- Google is testing a major redesign of the Gemini app, with a simpler interface focused on conversations.
- The new Liquid Glass-like aesthetic abandons Material Design in iOS and integrates better with the Apple ecosystem
- The “+” button becomes a hub of tools: images, camera, files, NotebookLM, canvas, research, and guided learning
- The rollout is gradual, with the most advanced redesign on iOS and an adaptation pending on Android and other devices
Google has focused on the most visible part of its artificial intelligence and has begun testing a complete redesign of the Gemini appThe change goes beyond colors: it aims to make the experience feel like a fluid conversation with a mobile assistantand not as a simple chatbot that answers isolated queries.
This new look is being rolled out in a limited way to iOS users and, to a lesser extent, to some Android users, according to several participants in Gemini AI communities on Reddit and specialized media. The company appears to be using this initial phase to refine interface details and test how much the change facilitates the daily use of AI.
A cleaner, conversation-focused home screen
The first glance makes it clear that the app doesn't work the same way as before. The traditional screen cluttered with elements gives way to a A cleaner interface, with less noise and more focus on the interaction boxThe classic text box has been transformed into a "pill"-shaped bottom bar, where the essentials are concentrated.
This minimalist toolbar brings together voice access, the Gemini Live feature, and a "plus" button that centralizes all other actions. The idea is to streamline the process so users don't have to navigate through menus to do something as simple as attaching a photo or opening the camera. Everything is grouped into a single, clearly visible entry point.
The background also changes noticeably. The new design focuses on dynamic gradients and animations that react to user interactions, so the interface seems to "come alive" while conversing with the AI. This visual behavior attempts to reinforce the feeling that the assistant is active and processing what is typed or dictated.
In addition, the welcome message is personalized: it now appears as a message like “Hi, what’s on your mind?” centered below the Gemini logo. This small detail, along with the new layout of the elements, aims to make the app feel more like a personal space to start projects, ask questions or do tasks, instead of a simple advanced search field.
All these changes in layout and visual language are aimed at the same thing: reduce the feeling of being a technical tool and reinforce that of an everyday assistant willing to help, especially in frequent uses such as studies, work or personal management.
Liquid Glass on iOS: Goodbye to Material Design, hello to a more native app
The change is most noticeable on iPhones. The beta version of Gemini for iOS quite clearly abandons the previous language. Material Design, which has defined Google apps for years and adopts an aesthetic much closer to what Apple has been promoting with its own Liquid Glass-type approach.
According to screenshots shared in the r/GeminiAI community and analyzed by media outlets such as 9to5Google, the app shows Animated backgrounds that surround the search boxSemi-transparent elements, gradients that adapt to the content, and a pronounced background blur on the chat screen all contribute to a sense of overlapping layers and depth, contrasting with the flatter appearance of the previous version.
The typography has also been refined. Instead of generic text, the redesign introduces more legible fonts and a more refined visual hierarchyThis makes it easier to distinguish titles, key messages, and available actions. This change, though subtle, has a direct impact on how easily users read and interact with long responses.
The result is an app that fits better into the iOS ecosystem and no longer feels like it was ported from Android. In practice, Gemini is visually integrated with the rest of the operating systemThis may be relevant for those who use other native Apple apps daily and prefer aesthetic continuity.
For Google, this move implies accepting that, at least on iPhone, it's worth moving away from its own Material Design pattern if it results in a final experience more consistent with what iOS users are used to seeing. At a time when competition in AI-based assistants is high, a A familiar interface can make a difference. when the application is used continuously.
Grouped functions: a “+” button as a command center
Beyond the visual changes, the redesign reorganizes how artificial intelligence capabilities are presented. The "+" button at the bottom is no longer a simple, discreet icon but becomes direct access to a much more complete and structured menu.
Tapping it reveals tools that were previously scattered or required multiple taps: attaching images from the gallery, using the camera, uploading files, opening NotebookLM resources, accessing the work canvas, activating in-depth research, or starting guided learning sessions. The intention is clear: concentrate the key functions of Gemini into a single point.
Instead of the user having to discover through trial and error what AI can do, the capabilities are presented as clearly identified blocksThese include categories such as image generation, video creation, music, a canvas for working on content, in-depth research tools, and step-by-step guided learning options.
This approach is based on a trend that Google has been testing for months on Android, desktop and, more recently, on Mac: that the app explicitly explains what AI is used forpreventing advanced features from being hidden in submenus that many users never touch.
