Google Messages gets a Material 3 glow
Google has begun deploying its Material 3 Expressive redesign to the Google Messages app on Wear OS, with the update appearing on a Pixel Watch 3, according to Android Authority. This update introduces consistent coloring, altered shapes, and new text-accompanying icons.
Google Messages is the latest Wear OS application to incorporate Material 3 Expressive elements. Key changes include integrated UI elements such as color-filled buttons and subtly tinted message bubbles. Certain buttons, particularly those in lists, now feature dynamic shapes indicating scrollability. Message and conversation bubbles also display a less rounded form.
Text on some buttons is now paired with icons. Grouped buttons share an outline, indicating similar or complementary functions. This design is visible on quick reply buttons for emoji, voice typing, and the full-sized keyboard, which are unified by an outline. Previous designs placed these buttons in a single row.
Google Messages joins a list of Wear OS apps updated with the new design. Calendar, Keep, Gmail, and the Gemini app for Wear OS have already received visual updates on smartwatches. Google is also testing this redesign for Messages on Android, though these changes are currently limited to beta users.