Google has launched The Android Show, a new YouTube livestream series that kicked off on May 13, 2025. This series serves as a platform for Android-related announcements ahead of Google I/O, setting the stage for the season’s biggest updates.
A New Era of Material Design
One of the biggest revelations from The Android Show was the unveiling of Material 3 Expressive, an evolution of Google’s design system that has defined Android’s look and feel since 2014.
Building on 2021’s Material You (Material 3), the latest iteration focuses on:
- Dynamic animations that feel more responsive and natural.
- Enhanced haptics, making interactions more tactile.
- A fluid, motion-driven interface that mimics real-world physics.
Material 3 Expressive will roll out with Android 16, but not in its initial release—instead, it will arrive in a Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) update later this year. Pixel users can try it early via the Android 16 QPR1 Beta.
Core Upgrades in Material 3 Expressive
1. Motion: Spatial Springs Physics
A new “spatial springs” engine makes UI elements behave more like real objects. When tapped, buttons respond with weight and bounce, creating a more natural and intuitive interaction.
2. Colors: Bolder and More Expressive
A dramatic color palette introduces new purples, pinks, and corals. Blending and transitions have been smoothed out, resulting in more immersive visual feedback.
3. Fonts: Adaptive Typography
New adaptive fonts (Roboto Flex & Serif) subtly shift shape and thickness as users scroll or interact, improving readability across different screen sizes.
4. Background Blur Effects
Material 3 Expressive introduces dynamic background blurring, making UI elements feel more layered and immersive.
5. Revamped Quick Settings
The Quick Settings panel now features resizable tiles, one-click toggles for Internet & Bluetooth, and an improved tile editor.
Additionally, the brightness slider has been redesigned for precise adjustments.
Practical Examples
Quick Settings tiles squish when pressed, syncing with haptic feedback.
Notifications slide and bounce naturally, mimicking physical cards.
Buttons pulse with haptic responses that match their animations.
Menus unfold with springy motion that guides user focus.
Colors fade dynamically rather than appearing abruptly.
Tonal overlays replace traditional shadows to create depth.
Wear OS 6 introduces adaptive fonts, extended color schemes, and shape-morphing buttons to enhance smartwatch interactions.
Expanded App Support
Google is rolling out Material 3 Expressive updates for apps like Fitbit, Gmail, and Google Photos, though other Google apps are still awaiting updates.
Wear OS 6 apps will gradually adopt the new design, but not all apps will support dynamic theming immediately.
To aid implementation, Google has provided new design guidelines and Figma files for developers.
Wear OS 6 Enhancements
Beyond its visual refinements, Wear OS 6 introduces app tiles that match the system font, ensuring a more cohesive experience.
New developer tools, including Wear Compose Material 3 & Wear ProtoLayout, will enable apps to integrate extended color schemes, typography, and shape-morphing elements.
Final Thoughts
Material You (Material 3) introduced personalization, but Material 3 Expressive makes interactions feel more natural, bridging the gap between software aesthetics and real-world physics.
With improved animations, haptics, and adaptive UI elements, this update is set to reshape how users experience Android—not just visually, but tactically.