Google's default emoji set for Android is, well, unique. Love them or hate them, they look drastically different than the standard circular designs most other companies go with, going instead for the look of a melted blob with facial features. Personally? I'm not a huge fan, and it doesn't look like Google is fond of them anymore, either.
Starting with Android O, you can expect to see a new set of emoji on your Android devices, assuming your manufacturer of choice hasn't inserted their own emoji set into the software. Instead of the blobular faces we're used to, Google has rounded things out to make them look a little more inline with the rest of Silicon Valley.
Old, left. New, right.
I really like the new emojis, too. They've picked up some gradients to add depth, but overall they just look more descriptive and less like a leftover project from 2010.
Part of the reason for this complete overhaul is that newer emojis (like the actual people, professions, and races) were much more detailed than Google's blobs. This created a pretty drastic clash between old emoji and newer designs, so Google figured out a way to redo everything while incorporated its layered material design aesthetic to everything. Turned out pretty well, if you want my opinion.
Again, these emojis will be standard in Android O, which was detailed more during the I/O 2017 keynote, which means you can also test them out now if you want to hop in the Android O beta. Otherwise, you'll just have to wait for the new OS to officially hit your device and hope your OEM doesn't like their own emoji set better.
source: Fast Company
Google I/O 2017 coverage presented by BESTEK
idk why cant companies have their own unique looking emoji? why they have to imitate apple in every way?
Boo! I like the blobs better!
Exactly what I’ve been telling the team! I don’t get why so many people dislike the blobs.
Those blobs look more like the candy, Dots. lol