Chrome on Android’s New Tab Page gets a Material You makeover: thicker bars and rounded cards،
Chrome on Android is getting a makeover, with its New Tab Page (NTP) adopting the Material You design language. While not a major overhaul, the changes bring consistency to Google's first-party apps and improve the overall browsing experience.
As documented by 9to5Google, the first thing you'll notice is the thicker search bar, mirroring that of Gmail and Google Chat. This design element appears to be Google's new standard for Android apps, promoting a unified visual language. The search bar also has bolder hint text and more distinct microphone and lens icons, making them easier to find.
Gone are the days of the flat grid for your most visited sites. Now they reside in a rounded map, visually separating them from the rest of the page. The Discover/Following selector also gets a similar rounded treatment, while the Discover feed itself remains largely unchanged.
Old NTP vs new NTP
These changes may seem minor, but they pack a punch in terms of visual consistency. NTP, a frequently accessed part of the browser, now appears more polished and in sync with other Google apps. Additionally, increased padding does not impact content visibility, ensuring the focus remains on your navigation needs.
The Material You makeover started rolling out with version 119 and is now ramping up with version 120. If you can't wait to get your hands on it and feel comfortable with the feature flags, you can activate this new look by activating Chrome. ://flags/#enable-surface-polish to discover the 4×2 grid of favicons. You also get additional options in the flag to enable a carousel featuring 12 frequently visited pages. Additionally, if you're a fan of the old search bar, chrome://flags/#query-tiles-ntp lets you restore previous search queries.
Feature indicator for polishing Chrome surface with all additional options
This redesign marks a subtle but significant step for Google in unifying the aesthetic of its Android apps. The New Tab page, now adorned with Material You keys, looks neater and more cohesive, while retaining its core functionality. So the next time you open a new tab in Chrome, make sure you appreciate the subtle changes that bring a touch of Material You magic to your browsing experience.
