Chrome address bar looks like Pixel Launcher search with new design

Thanks to Google’s large user base Big changes are rare to the browser interface. However, there is a redesign plan in the works to “refresh” Chrome Omnibox on Android, and the end result is very similar to the Pixel Launcher.

Update 12/10: Google has been redesigning the address bar since September and is now doing A/B testing on a larger scale. One of my devices received it normally in the current stable version (chrome 108), although it is also published in beta (v109). The company hasn’t committed to a release, but wide availability is a good sign.

After using it for the past few days, I’m amazed at how similar it is to the just-introduced unified search Pixel Launcher. Android 13 QPR1🇧🇷 The similarity can be quite annoying and I thought I went to the wrong screen.

LR: Pixel Launcher, Current Chrome, New Chrome

Search fields that have no fields have a colorized version of the “G” logo and volume/lens labels on the right. The menu layout is also identical, with an icon on the left and an arrow on the other side.

Original 22/09: When Chrome was released in 2008, a design highlight was that there was only one field for entering/displaying URLs and searching the web. Google called this field an omnibox, and over the past few years they’ve been working on making it more useful by adding “Chrome Actionswhich connects to the main browser settings. This adds to how the box already displays quick responses to select queries and images.

Since the version of Chrome is at least 105 (currently stable), there is a “Preview Omnibox Update” flag. only available for Android, chrome://flags/#omnibox-modernize-visual-update “It will have a new, visually updated user interface.”

Chrome 108 (canary) offers the most advanced design with three “enabled” options in addition to the global option.

The current design is a very clear list of URLs and search suggestions. This doesn’t really change with regen, but each hit is placed on the map (with a dark background) to make items stand out. In addition, the top and bottom cards have rounded corners. This design is somewhat reminiscent of Single Search Pixel Launcher It’s in Android 13 QPR1 beta. Consistency is an interesting approach.

Meanwhile, the “No active multi-colored squares” option/checkbox interestingly removes the pill-shaped container for a look that really mimics the Pixel Launcher’s search.

Google’s description specifically states that “this tag is for step 1 of the Clank Omnibox upgrade plan.” We strongly recommend that Google plan further actions that may also affect the functionality of the omnibox.

As with all tags, a general redesign of the Android Chrome box might not work. However, it’s less of a visual match than that. double/double chromethen the odds are definitely better.

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Thanks to RKBDI and Michael!

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