Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google is testing two interfaces for the incoming name display within the Cellphone app.
- Customers could possibly select between a pill-based horizontal swipe UI or an iPhone-like single-tap UI for answering/declining calls.
- Nevertheless, customers could not have the selection to retain the present vertical swipe UI, which is a disgrace.
Google has been testing a redesign of the Cellphone app for some time now, primarily specializing in how customers reply or decline calls. Again in September 2024, we noticed Google working to desert the swipe actions for incoming calls in favor of devoted settle for and decline buttons, just like the iPhone. Extra not too long ago, in March 2025, we noticed Google testing one more new pill-based UI for left-right swipe gestures. Google doesn’t appear to have made up its thoughts on which UI to go along with, and that’s nice for customers, because it appears it may give them a alternative between the 2. Apparently, this alternative may co-exist alongside the Cellphone app’s Materials 3 Expressive redesign.
An APK teardown helps predict options which will arrive on a service sooner or later based mostly on work-in-progress code. Nevertheless, it’s doable that such predicted options could not make it to a public launch.
Within the newest Cellphone by Google app v177.0.763181107 beta launch, strings point out that customers can select between the horizontal swipe gesture and the single-tap buttons on the incoming name display.
Code
answer_method_preference_list_key
Incoming name gesture
Horizontal swipe
Single faucet Whereas we couldn’t activate the present iteration of the brand new UIs straight away, we have now beforehand seen each of them.
For a recap, that is what the present incoming name UI appears like within the Google Cellphone app:
For incoming calls, you get a single button, which you’ll swipe as much as reply the decision or swipe right down to reject the decision.
The upcoming single-tap button format for the incoming name UI will probably appear to be this:
This format is just like the incoming calls UI on the Cellphone app on iPhones at the moment on iOS 18, however OEMs like Samsung swap the button place on Galaxy telephones working One UI. You possibly can see each within the pictures beneath:
The second alternative that customers may get is that this pill-based UI for the left and proper swipe gestures:
When the decision arrives, the Decline textual content is coloured pink and the Reply textual content is coloured inexperienced, whereas the telephone button within the centre animates to showcase a telephone ring. The textual content modifications to black coloration in a second as soon as the animation is completed, however the colours might be transitioned again into as soon as once more while you swipe proper to reply the decision or swipe left to reject the decision. You possibly can see the animation on this video beneath:
Both choice would require retraining muscle reminiscence for Google Cellphone app customers, although customers switching from iPhone to Android will welcome the iPhone-like single-tap UI. Since Google appears to be giving customers the selection, nothing is stopping the corporate from maintaining the present vertical swipe and providing it as a alternative, too. We hope the corporate considers this if it certainly goes forward with the incoming name UI refresh. We don’t know if Google will achieve this, and we’ll hold you up to date after we be taught extra.
