Google Phone App’s Biggest Overhaul in Years is Finally Here!

Google’s Phone App Undergoes Its Most Significant Visual Revamp in Years. The new “Material 3 Expressive” style previews the design of Android 16 and dramatically alters the call response method.

Say Goodbye to “Swipe Up”: Introducing New Ways to Answer Calls

One of the most noticeable changes for users is the new method of answering calls on Google’s Phone app. Previously, users had to swipe up to accept and down to reject calls. This gesture, which has been around for a while, is now outdated.

The app now offers two options in the new “Incoming Call Gesture” menu. You can choose either a “Simple Tap,” which displays two large “Answer” and “Reject” buttons, or a “Horizontal Swipe,” featuring a pill-shaped slider that moves left or right.

A Card-Based and Rounded Design

The call screen isn’t the only thing getting a makeover. The entire app is receiving a fresh update. The new “Material 3 Expressive” style from Google is now pervasive throughout the app. The most apparent change is the use of rectangular “cards” with rounded corners for each entry in the call history or favorites.

Buttons during a call are no longer round but are pill-shaped, and the overall interface appears more spaced out and readable. The somewhat gloomy minimalist design of the old version has been replaced by a more contemporary look.

A Preview of the Upcoming Android 16

This redesign is not a one-off event. The “Material 3 Expressive” style is actually the new design language that Google will implement with Android 16. By updating its Phone app in advance, Google offers a concrete glimpse of the aesthetic of its future operating system.

Other apps like Gmail, Google Keep, and Google Photos have also started incorporating this new design. This marks a gradual harmonization across the entire Google ecosystem.