Google set to add new progress bar & thicker sliders to its Material You UI for Pixel phones

Google is continuing to refine Material You components, this time with an updated design for progress bars and thicker sliders soon coming to Pixel devices, introducing rounded corners and improved interactivity.

In December, Google introduced “visual design and color updates” for Material You’s linear and circular progress indicators, deviating from the previous boxier and neutral style that we’ve grown accustomed to. This is now rolling out to Pixel users. The new design sports rounded corners and a stylish gap between the currently played track or downloaded file portion and the remaining track or file. This separation adds clarity and visual interest, making it easier to track progress at a glance.

But the improvements don’t stop there. Sliders, currently thin lines with circular knobs, are getting a major makeover. Sliders on your Pixel phone are getting thicker and pill-shaped with a vertical line handle that adjusts its width depending on your interaction. Picture a sleek pill growing into a thin line as you drag it – pretty neat, right? And just like the progress bars, sliders boast a subtle gap between the handle and the track, further enhancing visual separation and ease of use. Check out the video below of how the new sliders look, but do note it loads from our Imgur account.

Google’s even introducing more slider customization options, including:

• Centered sliders: Starting value in the middle for ultimate balance.
• Continuous sliders: Glide freely for pinpoint precision.
• Discrete sliders: Snap to pre-defined values for quick and easy selection.
• Range sliders: Two handles to set your minimum and maximum range with ease.

The thicker sliders aren’t live yet, but the new progress bar has already been added to Google Photos and the Play Store on select devices, at least according to 9to5Google. So, keep your eyes peeled for the wider rollout of these new Material You updates on your Pixel phone soon.