Google is preparing one of the biggest visual updates ever seen in Android emoji, with nearly 4,000 icons set to be redesigned for Android 17. The change aims to make everyday digital reactions feel more lifelike, more expressive, and closer to the way people actually communicate on their phones.
The refreshed look was introduced during The Android Show: I/O Edition on Tuesday. Google says the new collection is called Noto 3D, marking the next step in Android’s emoji design language.
A more dimensional emoji style
The redesign gives the icons more depth through shading, lighting, and texture. As a result, emoji that once looked flat now appear more detailed and visually active in chat apps and social media.
Google said the update was applied manually to almost the entire Android emoji catalog. That approach was meant to make each expression feel richer and more enjoyable to use across everyday conversations.
Gabby Williams, Android Product Marketing, said emoji have become an important part of how people communicate on smartphones. She noted that billions of emoji are sent every day, which is why the refreshed design is meant to match how users express themselves now.
What changes users will notice
Several examples shown by Google highlight how noticeable the redesign can be. The ramen bowl emoji now shows clearer noodle texture, broth, and toppings than before.
Animal emoji, including the turtle, also look more refined, with more visible shell detail and more natural lighting. The effect makes many icons feel closer to real objects rather than simplified flat drawings.
Other emoji, including hearts, food, and common everyday objects, also gain a glossy finish and stronger dimensional appearance. For many users, that should make the new look easy to spot in daily messaging.
More than just new emoji
The update is not limited to adding new symbols from Unicode 17.0. Google is also redesigning the wider Android emoji catalog so the experience stays more consistent across its services.
That broader effort shows that Google is focusing not only on quantity, but also on visual uniformity. Users should see a similar emoji style when moving between different Google apps.
The new look has also drawn attention because it makes Android emoji feel closer to the style long associated with iPhone, which is often seen as more expressive. Even so, Google says the new design keeps Android’s identity through the Noto 3D approach.
When the new look will arrive
Google said Noto 3D emoji will start appearing on Android devices later this year. The rollout will begin with Pixel phones before expanding to other devices and services.
Williams also said the redesign will show up in popular Google apps such as Gboard, YouTube, and Gmail. For non-Pixel Android users, the update is expected to arrive gradually through system updates or Google Play Services.
With nearly 4,000 emoji being refreshed, this stands out as one of the largest visual changes in Android. Its impact will be felt not through a single new feature, but across the many small reactions and messages people send every day.
