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Google Says Pixel Phones Won't Get Apple's Liquid Glass Design

The Android operating system for Pixel smartphones is not going to take design cues from Apple and adopt a Liquid Glass aesthetic, Google Android president Sameer Samat said recently (via 9to5Google). In response to a social media mockup of an Android device with a Liquid Glass design, Samat said, "Not happening! Y'all are wild."

Photos App Icon Liquid Glass
The mockup was in response to a teaser video for The Android Show: I/O, which depicted the Android mascot pulling a light switch and turning translucent. The teaser led Android users to believe that Google would adopt an iOS-like design for Android.

Google's Pixel devices use its Android operating system, but Google also allows other smartphone makers to use Android. Companies like Oppo and Xiaomi have variants of Android that have been updated with similarities to Apple's Liquid Glass, and even Samsung has mimicked some of Apple's design elements.

Apple introduced the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26, with a unified design across all of its software platforms. The new design has been a major change for Apple users, and it is not universally popular.

Google has been using its Material Design since 2014, though it has been updated several times since then. Google introduced Material 3 Expressive in 2025, adding more natural, springy animations and dynamic color themes.

Though Samat said Google is not adopting Liquid Glass, rumors suggest it is going to embrace translucency. Google is rumored to be adding more blur in Android 17, offering a flatter, more frosted glass look. Google will reveal more about Android 17 on May 12.

Tag: Google

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Top Rated Comments

19 weeks ago
Why would Google copy the worst UI in ages?
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rychiar Avatar
19 weeks ago
don't worry. Samsung will
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
19 weeks ago
"No copying this time"

"Even for our poor taste, Liquid Glass is too much"
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleFan91 Avatar
19 weeks ago
Google: “Of course not!”

also Google: “Check out Android 17, with our all new Glassy Liquid design!”

But for real, let’s see what they announce and show first. Do we really expect them to say “yeah, we took inspiration from Apple and will be releasing a similar-looking product”.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacUserFella Avatar
19 weeks ago
Thank. God.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
19 weeks ago
Material 3 expressive is leagues above Liquid Glass
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)