Google’s new design approach, Material 3 Expressive, is beginning to influence its applications in a manner reminiscent of Material You. This fresh design ethos has already made its way into several apps, although we are still in the early stages of its rollout. Beta users of Google Messages have reported glimpses of Material 3 Expressive elements within the app, but the updates appear somewhat sporadic and inconsistent. Currently, these changes are accessible through the beta channel of the app, meaning non-beta testers will not experience them.

However, joining the beta program is straightforward. Interested users can visit the Google Messages page on the Play Store, then scroll down to find the “Join the beta” section. Once enrolled, users should receive an immediate update to install the beta version. While Google has been busy enhancing Messages with features like mentions, the rollout of Material 3 Expressive is particularly puzzling.

Some users have observed changes across various parts of the interface, including the home screen, settings, search screen, new chat screen, and chat screen. Interestingly, some people report seeing updates on certain screens but not on others. For instance, on our testing device, the Vivo X Fold 3, the new features appeared inconsistently, with updates evident on the home and chat interface. In the chat interface, for example, a border separates the chat list from elements above, aligning with the overall color scheme.

The search screen showcases buttons for Unread, Known, Unknown, Starred, Images, Videos, Places, and Links, all presented in rounded rectangles. The new chat screen similarly features a bordered search bar and chat list, with the “Create Group” button extending the full width of the screen. The settings page follows this design trend, with each option enclosed in its rectangular bubble. The Emoji picker, Sticker picker, and “+” menu also adopt similar styling.

Beta users are encouraged to update their app, as the varying consistency of Material 3 Expressive changes means it’s uncertain which features will remain in the final version of Google Messages.