Google is giving Android’s 4,000 emojis a 3D glow-up, but there’s a catch

• Google has announced a major refresh for all 4,000 emojis on Android.
• Google will replace the existing flat emojis with 3D ones later this year.
• When they first arrive, the new emojis will roll out to Pixel devices.

Android is evolving, and at the Android Show I/O Edition, Google has taken the time to highlight the biggest changes coming to the mobile interface this year. While AI is still a common theme, as it is with most public announcements from big tech these days, Google is exemplifying different ways it runs in the background and powers processes, rather than being a layer on top you occasionally use. In addition to a smarter Gemini and a better driving experience, Android is also getting some core changes, and a few of those relate to how we present our thoughts.

One of the big changes coming to Android concerns an important aspect of how we express ourselves: emojis. Google says it will revamp all 4,000 emojis supported on Android to make them look 3D and “more alive” than ever.