There have been several changes to Gboard in terms of functionality, and they’ve all been welcome. Now, Google is focusing on the visuals. There are some slight changes to the visuals that bring the tool more in line with what we’ve been seeing with Material You. Before we get started, you’ll want to take this information with a grain of salt. This information was discovered during an APK deep-dive into the latest version of the app by 9To5Google. The code for this is hidden within, but that doesn’t mean that these changes will make it to the final version.
Gboard will get more Material You design elements
Starting off, Gboard currently has a carat on the left side of the UI that summons additional tools. There are tools like the GIF tool, clipboard, sticker button, and the translate button. With these new changes, the carat will turn into a circle with a grid of dots in it. Not only that but the tools will be housed in rounded squares separating the buttons. A bigger change to the tools is how you can access them. Right now, you’re able to see up to four tools. Tapping on the three-dot menu will give you access to the rest. However, after the change, you’ll see five instead of four, and the three-dot menu will be gone. Tapping on the new grid button will show you all available tools right off the bat. When you show all of the tools, you’ll also see a changer there. The tools will be displayed in rounded rectangles as opposed to circles. Also, they’ll sit on a more compact grid. You’ll also see some subtle changes to the setting.
