Google inadvertently revealed information about a major Android redesign called Material 3 Expressive in a since-deleted blog post spotted by 9To5Google. The update, which should simplify and make Android nicer to use, is Google’s “most researched” design update to date, according to the leaked plans. An archived copy of the page exists on the Wayback Machine, and some screenshots were captured by 9to5Google.
As per the removed post, Google developed this design by undergoing 46 rounds of testing among more than 18,000 individuals. The aim is to enhance the way the interface appears and functions by making changes to such things as colors, shapes, sizes, and animations.
Google observed how individuals engage with the interface—such as where they’re looking, how they react to various designs, and how long it takes them to figure out what to do. They also experimented with small things like which loading animations were perceived as the fastest and how big buttons should be in order to facilitate increased tap speed without being distracting.
Their study indicated that individuals were able to locate major components of the interface as much as four times quicker with Material 3 Expressive than with the previous version. It also assisted older users (above 45) in using the interface as fast as younger users.
Recent leaks also suggest other visual changes are coming to Android, like new battery icons, clock fonts, and a revamped quick settings menu. The Google Clock app might also be getting a redesign.
Right now, it’s unclear when Google plans to officially announce this update. It is expected to be discussed at Google I/O later this month. Stay tuned for more such news updates!