Google’s upcoming Material 3 Expressive design language is set to take center stage at Google I/O next week, but its influence is already being seen on Pixel Watch smartwatches. The new design language for Android 16 and Google’s apps has been leaked extensively ahead of its official debut at Google I/O 2025 on May 20.
Despite the official unveiling still a few days away, Reddit users have already spotted signs of the new Material 3 Expressive design starting to appear in the wild. One user, TurningTablesAgain, shared images of the new look on their Pixel Watch 3, showcasing larger, more screen-moulding buttons on Google Calendar Wear OS Tiles. Android Police has also reported seeing these new ‘Expressive’ buttons on their Google Pixel Watch 2.
While Wear OS 6 is not expected to receive the full Material 3 Expressive treatment until later this year, the new design elements are already being integrated into select apps and Tiles. Following a recent update to version 2025.18.1, Google seems to be selectively rolling out the new Tile design to certain Wear OS devices.
The Material 3 Expressive design language aims to make key actions stand out and group similar elements together, based on extensive user feedback. Google has prioritized usability and aesthetics in its new UI, making adjustments based on user input to create a system that is both beautiful and highly functional.
Interestingly, while Android 16 is scheduled for release next month, the Material 3 Expressive UI won’t be fully ready until later in the year. The early appearance of these design elements on Wear OS devices could offer users a sneak peek of what’s to come in the broader Android ecosystem.
As we look forward to Google I/O and the official unveiling of Material 3 Expressive, the early glimpses of this new design language on Pixel Watch smartwatches offer an exciting preview of the future of Android UI. Stay tuned for more updates on the evolution of Google’s design language and its impact on the user experience across various devices.
