Google rolls out fresh look for Gmail app on iOS
It could bring cleaner looks and better usability.
For a while, it felt like iPhone users were stuck in a time warp when it came to Gmail’s design. Android and web users enjoyed Google's fresh Material 3 look, while iOS was still running on an outdated layout. Now, that wait is finally over.
Google has started rolling out the Material 3 redesign for Gmail on iPhone and iPad with version 6.0.250413, and it could bring some much-needed polish. Right away, you’ll spot the new pill-shaped search bar replacing the old rectangle. If you use Gmail’s Chat or Meet tabs, the active section now shows with a pill highlight instead of just a glowing icon.
The "Compose" button also gets a makeover, now a rounded rectangle, while blue becomes the new accent color, stepping away from Gmail’s classic red. Inside emails, smaller tweaks like a horizontal three-dot menu may add to the cleaner, more consistent feel.
It’s a refresh that feels overdue, especially with Android and web apps already sporting Material 3 for months. Now, Gmail on iPhone finally starts to match the rest of Google’s ecosystem, a change that might help create a more seamless experience across devices, at least in theory.
Stepping back, it’s no accident this update is landing now. According to reports of 2024, roughly 4.48 billion people use email globally. Apple Mail holds a 55.64% market share, thanks to the iPhone’s dominance, while Gmail claims about 30.9%. While a redesign won’t radically change these numbers, keeping Gmail modern could help Google stay competitive on iOS, a platform where users expect sleek and polished apps.
Material 3 has already landed in Google Chat, Home, Maps, Meet, Photos, and Search for iOS. Gmail was just lagging behind. Looking ahead, Gemini’s AI image generator will soon appear in Gmail’s sidebar for Workspace users, letting them create and insert images directly into drafts, hinting at more interactive tools on the way.
Meanwhile, Google Calendar for iOS, still using the old design, is adding "Birthday" event options alongside regular meetings and tasks. It’s a small tweak but suggests that more updates are slowly coming across Google’s iOS apps.
Henry Chikwem
