Skip to main content

Google Play Store gets a sleek but subtle facelift

Google-Play-Store-logoAlthough it wasn’t the focus of Google’s annual I/O keynote today, along with the slew of announcements detailing the latest of the tech giant’s innovations, Google also released an update to its Play Store.

As Android Police pointed out, the changes are subtle, but refreshing. The home buttons, which let you navigate to sub-sections like Apps, Games, Movies, Music, and other sections, have a new, more colorful look. And, once you dig down a little deeper, into specific application pages, you’ll notice a much airier, open look. We love this since the old design was a little cluttered, which can be a turnoff for many users whether they’re aware of it or not.

The Wishlist section also got a bit of a tweak. In the past, any apps that users added appeared as a simple text list. Now, however, a new visual element in included. The list is now a grid of cards, each with an associated image. Type A personalities will probably be annoyed that the cards are not universal in size, due to varying image dimensions. (Books and magazines have tall, rectangular images, while music and apps are shorter and square.) It would be aesthetically pleasing if they fit the cards together in a similar manner to a Pinterest board.

Another great new feature is perfect for those concerned with exceeding data limits on their plans. When users choose to update an app using mobile data, and that update happens to be a large one, a warning will pop up to make sure you’re okay with using your plan, rather than waiting to be within Wi-Fi range.

While relatively small, the changes bring a refreshing new vibe to the Play Store.   

Editors' Recommendations

Joshua Pramis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Spending a childhood engrossed in such technologically inspiring television shows like Voltron, Small Wonder, and Power…
Google is paying a $700 million fine, and you’re getting some of it
Google Play Store on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.

If you think your Tuesday is off to a rough start, at least you aren't Google. In the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday, December 19, Google confirmed that it's paying $700 million as part of a settlement regarding antitrust concerns around the Google Play Store.

In July 2021, over 30 states (plus Washington, D.C.) filed a lawsuit against Google over its business practices related to the Google Play Store on Android. Specifically, the lawsuit targeted fees Google charges developers to use the Play Store — and the alleged lack of competition the Play Store allows. Google settled the lawsuit this past September, and now Google has announced the details of that settlement.
Google's paying you $630 million ... kind of

Read more
Google loses landmark antitrust lawsuit against Epic Games
Tinder on the GooglePlay App Store.

Google has lost a landmark case against Epic Games after a jury decided on Monday that the web giant operates an illegal monopoly via its Android app store.

The decision was announced at the end of a month-long trial that itself was part of a longer legal dispute between Google and Epic Games that’s been rumbling on since 2020.

Read more
Google just redesigned one of its biggest apps, and it’s bad
Google Chat app on the Play Store.

Google Chat — Google's business-oriented messaging platform that is similar to Slack and Microsoft Teams — just got a big update for its Android and iOS apps. The update dramatically changes how you navigate the app and, uh, well, it sure is something.

Google Chat's mobile app used to be broken up into two pages: Chat (direct messages between you and other users) and Spaces (larger chat rooms for multiple people). As with most apps, you switched between these with a navigation bar at the bottom of your screen.

Read more