IssueTracker

Google, Please Fully Embrace Material Design—Don't Dial It Back
Material Design is one of Google’s greatest creations, yet it often feels like it isn’t fully realized across the Android system—especially on Pixel devices. While it’s present in many places, there’s a lingering feeling that Google itself doesn’t see it as the perfect design language it has crafted. Instead of refining and expanding on it, some of its most charming and polished details are being removed.

Take Circle to Search, for example—the original animation expanded from the bottom with a slight curve and sparks across the screen. It felt intentional, delightful, and cohesive, fitting perfectly with details like the glittering fingerprint unlock animation, which added a touch of charm to the overall experience. These small, thoughtful touches make Android feel alive, yet they’re being stripped away.

Google can set the gold standard for UI/UX, yet inconsistencies in Material Design persist across Google’s own apps and the Android system itself. Some design elements feel half-committed , as if Google is hesitating to fully embrace the beauty of its vision. Why remove what makes the design feel premium and polished?

Pixel Users Notice These Details:
Pixel owners are among the most loyal supporters of Google’s ecosystem, and we notice when things change—especially when the experience feels less refined as a result. Small details matter , sometimes they’re the only thing keeping someone from switching to a Google device.

Users don’t just want powerful AI features or great cameras—they want an experience that feels intentional, cohesive, and polished. Animations, transitions, and interface fluidity all contribute to that feeling. Android is more than just a set of features; it's the feeling of using the system that defines the experience.

A Plea to Google’s Design Team:
Instead of rolling back the best parts of Material Design, expand upon them. Make the Pixel experience the ultimate showcase of Material Design’s potential, not a place where its best features fade away. These refinements could be the key to making more users fall in love with Google’s ecosystem.

How do you think you could fix this?:
Commit to Material Design across ALL Google apps and services. The inconsistency breaks immersion.
Enhance animations, not remove them. Circle to Search’s original animation felt more refined—why downgrade it?
Focus on the small UI details that make an experience feel premium. Users appreciate the polish.
We love Google’s vision, but we also notice when it’s not being fully realized. Hopefully, this message gets seen and something improves. Material Design deserves to shine, not fade.

Thank you.