Google Messages tests a home screen redesign: pinned chats with large avatars, search at the bottom and Gemini in the corner

Google Messages for Android is testing a major redesign of its home screen, according to 9to5Google. The change comes on top of the app's new icon and is built around three main components: pinned chats, search and access to Gemini.

The first change affects pinned chats. Instead of simply appearing at the top of the list, they now take a much more prominent place above all conversations. The redesign makes use of the background layer that until now only held the app's logo and name, search and the account menu. It shows large contact photos above the other chats, pushing the rest of the conversation list down. According to the article, as with iMessage on iOS, this design has the drawback of not showing the history or details of the last message sent.

The second change moves search to the bottom. Google is testing turning it into a centered floating action button (FAB), next to the new chat button. When scrolling down the list, the word "Search" appears inside a pill-shaped button while the other button minimizes. Otherwise, a circular magnifying-glass icon is shown, with "Start chat" in the pill. The outlet finds the accompanying animation pleasant and lively, and says it improves one-handed use.

The third change is the Gemini shortcut. Google has replaced the Gemini FAB with a button in the top-right corner, next to the profile picture. This matches the design already used by Workspace apps on desktop and mobile.

These features are currently in the beta channel and have not been rolled out widely to all testers. Some users see every element of the redesign, but Google appears to be enabling them gradually, component by component.

Among readers, the top comment, backed by 22 people, rejects the large-avatar pinned-chat style: it prefers being able to see message snippets and criticizes it as a direct copy of Apple. Since this is a beta test, the details could change before a wide rollout, or it may never happen at all.