Google Messages has started rolling out a new Material 3 Expressive redesign for its chat interface, following similar updates in Gmail and Google Photos.
The redesign introduces several visual changes. The message thread now sits in a rounded container at the top of the screen, while the app bar becomes a darker, separate layer.
The ‘plus’ menu, which includes options like Gallery, GIFs, and Stickers, now uses pill-shaped containers and shares the same background color as the app bar. The icon grid has a lower density and no longer features colorful icons.
The emoji menu has also been updated. It now appears in a rounded container with a pill-style tab system for switching between Emoji, GIFs, Stickers, and Photomoji. Photomoji has been moved to the end of the menu. The search bar has shifted down one line to avoid overlapping text fields.
As of now, the redesign appears to be live only on the Samsung variant of the beta version 20250528_00_RC00. Other devices have not received the update.
The rest of the app — including the homepage, search, and settings — remains unchanged. This suggests Google is taking a gradual approach to implementing Material 3 Expressive in Messages.
