01 / 04

Animations that feel physical

The standout novelty of Material 3 Expressive: a new motion system based on springs. When you dismiss a notification, the others move subtly in response to your drag. The effect is subtle but radical: the interface feels alive, elastic.

For Android developers, that means dropping classic Interpolators for Jetpack Compose's SpringSpecs. It's as much a mindset shift as a framework one.

02 / 04

Typography rebuilt for hierarchy

Material 3 Expressive introduces new type styles with larger headlines, heavier weights and clearer visual hierarchy. Concretely, important actions are finally spotted at first glance.

03 / 04

35 UI shapes and fluid morphing

Google introduces a new library of 35 distinct UI shapes. The real win is elsewhere though: components can now morph from one shape to another (a square that becomes a squircle during animation). That level of polish is what made the Apple difference — Android finally claims it.

04 / 04

Rollout timeline

Material 3 Expressive wasn't part of the initial Android 16 release in June 2025. Rollout started in September 2025 on Pixel 6 and newer. Third-party manufacturers (Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus) follow at their own pace with their skins.