Google has obviously listened to its users: after introducing a heavily criticized design change for the Google Messages input field, it seems that the firm will backtrack in a future update.
We inform you very regularly of updates planned for Google Messages, the native Android messaging application. If we appreciate the recent changes, such as the easier sending of several photos at once, the modification of messages after sending or the highly anticipated integration of the Gemini AI, other changes seemed more… doubtful to us, shall we say .
Last November, Google implemented an input bar split in two, the lower part used for different shortcuts such as adding photos, emojis or files. But now, this change was received with lukewarmness and incomprehension, prompting Google 6 months later to review its copy.
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The change was spotted by the site’s AssembleDebug TheSpAndroid (via Android Police) within the latest beta version of the Google Messages application (20240404_01). By activating the option via a version rooted of the application, AssembleDebug was thus able to find the input field in its original design, with a + icon replacing the shortcut bar as well as the emoji icon placed this time to the left of the text.
The current input field // Source: TheSpAndroid
The future (old) input field // Source: TheSpAndroid
I admit that I was also disturbed by this change a few months ago, especially since this additional space displayed a large empty area which obviously had to make room for these different shortcuts. But six months later, we still wonder how such a change could have been validated, without it being extremely serious, we agree.
However, you will still have to wait a little before seeing this update arrive on your smartphones, but we can bet that Google will implement it very soon in a final version of Google Messages.