Credit: Andy Walker / Android Authority
- Google is testing a less vibrant, desaturated color palette for Android Auto.
- The change uses a “Primary Color” derived from the user’s wallpaper to avoid overly bright visuals while driving.
- These changes are still being tested and have not yet begun rolling out publicly.
Material 3 Expressive is the season’s flavor, and many Google apps have adopted the new design language. Android Auto also took part in the Material 3 Expressive revolution, rolling out updates that match the interface of your car’s head unit with the wallpaper on your Android phone. However, Google doesn’t seem to be done making changes, as we’ve now spotted the Android Auto interface using less vibrant colors.
Android Auto v15.1.653404 includes code that changes the system’s color. Instead of directly using colors based on your phone’s wallpaper, which can be too vibrant and distracting for a car-centric UI, Google is experimenting with using a “Primary Color” from the colors generated by the system from your wallpaper.