The Android 16 QPR1 stable update is expected to arrive imminently, introducing a trove of Material 3 Expressive components to system elements. In the meantime, Google has updated a bunch of its apps with the new design language, including its popular email client Gmail.

Back in June, we spotted evidence of a Material 3 Expressive overhaul for Gmail, including a search app bar and the placement of emails in individual containers. Well, it has taken over two months, but it looks like the Gmail app for Android is finally ready to roll them out.

Reporting by 9to5Google shines light on the new design additions, though it’s unclear which version of Gmail introduced these design enhancements. I’m not seeing them on my Pixel device running version 2025.08.18.796307704 of the app. Nevertheless, it’s reassuring to know that these changes are on the way, even if Google takes its sweet time to roll them out.

These design improvements are not widely available yet

Current (pics 1 and 2) vs upcoming (pics 3 and 4)

Prominent among the design tweaks here is the search app bar, which is separated from the hamburger menu and the user account switcher. Additionally, each email in your inbox will live inside a container, with just enough separation between each item. For reference, the main view of the Settings app on Pixel phones (running Android 16) features a similar container-based design.

Meanwhile, the bottom bar featuring icons for Gmail and Meet, as well as the account switcher and hamburger menu, will utilize the same background layout/color as part of this design. These are undoubtedly some big visual changes from the existing version, as you can see from the comparison screenshots above.

These design updates come nearly a week after we spotted the Gmail app for Android gaining animations for common swipe actions and other visual updates. Unfortunately, some of these elements are not yet widely rolled out, and if history is any indicator, we may have to wait a while to see them in action.

Do you see any of these design changes on the Gmail app? Let us know below.