Google Search, which can both search the web and dig deep into your Android phone. it is a powerful tool. The Google Search UI on Android hasn’t changed much in a while, while Google routinely changes its algorithms that run in the background to give you the appropriate results. But that will likely change soon, as the search giant tests a new makeover for the Google app for Android and adding a few useful features in tow.
During this year’s Search On event, Google made a number of announcements, including a new Search bar for the Google app. While the company didn’t share a timeline for its rollout at the time, a Telegram channel that keeps track of all Google developments has spotted the new Search design on Android phones.
The most obvious change is the now much thicker Search bar, where the audio and Lens search options remain unchanged. You’ll see a new loop of search suggestions just below the search bar. The first gives you a contextual option, such as the ability to search from a recent screenshot – this will also appear when you’re about to punch your search query. If you swipe right in the loop, you’ll find even more suggestions for things like doing homework with Google Lens, identifying songs, and more.
Note that Google Search can already do all of this, but these handy shortcuts make features easier to access and even help people discover them for the first time. What’s really new is the bell icon in the Google app for Android. It’s located right next to your profile photo and shows notifications for topics you’ve subscribed to.
At this time, it’s not clear whether Google is doing limited testing or actually rolling out these features to everyone. These new design changes have not yet been shown on our devices, so it may take some time before Google rolls them out to a wider audience.
Aside from these visual improvements, there’s a lot waiting in line for Google Search. For example, Google will soon be able to show results before you even finish typing. This is different from the search query suggestions that appear as you type. Many more features like this were announced during the Search On event in September and should be available soon.