Overview

• Gmail’s update places the inbox in a single rounded container, adds pill-shaped swipe animations, and switches Reply and Forward to solid, Dynamic Color buttons, with the change observed on version 2025.08.11.x.
• Google Messages’ chat screen now uses a curved container, replaces bubbly wallpaper with a solid theme-aware background, and introduces a pill-shaped, monotone plus-menu with a refreshed media picker and repositioned search bar.
• Both updates are reaching wider audiences through stable builds, though visibility still depends on app version, device, and server-side flags.
• Material 3 Expressive is Google’s evolution of Material You intended to feel more engaging with springy animations, following testing that began in June.
• Google is extending the redesign across other apps, with Drive showing extensive elements including a thicker search app bar, a short bottom bar, a multi-action floating menu, and expanded use of containers that are still rolling out.