natural language interactions for messaging, navigation, and media control, supported in multiple languages and rolling out in select car models by the end of 2025. Google emphasizes that these updates aim to make devices feel uniquely personal while maintaining usability, though adoption by other OEMs may vary. Enhanced security measures are also part of Android's evolution, including protections against various scam texts and improvements to device tracking via the new Find Hub service.