I used iOS for over a decade before fully switching to Android. Even today, my favorite part of iOS doesn’t come from Apple itself, but instead from its third-party app community. My social media feed is filled with examples of beautiful indie iOS apps, crafted beautifully down to the most minute of details.
On Android, however, I struggle to find apps with uniquely designed experiences. As long as the app technically does what it’s intended to do, it gets a passing grade for most people. I’ve long wanted to see that change, and I think the only way that happens is if Google leads from the top. Material 3 Expressive shows Google is recognizing design’s importance more than ever before — I prefer it to Apple’s Liquid Glass — but it only matters if the design system is applied to the apps we use every day. With Google’s very own Fitbit app — the new version that’s still rolling out, so you may not see it in your app yet — I see a shining example of what the future of Android apps might look like, and now I want every app I use to look this good.