In a recent development, Google Messages has started to introduce a new design for the text field, featuring a dedicated shortcuts bar. The RCS/Text message field historically occupies the right two-thirds of your screen and expands to hide the “plus,” gallery, and Magic Compose buttons as you enter more text. At the other end, you get emoji and voice memo shortcuts.
Google Messages now features a left-aligned text field with an emoji button up front. You then get Magic Compose, gallery (with a new icon), and the plus, which is now on the opposite end. The voice recorder, which is getting thoroughly revamped with Moods, now has its own separate button outside the pill. It’s worth noting that the left-aligned text field may seem somewhat odd when the messages you send continue to appear at the right.
Some users in the Google Messages beta are already seeing this text field redesign with the dedicated bar, but it is not yet widely rolled out, which is also the case with the other functionality Google announced earlier this week.
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