• By Alex David
  • Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:58 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Google is taking a bold new visual approach to things with Android 16, starting with an overhaul of its default Phone app. The update is inspired by Material 3 Expressive and aims to refine and warm up the user experience. These beta-testing changes are minimalistic Windows-centred, which blend streamlined design and usability guided by public suggestions.

What's New in the Google Phone App Redesign?

  • Simplified Bottom Navigation
  • The bottom bar now includes just three key tabs:
    • Home
    • Keypad
    • Voicemail

Previously visible filters like missed calls, spam, and contacts have been consolidated under the Home tab to reduce clutter.

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  • Redesigned Home Tab
    • Shows both recent call logs and favourite contacts in a unified layout.
    • Calls from the same contact are now shown individually, providing better clarity and context.
  • Dialer and Keypad Changes
  • The Contacts tab has been removed entirely from the bottom bar.
  • The Keypad now sits in the center and replaces the floating action button (FAB).
  • The dialler no longer persists across different tabs, allowing a cleaner UI transition.
  • Swipe Gesture Experiments
  • Google is testing new swipe gestures for:
    • Answering calls
    • Rejecting calls

These actions are meant to reduce the chances of trying to answer or end a call during an attempt to take the phone out of one’s pocket. These interactions remain experimental and require user feedback prior to final implementation.

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Availability

The beta Phone app is accessible to testers. A public rollout could occur before Android 16’s official launch, but no concrete dates have been provided.

Final Thoughts

With this update, Google demonstrates their focus on uncluttered interfaces with the multifunctional redesign of the android phone app. The answer and end call buttons are smarter, and fewer distractions allows for better focus while clearer call logs enhance ease-of-use. During beta testing, Google is gathering as much input from users as possible which makes this a collaborative redesign towards the next version of Android UI.