Google Messages could soon receive a facelift with Material 3 Expressive design elements. As part of the Android 16 QPR1 beta program, Google has been rolling out updates featuring this new design language, and it looks like Google Messages will be the next to get this upgrade.
The changes are expected to arrive for stable Android 16 users during the next Pixel Feature Drop in September.
The latest update to Google Messages v20250701 beta reveals some code indicating that Material 3 Expressive will be applied to the profile page’s buttons. Specifically, the buttons that appear below a contact’s phone number will be revamped from their usual circle shapes to pill or lozenge shapes. The buttons will also feature a subtle animation: when pressed, they will expand and change shape, and upon release, they will revert to their original state.
While this feature was found in the most recent beta release of Google Messages, it isn’t available to users just yet-even for those who are enrolled in the beta program
. My Pixel 6 Pro, running Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2.1, doesn’t show this change at the time of writing.
The buttons receiving this Material 3 overhaul include Call, Video, Contact Info, and Search.
Not all Android users have the Google Messages app installed, as some use messaging apps provided by their device manufacturers or other third-party developers. If you haven’t already installed Google Messages, you can download it from the Play Store by following this link.
Although the code for this new feature is embedded within the Google Messages app, there’s no guarantee that it will reach all users. However, it does suggest that Google is actively working on this feature. This update isn’t likely to be a game-changer for most Android users, but it aligns with the Material 3 Expressive philosophy, which aims to make digital products, such as smartphones, feel like an extension of the user by providing beautiful visual design and intuitive interaction experiences.