Google’s next Android update may take inspiration from Apple but don’t call it Liquid Glass

Google’s next Android update may take inspiration from Apple but don’t call it Liquid Glass

https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/android-phones/googles-next-android-update-may-take-inspiration-from-apple-but-dont-call-it-liquid-glass

Publish Date: 2026-01-26 14:59:00

Source Domain: www.tomsguide.com

Google may be taking a page from Apple’s Liquid Glass look when it updates Android later this year. According to a new report from 9to5Google, the Mountain View giant is planning to add more translucent and frosted glass aesthetics to the menus of Android 17.

The change is part of Google’s ongoing Material 3 Expressive redesign that debuted with Android 16. It continues this with more “blur” in the visual design.

The blur isn’t exactly new. Google introduced blur in the notification and Quick Settings panels with Android 16. At the time, the company said the blur was meant to give you a “sense of depth that makes information more accessible.”

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According to 9to5, Google is leaning into the frosted glass look where light and dark backgrounds will “blur,” which allows you to still have an idea the previous apps you were using.

Some examples include the volume bar, the UI element that contains the volume slider, mode switcher and other bits, which will become translucent. On the home screen you’ll see your wallpaper and app icons blurred behind. In an app, you should be able to see what’s beneath the slider.

9to5 says it saw versions of the blur in internal builds, but did not have any images to share of the new aesthetic. If you need a visual example, here’s what Liquid Glass looks like in iOS 26:

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

In the above image, you can see how the icons are translucent with a frosted look; you can still make out the background.

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For those who dislike(d) Liquid Glass, 9to5Google claims the Google version is more “subtle” than the look of iOS 26.

Apparently, the new blur effect is not part of the Material 3 Expressive design for apps. For now, it appears limited to the core operating system but won’t translate to apps.

When will Android 17 arrive?

(Image credit: Lukmanazis/Shutterstock)

We don’t have an exact date for Android 17’s release, but Google…

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