New Gemini Live voices rolling out, Android widget gets Neural Expressive icons
Gemini app is adding new voice options for chat and Live, while the Android widget refreshes its icons with the Neural Expressive style.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Google is rolling out a small Gemini UI refresh: two new voices replace earlier options in the voice picker, and the Android widget keeps the same layout but swaps in thin-line Neural Expressive icons.
Gemini is getting a small makeover. It has new voices to choose from, like picking a different voice for a talking toy.
The app’s widget on Android also got new pictures for its buttons. The buttons still do the same jobs, but they look slimmer and cleaner now.
It is like repainting the signs in a store without moving the shelves. The store still works the same, but it feels fresher.
Analysis
What changed
Google is rolling out new voices in the Gemini app’s main chat experience and Gemini Live. The voice picker has been redesigned in Settings, moving from a carousel to a list, and two new voices, “Flare” and “Glow,” are replacing older options.
The article says Nova and Lyra are being replaced, while the remaining voice options include Ursa, Vega, Pegasus, Dipper, Eclipse, Capella, Orbit, and Orion. Google also removed the voice descriptions from the redesigned picker, so users no longer see labels like calm, bright, energetic, or British accent beside each choice.
Widget and icon updates
The Gemini Android widget is also getting a visual refresh. Its layout is unchanged, but the icons for actions like Microphone, Camera, Gallery, File, Video, Screenshare, and Live have been updated to the Neural Expressive style with thinner outlines.
The rollout is happening through a server-side update tied to Gemini app version 1.0.913571982, according to the article. On a related note, the same report says Google app 17.26 updates the Drive icon in the plus menu to the latest style.
Overall, this is a refinement pass rather than a major feature launch. The changes make Gemini’s voice controls and shortcut surfaces look more consistent with Google’s newer visual language while keeping the underlying widget structure the same.
Key points
- Gemini is rolling out new voices for chat and Gemini Live.
- The voice picker in Settings now uses a list instead of a carousel.
- “Flare” and “Glow” are replacing Nova and Lyra.
- The Android widget keeps the same layout but gets Neural Expressive icons.
- The update is rolling out server-side with Gemini app version 1.0.913571982.
