HIGHLIGHTS

Android 16 and Wear OS 6 Debut “Material 3 Expressive” for Enhanced, User-Centric Visuals

Improved Security Features with AI Scam Detection and Advanced Protection for Vulnerable Users

Find Hub Transforms Find My Device, Introducing Satellite Support and Bluetooth Tag Tracking

Google is set to unveil groundbreaking updates to its Android ecosystem later this year as part of its I/O 2025 initiatives. As the world’s leading operating system, powering over three billion devices across more than 190 countries, Android is gearing up for a major overhaul. This upcoming release will include a design revamp for Android 16 and Wear OS 6, enhanced AI functionalities through the Gemini platform, and robust security upgrades.

Introducing Material 3 Expressive: A Revolutionary Design Language

A key highlight of these upcoming updates is the significant design overhaul for both Android 16 and Wear OS 6, branded as “Material 3 Expressive.” This design initiative builds on the “Material You” principles first introduced in 2021, focusing on creating more engaging, intuitive, and emotionally impactful user interfaces through thoughtful use of color, motion, and shape.

Mindy Brooks, Senior Director of Product and User Experience on the Android team, remarked, “Material 3 Expressive consists of newly developed components and features designed to integrate motion into product user interfaces. Our objective is to furnish users with a more premium and enjoyable experience, enhancing those key interactions.”

This innovative design strategy is underpinned by extensive research, including 46 studies with over 18,000 participants, making it Google’s most meticulously researched design system update to date. Findings indicated that users overwhelmingly prefer these expressive designs, reporting easier navigation and faster identification of key UI elements—up to four times quicker than before. Remarkably, older users can now locate these elements as swiftly as their younger counterparts.

Key Design Features in Android 16

• Smooth, organic animations with spring-like effects when dismissing notifications or applications.
• Haptic feedback that enhances user interactions with a tactile quality.
• Subtle background blurring in sections such as the notification shade to create a sense of depth.
• Refreshed color themes, responsive components, and enhanced typography to better mirror users’ personal styles.
• Improvements to the home screen layout for better alignment of widgets and icons, along with customizable Quick Settings.
• A new Live Updates feature that showcases timely information from applications like delivery, rideshare, and navigation, keeping users focused and informed without distractions.

Wear OS 6 is receiving a similar design treatment, with features specifically tailored for round watch displays. This includes seamless scrolling animations that follow the curvature of the display, space-saving buttons that fit snugly against the screen’s edge, and dynamic color theming throughout the entire system.

“Every motion detail has been meticulously designed,” Brooks added, stating that these updates will first arrive on Pixel devices later this year.

The latest iteration of Wear OS also promises enhanced performance and energy efficiency, potentially offering users an additional 10% more battery life.

Elevated Safety and Security Features

The Android platform is significantly bolstering its safety and security measures in response to rising threats. Stella Lo, a Senior Product Manager on the Android team, highlighted that Android is “continuously evolving to ensure your security against unforeseen risks.”

Crucial security developments include:

• AI-driven Scam Detection has now been expanded to protect Google Messages users across all Android devices, effectively blocking billions of suspicious messages each month.
• New in-call safeguards that prevent users from making risky security decisions during conversations with unknown contacts.
• A Key Verifier tool for Google Messages that enables users to confirm contact identities using public encryption keys.
• Improved theft protection features that include bolstered safeguards for one-time passwords and fortified factory reset protections.
• The Advanced Protection setting—a device-level security configuration aimed at high-risk users that activates a suite of robust security features against advanced threats.
• Enhanced Google Play Protect that utilizes on-device AI for the detection of malicious app activities.

Introducing Find Hub: A Comprehensive Location Platform

Google is evolving the Find My Device feature into Find Hub, a unified platform for tracking devices, tags, and sharing locations with friends and family.

“With Find Hub, you can verify if loved ones arrive home safely or share your location during an outing,” explained Lo.

Ed Fernandez, Google’s spokesperson for Find Hub, confirmed this service will be made available to “all Android devices simultaneously,” rather than being exclusive to Pixel models. The platform will support an expanding network of Bluetooth tag partners, including July, Mokobara, Peak, and Pixbee, along with UWB-enabled accessories like the Moto Tag.

Find Hub will soon feature satellite connectivity, allowing users to stay connected even in areas without cell service. Upcoming partnerships with airlines, such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines, will help travelers recover lost baggage through shared Bluetooth tag locations.

“Our aim is for Android to engage with you—visually, functionally, and emotionally,” Brooks said. “This is merely the beginning of a transformative journey.”

The announcements reflect Google’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the Android user experience through innovative design, seamless AI integration across devices, and a rigorous focus on user safety and security. Further information and demonstrations are expected during the upcoming Google I/O event next week.

Read More: Google expands Gemini beyond smartphones to watches, cars, TVs, and XR devices