Additionally, the AI model selector reverts to a classic drop-down menu in the top left cornerThis simplifies the selection of capabilities without cluttering the screen with technical options. Account management, meanwhile, is moved to less visible areas of the navigation menu, prioritizing interaction over settings.
A simpler experience: less technical noise and more real-world use.
Another striking change is what disappears from the surface. More advanced features, such as visualizing the AI's "thought processes" or internal processing details, They move to secondary menusThey're still there, but they no longer play a prominent role in the main interface.
This retreat from more technical options reflects a clear trend in the sector: to hide the complexity of the system so that the technology is perceived as something natural.For most users, what matters is not how the model reasons, but getting a useful and quick answer without feeling overwhelmed by settings.
Meanwhile, animated backgrounds and depth effects in iOS—with that semi-transparent layered look typical of Liquid Glass—provide a sense of visual continuity when moving between chats, tools, and settings. The company had already introduced similar features on Android. backgrounds with animated gradients and the "Reply now" button at the bottom, although the new visual language is not yet fully deployed.
In chats, the structure maintains a similar format to other messaging applications, but with a greater emphasis on readability and clarity of responses. Instead of screens that resemble advanced search engines, the goal is that Every conversation with Gemini feels like a continuous thread of work, closer to talking to a personal assistant than to making isolated queries.
This whole set of design decisions reinforces the idea that Google wants Gemini to stop feeling like an experiment and become something more. a stable and everyday tool, both on iPhone and Androidalthough for now the rollout is progressing at different paces on each platform.
Gradual rollout and differences between iOS and Android
Regarding availability, the Gemini app redesign is progressing cautiously. Several iOS users have reported that the new interface appears as part of a gradual test, without a clear button to activate it manuallySome have received it automatically after updating the app; others still see the previous version despite having the same version installed.
Google has not yet provided a specific date for the general rollout of this new design, nor has it detailed the Android release schedule. What is known from leaks and internal testing is that the company plans to bring this visual language to more devices, including desktop and, presumably, other systems where Gemini is already present.
On Android, the situation is somewhat different. Although animated gradients and some tweaks to the home screen have already been incorporated, Such an advanced deployment of the Liquid Glass style has not yet been seen. as on iOS. For now, the experience on Google's system seems to be a step behind in terms of appearance, which is surprising considering that Android is its native platform.
This order of priorities may be due to several factors: from the need to to fit better into Apple's visual ecosystem including internal development and testing matters. In any case, the company has opted for a limited launch, with segmented access to the new interface and no mass communication beyond hints given by executives and previous leaks.
Meanwhile, projects such as Google Omni, geared towards a more autonomous multimodal AIAnd it is expected that future integrations with services like Siri on iOS will further define the role that Gemini will play on mobile, especially in Europe and other markets where the adoption of digital assistants is growing steadily.
Gemini as an organized workspace and not just a chat room
Beyond the facelift, the redesign focuses on features that aim to make Gemini more than just a text window. One of the most significant is the ability to create themed notebooks within the app itselfdesigned for those who use AI intensively in studies, research or professional projects.
These notebooks function as organizational spaces where things are grouped chats, attachments, and files related to the same topicInstead of having several separate conversations and scattered documents, the user can gather everything in a side panel, assign it an identifiable name, and always work from there.
Activating it is simple: from the app's side panel, simply select the option to create a new notebook and add the necessary sources. From that moment on, Gemini combines the content stored in that space with its AI and web search capabilities to provide answers more tailored to the project context.
This approach is especially useful for profiles such as university students, researchers, or professionals who handle large volumes of information and need avoid the chaotic accumulation of chats and filesInstead of having to rummage through old conversations, each project or subject can live in its own notebook.
By integrating these organizational functions directly into the interface, the redesign reinforces the idea that Gemini is not limited to answering isolated questions, but rather It can accompany longer and more complex work processes.This is relevant in a European context where the use of AI is beginning to consolidate in educational and professional environments.
Overall, the changes Google is testing in Gemini point to a more visually polished app, with more organized functions and a better alignment with users' actual habits. The simplified interface, the Liquid Glass-like aesthetic from iOS, and the grouping of tools under the "+" button create an assistant that aims to be less technical and more approachable, although there's still a way to go before this redesign is widely rolled out across all platforms and regions.
