Wear OS Google Phone App Gets M3 Expressive Redesign with New In-Call Screen Layout

The Google Phone app for Wear OS is receiving an update with a new design, M3 Expressive. The in-call screen has been redesigned with larger buttons and a more prominent end call button. The mute and three-dot overflow buttons have been moved up the screen, and the call duration is now displayed in the middle of the screen. The update also includes a new incoming call screen that allows users to answer calls with a left/right slide or buttons. Some users on the beta have already received the full revamp with Material 3 Expressive, while others have only seen the Home, Keypad, and Voicemail bottom bar.

Google's Wear OS Phone app is set to receive a significant update, incorporating the M3 Expressive design language. The update aims to enhance user experience by introducing a more intuitive and visually appealing interface.

The in-call screen has undergone a notable redesign, featuring larger buttons and a more prominent end call button positioned at the bottom edge of the display. This change is designed to improve usability on the smaller screen of Wear OS devices. The mute and three-dot overflow buttons have been moved up the screen, with the call duration now displayed prominently in the middle.

Additionally, the incoming call screen has been updated to allow users to answer calls using either a left/right slide or dedicated buttons. This flexibility is expected to provide a more convenient call management experience.

Some users on the beta have already received the full revamp with Material 3 Expressive, while others have only seen partial updates, including the Home, Keypad, and Voicemail bottom bar. This phased rollout suggests that Google is testing and refining the new design before a wider release.

Separately, Qualcomm is rumored to be developing a new wearable platform that could significantly boost the performance of Wear OS smartwatches. This new chipset, code-named Aspen, is said to be based on TSMC's process node, offering improved efficiency and potentially a small battery boost. The new platform is expected to support LPDDR5X RAM and feature a CPU configuration of 1x Arm Cortex-A78 + 4x Arm Cortex-A55, which would represent a substantial performance upgrade compared to previous configurations.

The integration of these updates is likely to enhance the overall user experience on Wear OS devices, potentially driving increased adoption and market share for Google's wearable offerings.

References:
[1] https://9to5google.com/2025/07/18/google-phone-wear-os-m3-expressive/
[2] https://www.t3.com/tech/smartwatches/your-next-smartwatch-could-be-a-performance-powerhouse-thanks-to-new-wear-os-chip