Pixel Recorder App Gets Material 3 Redesign with New Features

One of the most cherished apps among Pixel users, the Recorder app, has undergone a stunning transformation with the arrival of its Material 3 Expressive UI redesign. The app, which leverages on-device AI to transcribe audio into searchable text in real-time, has been a standout feature since its debut with the Pixel 4 series in 2019.

Now, it’s getting a fresh look that elevates the user experience even further.

With the Recorder app, Pixel users can easily record any audio and even get instant transcription. The app ensures privacy by processing everything on-device, without needing an internet connection. This security feature set it apart when it first launched, as other transcription services relied on cloud processing. The accuracy and speed of transcriptions were also impressive for a mobile app.

Now, as part of the Material 3 redesign, the Recorder app is introducing a more polished interface. The “Search recordings” field, previously labeled as “Search your recordings,” has been redesigned with a lozenge shape. The font size and color have been tweaked for a modern, fresh feel. The playback controls now feature an oblong Play button, flanked by vertical pill buttons: one rewinding 5 seconds and the other advancing 10 seconds. Above these, a Material 3 slider offers more intuitive control over the playback.

Another major update is the new speaker labeling system. The Recorder app can now distinguish between different speakers in a conversation, labeling them as Speaker 1, Speaker 2, and so on. This feature makes it easier to follow along with transcripts of conversations, giving users a clearer understanding of who said what.

The app’s interface also has a cleaner look. The previous labels for “Audio” and “Transcript” above the playback controls have been removed. The app bar is now simpler, displaying only the recording’s name, a star for marking it as a favorite, and a three-dot menu for additional options, including Delete, Share, Transcribe again, Edit speaker labels, and more.

As part of this update, the app’s recording interface has been streamlined. The old buttons – Delete, Resume, and Save – have been replaced with more intuitive Pause and Stop buttons, with a larger clock display and a new trash can icon for deleting files. This update, version 4.2.20250529.x, is now available for download on the Google Play Store, bringing a sleeker, more modern look to a beloved app.