Android 16 Introduces a Bold New Look with Material 3 Expressive

Android 16 introduces a bold new look with the Material 3 Expressive design language, marking a significant shift from the minimal design language we've seen in recent years.

The revamped Quick Settings and notification panel features a blurred, translucent look, with bolder toggles and a color-coded system when Dynamic Theming is enabled.

The volume panel is now bolder and more polished, with a single tap opening the side panel and a vertical volume slider with a draggable line.

Status bar icons have been refreshed, with a new Wi-Fi icon broken into segments, a horizontal battery icon, and a cellular signal icon redesigned to reflect signal strength better.

Home and lock screen customization have been overhauled, with an extra row available for icon placement and a revamped Wallpaper & Style menu.

The Settings app has received colorful new icons, which don't yet adapt to the system's color theme but may be updated in future updates.

Android 16 aims to make the system feel more cohesive and natural, with a focus on visual appeal and user experience.

The Material 3 Expressive design language is inspired by previous design languages but with a more expressive and bold approach.

The new design language is rolling out in the first Android 16 QPR1 beta, and users can see the changes in action on the Pixel 9.

Android 16's design overhaul is part of Google's efforts to modernize Android and make it feel more visually appealing and user-friendly.