Oh Great, It Looks Like Android Is Doing ‘Liquid Glass’ Now Too
When Apple introduced Liquid Glass to the public in June last year, it started a saga that is still ongoing. The company toned down the effect several times, and in November it added controls to tint it. Some have even found ways to disable Liquid Glass completely. It’s not a quagmire I’d happily get into, but apparently that’s exactly what Android is about to do.
According to “internal build images” seen by 9to5Google, the next Android update will add significant amounts of blur “on Android 17.”
“Across the operating system, you can expect a system UI that transitions from a light or dark background to a blur effect that lets you see what’s immediately behind the component you’re interacting with,” writes Abner Li of 9to5Google.
This looks a lot like Liquid Glass to me, and Li further confirms that things like the volume bar and mode dial will be translucent, allowing you to see your wallpaper and app icons in the background.
Credit: Google
This is actually not the first time that Google has experimented with transparency effects. In Android 16 QPR1, Google has already added blur to the notification and quick settings panels. What’s new is that we can now expect it in other parts of the operating system as well, for a more consistent look. So if that hasn’t bothered you yet, you don’t have to worry about opening your phone to the Android 17 release date and seeing a whole new interface.
Li also says that “compared to Liquid Glass on iOS, Android’s new look is more subtle,” although some will likely be more sensitive to it than others.
What do you think of it so far?
Personally, I didn’t notice much of the blurring that’s already there, but even if you don’t mind the aesthetic, the effect can drain battery life slightly. Fortunately, even before its introduction to the entire operating system, there is a way to disable blur in Android.
This came in Android QPR2, specifically in response to the new effects (although it was technically available in the developer options before). To do this, open your Settings application, then navigate to Accessibility > Color and movement. From there, tap Reduce blurring effects. The change will take place immediately, so you can test out which look you prefer right away.
Like other new Android features, blur will likely come to Pixels first, and as Google marks it as part of its own Material 3 Expressive design language, it might not make it to the Samsung Galaxy or other Android phones. The exception could be Google-branded apps, although Li said “it remains to be seen” whether Google will add blur to its apps in addition to the operating system.
