Android 16 will serve as the basis for a major aesthetic change. With Material 3 Expressive, Google is modernizing its design by playing with shapes, colors, and visual hierarchy. This new graphic language can already be observed in certain applications (via the study of the APK file), starting with Google Photos.
A more readable interface for Google Photos
Available in beta via Android 16 QPR1, the new version of Google Photos adopts a refined home page, stripped of the "Google Photos" mention in favor of the simple application logo. Enough to lighten the interface to highlight the content and improve navigation.
This facelift follows the principles of Material 3 Expressive, which focuses on background blur effects, softer shapes, and a clearer organization of elements. Some elements, such as the new battery icon, have already been seen in preliminary versions of Android 16. For their part, the Google Calendar and Files applications also display signs of this graphic evolution.
A new design for Memories
The Memories section of Google Photos benefits from special attention. The cards, previously dominated by a large cover image, are now displayed in two parts. The bottom presents the main image in a heart-shaped frame, while the top contains the title on a colored background, inspired by the dominant hues of the photo. Other adjustments are in preparation, such as a floating bar at the bottom of the screen or photo cards with more rounded corners.
The exact arrival date of this redesign is not yet known. If Android 16 is released next month, the Google Photos app could receive these changes via a separate update, even before the global rollout of the new Material 3 Expressive style.
Source: Android Police
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