Google Voice for Android Gets Calling UI Redesign
The redesign aims to provide a more modern and polished look.
Google Voice might not be the flashiest app in your lineup, but it's getting a rare facelift. Starting May 1, 2025, Android users will begin to see a revamped in-call interface that leans into Google’s Material3 design language, aimed at bringing some visual harmony with apps like Google Meet.
Instead of the old grid-style buttons, the updated UI now features a sleek, pill-shaped red button for ending calls at the bottom and a cleaner row of key actions, Keypad, Mute, Sound, and (for business users) Record. Secondary functions like Hold, Transfer, and Merge are tucked neatly above. The user avatar is now larger, and Google Voice now shows its call type (like “Wi-Fi/data call”) more clearly, along with real-time call status updates like “participant on hold.”
Louis Eriakha
Old Google voice vs. New Google voice (via Google)
The idea? A more intuitive, unified call experience across devices, and it seems like Google finally wants to give Voice users something a bit more polished.
But it’s not just about appearances. Google also rolled out a new feature for business users: three-way calling. If you're on a Voice Starter, Standard, or Premier plan or using SIP Link, you can now merge two calls into one. Just hit “Add” to find your contact, then “Merge” to bring everyone together.
This could be useful for businesses, it may mean smoother handoffs, quick access to legal or translation support, or the ability to loop in a colleague mid-conversation without dropping the thread. It’s a small but strategic feature aimed at making Google Voice more competitive in the modern business communication space. While the UI upgrade is for everyone, the three-way calling is strictly for paid plans, reinforcing Google’s push to make Voice a more viable enterprise solution.
This move aligns with a broader industry trend. In 2023, Apple gave its Phone app a facelift in iOS 17, and now Google is doing the same with Voice. After years of feeling like an afterthought, Google Voice is showing signs of life and strategy.
The redesign may seem minor at first glance, but it’s part of a broader push to modernise Google Voice both in form and function. For longtime users, it’s a much-needed refresh. For business users, it’s a sign that Google is finally taking Voice more seriously.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
