Google Chat unwraps major redesign on Android and iOS with enhanced features

Google Chat is set to undergo a major redesign on Android and iOS platforms, following a similar update on the web. The revamp includes a new bottom navigation bar that expands from two tabs, Chat and Spaces, to four sections: Home, Direct Messages, Spaces, and Mentions. Each section offers a unique feature: Home provides a comprehensive view of all conversations and a filter for unread messages, Direct Messages displays a list of individual and group messages, Spaces lists all spaces, and Mentions helps users find messages where they've been mentioned.

These updates are also visible in the integrated Gmail mobile app, where the previous Chat and Spaces tabs have been consolidated into a single Chat tab. The four new sections are displayed in a floating pill-shaped container above the bottom bar, with a new chat Floating Action Button (FAB) on the right. Each section features an unread badge, showing a unified count in the bottom bar.

The redesigned Google Chat will be accessible to all Google Workspace customers and personal Google Account users in the coming weeks.