Google Photos’ coveted expressive redesign could bring YouTube style ‘tap-and-hold’ controls in tow

Android 16 is expected to go stable sometime this month. However, the update will not bring the Material 3 Expressive redesign that many have been waiting for in tow.

Those eager to try out the coveted redesign can either opt for the latest QPR1 beta, or wait until Android 16’s first quarterly update in September. The former ensures immediate expressive access, while the latter prevents you from being caught up in the beta train.

While the QPR1 (beta or stable in September) update will bring the UI refresh to an OS-level, individual apps, too, have begun playing around with expressive design elements.

Signs pointing at app-level redesigns have already made their way to several key Google applications. Expressive design elements were spotted in a Google Calendar beta last month, followed by Google TV (OS, not the app), Files by Google, Google Phone, Gmail, Google Messages, and even Google Photos.

For the latter, Google was previously spotted experimenting with a cleaner homepage UI, paired with a tweaked Memories carousel. However, it’s clear now that the early glimpses didn’t offer the full scope of Google Photos’ upcoming redesign.

New video control gestures might be on the way

As pointed out by the folks over at Android Authority after enabling new design elements in the latest Google Photos build (version 7.32.0.765953717), the app is also poised to receive a revamped video player, alongside a redesigned search results page.

The current Google Photos video player surfaces the play/pause button as an overlay when you tap anywhere on the screen. That would no longer be the case with a future update, with the app likely relocating the button to the side. The timeline itself will take up more horizontal space on your phone’s display, complete with a vertical ‘handle’ to scrub through, similar to the volume control handle UI.

Elsewhere, the redesigned UI now highlights the video file’s time and date at the top of the page, with the cast icon likely being relocated to a sub-overflow menu. Additionally, the existing Share, Edit, and Trash buttons retain their spot in the bottom bar, but they’re accompanied by a new ‘Add to,’ which will likely make adding videos to specific albums a more seamless process.

According to the report, the video player will also support ‘tap-to-fast-forward’ and ‘tap-to-rewind’ functionality, which should let users simply tap the left or right side of the video to achieve the respective results. This is similar to what the likes of YouTube and Instagram recently rolled out.

Current (left), potentially upcoming (right)

In addition to tweaks to the video player, a future Google Photos build could also offer a redesigned search results page.

Currently, when you search for a keyword on Google Photos, you’re presented with a range of photos that ‘Best match’ your keyword or description, followed by whatever is the most recent. With the potentially upcoming redesign, Google Photos could stack all the images that best match your search into a standalone square that occupies roughly half of the search screen. Tapping the square will only highlight said images in an e

Best match gets its own expanded gallery view

Current (left), potentially upcoming (right)

Images right below the square, as seen in the second screenshot above, will highlight the most recent additions. Eagle-eyed users would have also spotted that the search bar, instead of retaining its position at the top, would likely be relocated to the bottom. It appears as a pill, which follows the redesign pattern seen across other Google apps.

Other expected changes that haven’t yet made their way to the app include a floating bottom bar and rounder photo cards.

It’s not clear whether these expressive changes will make their way to Google Photos via a standalone app-specific update, or if Google will wait until the Android 16 QPR1 release to implement the changes.