Every year, Google creates a new statue to commemorate each Android release and, for Android 16, it’s a celebration of Material 3 Expressive in the form of a mini merry-go-round.
Since Android dropped its yearly dessert themes, the yearly statues have become a bit less exciting, but they’re still pretty unique. Lately, they’ve been taking the form of slightly more useful objects. Android 13’s “statue” was a swingset. For Android 14, Google went back to those dessert roots with an Upside Down Cake reference, but then returned to 13’s whimsy for Android 15 with “The Bot” on a bench holding a vanilla ice cream cone.
This year, Google is again following up with a whimsical, but semi-practical “statue” for Android 16.
A custom merry-go-round – the little version – was constructed with “The Bot” on board and a few other seats around it with Material 3 Expressive UI shapes. While it’s a pretty basic idea, it’s definitely a fun way to ring in the new design language.
Google’s Seang Chua posted a video of the statue build and unveiling, as did Google’s Dieter Bohn.
More on Android 16:
- Google details what Android 16 Live Updates can be used for, shows off Maps support [Video]
- Android 16 adds Battery health percentage & ‘assistance’ on newer Pixel phones
- Here’s everything new in Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1 [Gallery]
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