No Liquid Glass for Android
A small wave of shock went through Android-land for a while, but it turns out to be unfounded. Google has confirmed that it is not planning a sweeping Liquid Glass-like redesign for Android. Specifically, that means you won't have to count on a look similar to the glossy, transparent style you might know from Apple.
The uproar arose after a short teaser for The Android Show. In that clip, the familiar Android mascot was given a glassy appearance, which gave many viewers the impression that a major visual change was coming. Especially since design trends often follow each other rapidly, such a move did not seem unthinkable.
But according to Android chief Sameer Samat, there is no such thing. He revealed that an Apple-like makeover "is not on the horizon". With that, Google seems to be deliberately sticking to the current design direction, rather than suddenly introducing a completely different style.
That current direction was revamped just last year with Material 3 Expressive. That focused on more personalisation, softer animations and a more modern look, without making it completely unrecognisable. For many users, that was actually a nice balance between innovation and familiarity.
The timing of this clarity is no coincidence. After all, on 12 May, Google is hosting The Android Show, where more details are expected to be shared about Android 17 and other developments within the Android ecosystem. By clearing up rumours now, the company prevents false expectations from distracting attention from the actual announcements. However, other manufacturers may choose to apply this design language in their style. We already see this, for example, with various parts of Samsung in One UI.
