Google Unveils Revamped Android 16 and Wear OS 6 Design: Embracing Material 3 Expressive

Google has unveiled a revamped design for Android 16 and Wear OS 6, known as Material 3 Expressive, which is based on the Material You framework introduced nearly four years ago. The updates are expected to be available for testing on Pixel devices by the end of 2025.

Material 3 Expressive emphasizes smoothness and features a system of bouncier, more dynamic animations. When interacting with notifications, adjacent alerts will subtly respond to these actions. Deleting a notification will provide tactile feedback.

The latest version of Android introduces refreshed dynamic color themes that will influence the appearance of all system applications, more responsive interface elements, and expressive typography. Google is actively working to integrate these visual elements into applications like Google Photos, Fitbit, and Gmail.

One of the notable new features, Live Updates, enables users to track order progress notifications within certain apps, similar to Apple’s Live Activities on iPhone.

Additionally, the quick settings panel is customizable, allowing users to add specific features such as a flashlight or ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode. «We have ensured that important notifications do not get lost among the others,» Google emphasized.

Wear OS 6 also adopts the Material 3 Expressive design for Android smartwatches. The dynamic scrolling design mirrors the curves of the round display, adapting elements to suit the smaller screen size. Meanwhile, tiles will provide quick access to essential information or actions like sending messages or starting workouts. Furthermore, Google will introduce a dynamic color theme for watches, so the selected watch face style applies across the entire system.

In Wear OS 6, Google aims to enhance performance and optimize battery consumption. The company stated that this update can extend battery life by 10%.

Details about the new Material 3 Expressive design language were accidentally revealed by Google in early May 2025. In a leaked blog post, it was noted that the updated design would focus on creating interfaces that «establish an emotional connection with people.»