Google's Messages app for Wear OS devices receives a Material 3 expressive makeover
Google Messages and Wear OS Embrace a Fresh, Expressive Look
Google's messaging app, Google Messages, is stepping into a new era with a series of updates and redesigns. One of the most significant changes is the adoption of the Material 3 (M3) Expressive update, which brings a more vibrant and engaging user interface to the platform.
The M3 Expressive redesign on Google Messages for Wear OS emphasizes the use of colours, shapes, sizes, motion, and containment to create a user interface that feels intuitive and makes sense to users. The update also includes minor but meaningful UI tweaks that make interactions more visually expressive and align with the latest Material You design principles.
This redesign is part of Google's broader push to modernize Wear OS apps using Material 3 Expressive aesthetics. The aim is to keep the user interface visually cohesive across devices without radical overhauls.
The M3 Expressive update on Google Messages for Wear OS primarily brings a modernized, colourful, and clearer visual style consistent with Material 3 Expressive. It improves the overall look and feel without introducing drastic functional changes or new features beyond the UI enhancements announced so far.
However, it's important to note that this redesign is still in the experimental or early rollout stages, and specific new features beyond the UI refresh are not yet fully documented.
One notable feature is the introduction of new read receipts on Google Messages for Wear OS. These read receipts place checkmarks in a circle, providing a visual indication of message delivery and read status. This feature is not yet available on phones.
Another change is the grouping together of suggested replies (Yes, No, OK) instead of being standalone buttons. Google Messages is also rolling out Delete for everyone, Snooze notifications, and more features.
In the conversation view, the emoji, microphone, and keyboard buttons are now pills and are placed in a container. Call, View people, Delete conversation, and Open on phone are presented as pills for clear separation.
Interestingly, Google has reportedly rolled back the M3E redesign of the conversation view for testers on phones. Meanwhile, Google Messages for Wear OS is currently testing a M3 Expressive redesign, and the Google Phone app is expected to adopt the same number-pill layout.
Lastly, Google Messages for Wear OS is utilizing new read receipts that place checkmarks in a circle. To address a complaint about the redesign, Google has provided separate camera and gallery access.
[1] https://9to5google.com/2021/08/04/google-messages-wear-os-beta-update/ [2] https://www.xda-developers.com/google-messages-wear-os-beta-update-material-you/ [3] https://www.androidcentral.com/google-messages-wear-os-beta-update-brings-material-you-redesign [4] https://9to5google.com/2021/08/04/google-messages-wear-os-beta-update/ [5] https://www.xda-developers.com/google-messages-wear-os-beta-update-material-you/
Technology is evolving, and Google Messages is following suit by adapting the Material 3 Expressive design. This change, seen in Wear OS, includes a transformation of various gadgets such as the emoji, microphone, and keyboard buttons into pills. Furthermore, wearable devices like smartwatches are now equipped with visual indicators such as read receipts, represented as checkmarks in circles.
