Google on Tuesday announced it has refreshed Android’s branding with a new logo and given a 3D makeover for its iconic robot mascot to represent the Android community better and give it a more dynamic and playful feel. With over 3 billion Android devices worldwide, Android is the world’s most extensive operating system.
Google Refreshes Android With New Brand Logo, 3D Bugdroid
According to the company, the Android brand is meant to reflect the platform’s core ethos of being open, iterative, and inclusive.
“Each time we overhaul our branding, we evaluate not only changing needs, but also future goals. We know people today want more choice and autonomy, and we want our brand to be reflective of Android: something that gives people the freedom to create on their terms,” Jason Fournier, Google’s Director of Android Consumer Brand Management, wrote in a blog post.
By refreshing the logo and branding, Google aims to invite people to create, connect, and do more with Google on Android devices.
Over the past decade, Android has undergone several branding updates to modernize its look and feel. In 2019, Google changed its logo to a more user-friendly logo and updated the naming convention for Android releases, making subsequent releases clearer and easier to understand globally.
As per Google, the latest Android brand update draws inspiration from Material design to complement the Google brand palette and be adaptable.
The new Android logo features a capitalized “A” at the start of Android versus its previous lowercase “a” to add “more weight to its appearance” when placed next to Google’s logo. It also has a rounder font to match the Google logo.
“While we’ve added more curves and personality unique to Android, the new Android stylization more closely mirrors Google’s logo and creates balance between the two,” Fournier added.
Besides the logo, the bugdroid – the face and most identifiable element of the Android robot – has also received a makeover with a three-dimensional (3D) aesthetic, adding more dimension and character to its appearance.
Google has updated the green Android robot’s full-body appeAdnrarance to ensure it can easily transition between digital and real-life environments, making it a versatile and reliable companion across channels, platforms, and contexts.
Google said that the new aspects of the brand identity, like the updated logo and 3D bugdroid, will appear on Android devices and in more places starting this year.
In a separate blog post announcement, Google also revealed that it is bringing new features to its Android apps, including Assistant At a Glance widget, Image Q&A on Lookout, Google Wallet Pass photo import, support for Webex and Zoom audio conference calls in Android Auto, and more.
