YouTube is testing a translucent bottom bar and dynamic design update for Android app users – All the details
YouTube is currently testing a new design feature for its Android app that incorporates a translucent bottom bar similar to a feature already available on iOS. The translucent bottom bar aims to create a more integrated and seamless experience by blending the bar into the background color of the app as users scroll through their feed. The design tweak marks a departure from the existing transparent bar, which appears white in Light mode and black in Dark mode.
Redesign buttons and navigation
In addition to the blur effect, YouTube is also redesigning some of the buttons in the bottom bar. For example, the Home and Subscribe buttons have been updated with a more minimalist design. Meanwhile, the “+” button has undergone a transformation, now featuring a “translucent circle” instead of the previous circular white outline, making it more noticeable, according to a report by 9to5Google.
The new design also introduces a dynamic element to the translucent bottom bar. The color of the bar will change based on the video thumbnails displayed in the feed. Since the YouTube app feed has dynamic video thumbnails that start playing automatically, the color of the bar will adapt accordingly, creating a more cohesive visual experience.
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Increase size for traditional navigation users
For users who still rely on Android’s traditional three-button navigation, the bottom bar will increase in size. This change is happening because the navigation bar will adopt the same blur effect, creating a more consistent look across the app.
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While these features are currently in testing, there’s no official word on when or if they’ll roll out to all users. YouTube has a history of testing design changes that don’t always make it into the final version of the app. However, ongoing testing suggests that YouTube is planning a more significant update, including a new Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mini player and the ability to introduce mid-roll ads in PiP format.
