Google Home embraces dynamic color, Pixel phone app gets a streamlined in-call experience

The world of Android is constantly evolving, with subtle yet impactful changes rolling out across various apps. Recently, we’ve noticed two significant updates that promise to enhance user experience: a long-awaited embrace of Dynamic Color in the Google Home app and a redesigned in-call interface for the Pixel Phone app.

For those unfamiliar, Dynamic Color, a key feature of Android 13 and later, allows app interfaces to adapt their color palettes based on the user’s chosen wallpaper.¹ This creates a cohesive and personalized visual experience across the entire device. While many Google apps have already adopted this feature, the Google Home app has been a notable exception.

Previously, the Google Home app sported a consistent, if somewhat static, white or dark gray background accented with blue. While functional, it lacked the personalized touch that Dynamic Color provides. Now, it appears Google is finally addressing this.

Early reports, based on observations within the Google Home Public Preview program, suggest that the app is undergoing testing to integrate Dynamic Color. This means that users will soon be able to see their chosen wallpaper’s hues reflected in the app’s interface, creating a more seamless and personalized experience. This change is expected to roll out to devices running Android 13 and later. The shift towards dynamic theming signals a commitment to a more unified user experience across the Android ecosystem. This change will bring the Google Home app in line with the majority of Google’s first-party apps, which have already embraced this feature.

Beyond the aesthetics, functionality is also getting a boost. The Pixel Phone app is receiving a significant overhaul to its in-call user interface, focusing on streamlining access to key features like Call Notes and Audio Emoji.

Previously, accessing these features required navigating through a “More” menu. This extra step, while not overly cumbersome, added a slight layer of friction to the user experience. The new design aims to eliminate this by bringing these features front and center.

The updated in-call screen now features two prominent pill-shaped buttons positioned above the standard call controls (Keypad, Mute, Phone, and More). One button provides direct access to Call Notes, while the other launches the Audio Emoji panel. This simple change significantly improves the accessibility of these features, making them much more convenient to use during a call.

The Call Notes functionality has also received a minor update. Tapping the “Call Assist” button, which houses features like Call Screen, Direct My Call, and Hold for Me, now slides up a sheet with a dedicated card for activating Call Notes. This new interface provides a clearer description of the feature (“Live transcripts & summary of your call”) and includes a more prominent “Stop” button, along with other subtle refinements to the timer display.

For users without the latest Pixel devices, the Audio Emoji panel remains largely unchanged, presented as a full-width button. However, the overall streamlining of the in-call UI benefits all users by simplifying access to key features.

The “More” menu has been simplified as a result of these changes, with the Call Notes and Audio Emoji options now removed as they have dedicated buttons.

These updates, currently being tested in the beta channel of the Phone by Google app (version 157.0.712311883), represent a clear focus on improving user experience through both visual enhancements and functional refinements. The integration of Dynamic Color in the Google Home app brings a welcome touch of personalization, while the redesigned in-call UI for the Pixel Phone app prioritizes efficiency and ease of use. These changes, while seemingly minor on their own, contribute to a more polished and user-friendly Android experience as a whole.