Google’s Material 3 Expressive: A Mixed Bag of Updates for Apps

Google is rolling out a significant visual refresh to its suite of apps with the launch of Material 3 Expressive, a redesigned interface language. While both Google and Apple are planning major operating system design overhauls slated for 2025, the Material 3 Expressive update has garnered attention for its impact on the user experience across Android devices.

The update, which began rolling out in December 2024, aims to create a more unified and cohesive look and feel across Android, encompassing phones, tablets, and smartwatches. However, the implementation within Google’s individual apps has been more incremental than some users anticipated.

The “Expressive” designation is key: this isn’t a complete overhaul to Material 4, but rather an evolution of the 2021 Material 3 design language, focused on adding more personality and visual dynamism. Early impressions suggest the changes feel more akin to a Material 3.5 update, rather than a radical departure.

One notable change involves the search app bar, which now moves the hamburger menu and profile avatar/switcher out of the pill-shaped container, increasing its height. This adjustment is a welcome improvement, particularly when implemented across Google Workspace apps like Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Gmail, and Keep.

However, the previous design, which housed all buttons within the search container, offered a more universal and consistent experience. Some apps, like Contacts, that have been updated to M3E lack the profile switcher and hamburger menu found in the new search app bar, and the Phone app is missing a profile switcher altogether. While not every Google app needs to look identical, a more consistent placement of key elements like profile switching or search functionality would improve usability.

Google also reverted a recent change to the top app bar, shortening it from a taller “statement” bar back to a more compact design. The company had previously moved away from the shorter bar, but the return appears to be a response to user feedback and a recognition that the taller version didn’t effectively utilize the available space. A bug in Google TV, where the “Library” tab failed to utilize the reclaimed space, further highlighted the issue.

The update also impacts navigation, with the bottom navigation bar in apps like Google Chat now behaving more like a toolbar, designed for frequently used actions within the current page, rather than a primary navigation component. This approach is exemplified in Google Photos.

One of the most noticeable changes is the implementation of Liquid Glass, which adds subtle animations and visual effects. These animations, designed to make interactions feel more “vibrant, fluid, and natural,” are particularly evident in features like pull-to-refresh in Google Photos and the FAB menu in Google Docs. However, using Liquid Glass for navigation elements presents usability concerns, as it can reduce readability between floating action buttons and the system navigation bar.

The increased size of buttons in M3E is also noticeable. Larger touch targets, such as the stopwatch in Google Clock and the expanded FABs in Google Drive and Docs, are generally a positive change. However, some find the larger buttons disproportionate to the interface, particularly in apps like Google Meet.

The update doesn’t fundamentally change how users interact with Google apps on a daily basis. Android 16 on Pixel devices remains familiar, but feels more dynamic than ever thanks to M3E, particularly the motion updates. The changes standardize the Android interface, but the redesign doesn’t necessarily make apps work together more cohesively, representing a missed opportunity.

According to Google, the apps don’t necessarily “feel more delightful and easier to use,” though the system interface can be described as such.

Expressive design makes you feel something. It evokes emotion, communicates function, and helps users achieve their goals.

The new and updated components feel like Material 3.5, representing the first wave of apps Google is redesigning to achieve this adoption. However, these are component swaps rather than a ground-up reimagining of the core interface, rethinking what it should be today.