I was reluctant to accept it, but it's becoming increasingly plausible: aFirst glimpse of Android 17's updated Noto 3D emoji designdemonstrates that Google is entirely redesigning the icons displayed on an Android device.
Now it's not as significant a change as some were worried about; you won't need to use AI-related icons, since Gemini hasn't even approached that area. However, you also won't be getting the quirky blobs back; sorry.
Overall, Android 17 is addressing some of Android's irritating features, most notably tackling the application issue with tablets and foldable devices, so it is expected to be a beneficial system update.
But I don't believe that's true for the updated emoji. In my opinion, they seem somewhat less interesting than our current ones — and Google's reasoning demonstrates that they don't fully grasp why people use these stickers in the first place.
Wait, what's occurring to the emojis?
Google's icon redesign
Oh, did you miss the update? With Android 17,Google is offering emojis a "makeover,"by substituting the established existing icons with "a new set of emojis," as stated by the company.
This new set of emojis is named Noto 3D, and the main distinction from the current collection of icons is that they have been reimagined to appear three-dimensional. In certain instances, this involves adding a reflective shine to suggest light, while in other cases, a broader range of colors is used to create the same effect.
There are more changes besides the obvious ones, as certain emojis have undergone additional modifications; for instance, the Jack-o'-lantern now features a light inside, and various icons have altered their color, posture, or in some instances, the actual image they display. These are just a few examples from the small number of updates Google has revealed so far.
As per Google, the icons were all created by hand — even though the company constantly talks about Gemini, it clearly had the wisdom to employ real artists for the emoji. The company also mentions that initially, only Pixel phones will receive these new designs.
What is the reason behind Google implementing this change?
It seems that 2D emojis are flat.
When defending its Noto 3D update, Google stated that the new designs "add a sense of tangibility" to digital conversations, as it seems "our emotions carry weight, yet they frequently lack impact when shared online."
It's challenging to avoid sarcasm when considering this reasoning — if a 2D emoji isn't effectively conveying an idea, merely making it resemble a blown-up balloon won't resolve the issue — and the majority of reactions I've come across online have criticized these modifications.
Numerous individuals are highlighting that the excessively detailed emojis will be difficult to recognize on a small phone display, or are expressing criticism that an emoji update appears to be one of Google's most significant changes in Android 17.
However, the ones that come nearest to the truth in my opinion are the commenters who point out that Noto 3D resembles iOS emoji. Many iOS emoji have a comparable 3D appearance to Noto's icons, and it appears likely that Google is attempting to align the icons of the two operating systems more closely.
In theory, this isn't entirely negative — it's important to ensure that users across various platforms send and receive icons that consistently convey the same meaning. This is probably why Google's traditional "blobs" emoji were phased out. However, there is a drawback as well: iOS emojis are frequently criticized for being bland, and these new Noto icons share that issue.
A lack of personality
Capturing the feeling from emojis
I frequently use emojis, and I'm confident I share this habit with most people. These symbols have been part of our lives for many years, and as a society, we've given them meanings that go beyond their original intent.
Occasionally, these symbols carry a shared meaning: the nail polish emoji can indicate you're not fazed, a laughing face suggests someone is foolish, and we all understand the significance of the eggplant. In other instances, we assign individual interpretations to these icons: my partner and I use the bee and turtle emojis to represent each other.
We have successfully developed this implicit language even though the emojis are two-dimensional; Google's claim that communication lacks impact without 3D is clearly false.
A good example is the smirking cat face, which I use so often that it wasn't until writing this article that I realized it wasn't the primary cat face emoji.
This symbol features a smug expression; it can introduce a touch of lightheartedness in certain situations, or show determination and boldness in others. When you use this icon, you're not always simply saying "cat"; you could be expressing the concepts or emotions that the facial expression signifies. The same applies to all the different animal emojis available.
A small emoji can carry this weight because it is visually distinct from what it represents, simply due to its appearance. When you send a basic, 2D animal that is flat with simple colors and textures, it's easy to imbue it with meaning beyond its surface.
The introduction of 3D, which claims to bring more vitality to an icon, actually highlights how disconnected this icon is from reality. It becomes more difficult to give it additional significance. A smirking cat no longer suggests multiple concepts; it's now simply a discarded character from a children's cartoon.
Individuals familiar with the uncanny valley concept are already aware of this idea. It refers to a psychological phenomenon where replicas that resemble humans too closely can appear less human as they approach realism.
This applies to any depiction of reality, including in emojis: the more realistic the image becomes, the more challenging it is for this symbol to maintain its meaning beyond what is visually shown.
If you've ever watched a contemporary 3D-animated film and found it hard to become engaged with the plot, particularly if it adopts that lifeless anti-art approach commonly seen on online streaming platforms and children's studios, you have demonstrated my argument.
Among the disclosed Noto 3D icons, the more prominent changes illustrate this effect. The alien face, for instance, appears more like a standard smiley face but with a gray head. The fireworks icon seems less clearly like fireworks. The chick hatching from an egg looks much more like a Minion than I would prefer; the innocent, fresh appearance is gone, along with any meanings it previously conveyed.
In the broader picture, the release of Noto 3D isn't the most significant update for Android 17, and despite all the online complaints, it won't create major ripples in society or the technology world. If Google had simply changed the icons without announcing it, I would have been disappointed—but not enough to write lengthy opinion pieces about it.
However, removing emotions and individuality from certain icons, and then claiming that the 2D emojis weren't enough, implies that Google fails to grasp how people actually utilize emojis.
A cat isn't always just a cat, nor is a clown simply a clown, or an eggplant... you understand. They symbolize more than their literal form, and are more effective in that role when they are simpler and two-dimensional.
It all makes the mid-level option a bit more of a step back than I'd prefer — butI'd prefer using Android emojis over iOS ones., any day.
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