Google tests a new look for its Android texting app

Google is testing a redesigned home screen for Messages, its texting app on Android phones. Pinned chats would show up as large contact photos at the top. Search would move to the bottom of the screen, within thumb reach. The changes were reported by 9to5Google.

What changed

• Pinned chats appear as large contact photos above all other conversations, which pushes the rest of the list down.
• Search becomes a floating button at the bottom, next to the button for starting a chat.
• The Gemini shortcut moves to the top-right corner, beside your profile picture.

The floating buttons change as you scroll. While scrolling down, you see "Search" in a pill-shaped button and the other button shrinks. Otherwise, you see a round magnifying glass icon and "Start chat" in the pill. The reporter says the animation looks nice and helps one-handed use.

There is one tradeoff. The large photos show no message history or last-sent details. Apple's iMessage on iPhone has the same limit.

What is not known yet

These changes are in the beta channel, a early-access version of the app. They have not reached all testers. Some people see every part of the redesign, while others see only some, so Google seems to be rolling it out in pieces. There is no word on when, or whether, everyone will get it. The design could also change before then. It follows a new app icon that Google is also testing.