The Google Phone app is set to undergo a significant redesign, embracing the Material 3 Expressive design language. This update, which was recently discovered in a beta version of the app, aims to enhance user experience with a fresh interface.
One of the most noticeable changes is how users will manage incoming calls. The app will now support the option to answer calls either by swiping horizontally or with a single tap.
The bottom navigation bar, featuring tabs for Favorites, Recents, Contacts, and Voicemail, remains largely unchanged except for its darker background. However, the Recents tab has been revamped; all past calls will now be organized within rectangular fields that have rounded corners, replacing the previous single long list format.
The dial pad maintains its original structure, with the main alteration being the rounded corners on its top. Additionally, suggested phone numbers above the dial pad will also be found in rectangular fields.
Other features have similarly adopted this modern design, including filters like All, Missed, Contacts, Non-Spam, and Spam, streamlining user interaction. Users will also benefit from new shortcuts for quick messaging and easy access to video calls.
When an incoming call arrives, new interactive elements will enhance the experience. Users can swipe left to decline or right to accept, with the caller’s image rotating within a unique scallop-shaped design.
The call buttons will take on pill-shaped forms that transition into rounded rectangles when pressed, and the “end call” button is now wider and more visually prominent. This redesign is currently available in beta version 180 of the Google Phone app.
Although I am using this version on my Pixel 6 Pro, the new design has yet to appear. Overall, this refreshed aesthetic promises to modernize a staple app and improve usability significantly.