GoKawiilBrady Snyder / Android Authority
If you thought Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language added pops of color and dynamic visuals to Android, wait until you see the new Gemini app. It’s rebuilt from the ground up with a new “Neural Expressive” user interface, which Google describes as a “vibrant, dynamic and completely reimagined design language for Gemini.” I’ve been using it for two days, and make no mistake, this is the best the Gemini app has ever looked.
The app is certainly more inviting, and it’s not just a visual change. Responses to Gemini prompts now weave multimedia content, including images, graphics, timelines, and videos, right into the text answers. The constant glow of the Gemini app UI fits right into the new era of Google design aesthetics, matching the new app icon redesigns and invoking the same feel as the “Glowbar” on Googlebooks.
If only the Neural Expressive design language were as functional as it is attractive. Those good looks come at the expense of utility, and in some ways, they’re a step backward.
Are you a fan of Gemini's Neural Expressive design language? 26 votes Yes, the colorful design is just right 42 % Yes, I love the minimalist controls 12 % No, I don't like combined tools and attachments 8 % No, the sidebar is too crowded 19 % It's not better or worse than the old design 15 % Something else (comments) 4 %
The new Gemini app is a joy to look at
Brady Snyder / Android Authority
The Gemini app’s fresh appearance quickly made me realize how outdated and bleak the old one had become. The outgoing Gemini app had a boring white-and-gray user interface with a small greeting and a few suggestion chips. The chips weren’t the prettiest, but to their credit, they gave you a quick idea of what you could do with Gemini. The chatbot’s access to specialized models like Nano Banana, Veo, and Lyria was clearly reflected by the natural-language suggestions.
Overall, though, you could argue that the old Gemini app design was bland and overcrowded. Underneath the text field, you had buttons for attachments, tools, models, dictation, and Gemini Live. Near the top, you had the sidebar, temporary chats, and the Google account and settings page.
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