Google App Icon Gets a Subtle Refresh in Latest Android Update
The Google app on android is receiving a visual tweak, with a recent update increasing the size of the app icon’s prominent “G” logo. This seemingly minor change signals Google’s continued refinement of its core applications as the year progresses. The change, first observed on january 5th, reverses a design decision from May that had reduced the logo’s size.
The update, initially spotted in beta version 17.0, expands the gradient “G” within the icon to better utilize the available space. This adjustment aims to create a more consistent visual experience across Google’s app suite.
Icon Update Rolls Out to Stable Users
As of January 11th, version 17.0.4 of the Google app has been widely released to stable Android users, bringing the larger logo to a broader audience. The updated “G” for Search now aligns visually with other Google apps like Gemini, Home, and Photos.Google plans to extend this visual consistency to the Maps app in a future update.
While stable users were previously on version 16.49, Google quietly released versions 16.50, 16.51, and 16.52 to testers during the holiday period. A company release noted that the majority of these updates are implemented server-side, meaning users don’t always need to download a new version of the app to experience the changes. This allows for faster and more seamless updates.
What’s Next for the Google App?
Analysts predict that the next stable version, 17.0, will likely be released within the week, fully incorporating the updated icon. Beyond the visual refresh, the specifics of version 17.0 remain unknown. Google resumed rolling out updates to its suite of first-party applications on both Android and iOS on Monday, following a brief pause during the holidays. this indicates a return to the company’s regular cadence of app improvements and feature additions.
