Google’s Phone app—the place where we spend countless seconds tapping numbers, flipping through contacts, and sifting call logs— is getting a makeover that leans into the lively “Material 3 Expressive” design language. Rolling out gradually to public beta testers, these tweaks aim to simplify everyday calling tasks while injecting a dash of playfulness into the interface. But beneath the bubbly visuals lies a thoughtful approach to usability and a strategic push to keep Android feeling fresh and appealing, especially to younger users.

Earlier this month, Google officially released Android 16 on June 10, 2025, marking the latest milestone in its OS evolution. While Android 16 lays the groundwork for design overhauls, the full Material 3 Expressive redesign did not ship immediately with the initial stable build. Instead, Google plans a phased rollout of expressive UI updates, with core apps gradually adopting the new aesthetic through subsequent Feature Drops and beta updates. The Phone app’s redesign is part of this broader wave, previewing how Material 3 Expressive elements—like vibrant colors, whimsical shapes, and springy animations—can enhance not just how Android looks, but also how it feels to use.

Material 3 Expressive emerged from extensive research involving tens of thousands of participants, aiming to boost both visual engagement and functional clarity. Google’s studies suggested that expressive elements can help users locate key interface parts faster and improve overall comprehension across age groups. By integrating these insights into everyday utilities like the Phone app, Google hopes to reinforce consistent, intuitive experiences across the platform.

One of the first changes you’ll notice is at the bottom of the screen. Previously, the Phone app featured four tabs—“Favorites,” “Recents,” “Contacts,” and “Voicemail”—each requiring specific taps to navigate. The redesign pares this down to just three: “Home,” “Keypad,” and “Voicemail,” consolidating functionality in a more concise layout.

By combining “Favorites” and “Recents” under “Home,” Google aims to reduce cognitive load—users don’t need to remember which tab houses which function. The bubble-style favorites add a friendly, approachable vibe, aligning with Material 3 Expressive’s emphasis on playful shapes and vivid accents.

Another noteworthy tweak: the call log no longer groups multiple calls from the same person under one expandable entry. Instead, each call appears as its own line in the log, even if, say, Mom calls five times in quick succession. This decision reflects a trade-off between neat grouping and granular visibility: with ungrouped entries, users can immediately see how many times they’ve been called and when, without needing to expand a group.

Arguably the headline feature is a new gesture-based incoming call interface. Beta testers now see an “Incoming call gesture” setting in the Phone app’s settings, offering two modes: “Horizontal swipe” or “Single tap.” With horizontal swipe enabled, you swipe right to answer or left to decline, replacing—or supplementing—the classic full-screen swipe gesture. The rationale? Feedback indicated accidental declines or answers often occur when a phone is jostled in a pocket or bag. A more deliberate horizontal swipe could reduce such mishaps.

Alternatively, the “Single tap” mode presents explicit “Answer” and “Decline” buttons. Early reports note that the incoming call screen uses a “scalloped” Material 3 shape around the contact avatar, which may rotate or animate gently until action is taken. Pill-shaped containers house secondary options like “Urgent?” or “Message,” reinforcing the overall expressive aesthetic with playful, approachable UI elements.

Visually, incoming calls now frame contact avatars in a whimsically “lumpy” circle, departing from rigid geometric shapes. Animations may cause the shape to subtly bounce or rotate until the user responds, adding a sense of liveliness. These touches exemplify Material 3 Expressive’s philosophy: small, delightful animations and unpredictable yet gentle shapes that draw attention without distracting from core functionality.

Beyond call screens, the main settings list in the Phone app has also adopted expressive styling—rounded corners, more pronounced shadows, and color accents that shift to match wallpaper theming. While these tweaks may seem cosmetic, they reinforce a consistent design language across Android’s system apps, helping users feel they’re in a cohesive environment rather than a patchwork of outdated and modern interfaces.

Coinciding with the Phone app update, Google introduced a “Pixel VIP” widget for Pixel devices, further emphasizing the focus on close-knit interactions. The widget lets users pin up to eight favorite contacts on their home screen, surfacing real-time location (if shared), last call or message timestamps, birthdays, anniversaries, and personal memos—all at a glance.

By placing high-priority contacts front and center, Pixel VIP aims to reduce friction when reaching out to close friends or family. It even surfaces “things to do together” suggestions based on shared preferences and location context. While this feature extends beyond just the Phone app, it underscores Google’s broader strategy of weaving communication, context, and personal touches into the OS experience, with Material 3 Expressive providing the vibrant visual canvas for these interactions.

At first glance, design overhauls can feel superficial. Yet Google’s approach with Material 3 Expressive—backed by extensive research—seeks to marry usability improvements with a youthful, energetic vibe. For instance, the streamlined bottom menu reduces the steps needed to access key functions, while the ungrouped call log offers immediate clarity on call frequency. Gesture options for handling incoming calls may cut down accidental dismissals, a real annoyance for many users. All of these are practical enhancements dressed in a more playful shell.

Moreover, these changes send a message: Android is not static. In an era where many users equate “fresh” with “youthful” and “dynamic,” updating the look and feel of ubiquitous utilities like the Phone app signals ongoing investment in the platform. It also aligns with Android’s need to appeal to younger demographics that might otherwise gravitate toward alternative messaging or calling apps. A lighter, more approachable UI can subtly influence perception, making Android feel more contemporary and less utilitarian.

For those eager to experiment, the redesign is currently rolling out via the Google Phone app’s beta channel. To join, users with eligible devices (typically Pixel phones) can enroll in the Google Play beta for the Phone app, then update to the latest beta build. As with any beta, features may be gradually enabled server-side, so patience is key. Google may adjust or roll back certain elements based on broader feedback before shipping to the stable channel, likely aligning with a September rollout tied to Android’s quarterly Feature Drop cadence.

If the beta testing goes smoothly, expect these Phone app changes to arrive for all users in the coming months, likely timed with the next Android Feature Drop after Android 16’s debut. Beyond the Phone app, watch for Material 3 Expressive updates in other core Google apps—Messages, Contacts, Settings, and system UI elements—continually refreshing the look and feel of Android. For developers, the evolving expressive design guidelines may offer fresh opportunities to craft more engaging app experiences.

Google’s youthful redesign of the Phone app is more than just a facelift; it’s an integration of research-backed usability tweaks and a vibrant visual language intended to keep Android feeling energetic and inclusive. By simplifying navigation, clarifying call logs, refining call-handling gestures, and layering on whimsical animations, Google aims to make one of the most frequently used system apps both easier and more delightful to use. Coupled with complementary features like Pixel VIP, these changes highlight a human-centered philosophy—prioritizing personal connections, clarity, and fun. Whether you’re a power user tracking every call or someone who just wants fewer accidental declines, it’s worth trying the beta to experience firsthand how design evolves to meet our everyday needs on Android.