Here’s a look at the new gradient icons for Google Photos and Maps

featured image source: 9to5 Google

A few months ago, Google officially updated its iconic “G” logo, swapping the flat, four-color design for a brighter, more dynamic gradient. The company explained this wasn’t just a cosmetic tweak; the new look was meant to “symbolize the surge of AI-driven innovation and creative energy” across its products, reflecting the new AI era.

We’ve already seen this new style hit the main Google app and the Gemini spark icon. Now, as promised, the gradient refresh is coming to more of Google’s core products. Thanks to a new report from 9to5Google, we have our first sneak peek at the new gradient icons for Google Photos and Google Maps.

The new Google Photos icon

For Google Photos, the change is a straightforward application of the new design language. The beloved pinwheel shape remains unchanged, but it now features the new gradient effect, which appears to radiate from the inside out. This is a fitting change, as Photos has become a showcase for Google’s most impressive AI features, including conversational editing, photo-to-video with Veo, Remix, the powerful “Ask Photos” feature, and the upcoming Nano Banana model integration.

The new Google Maps icon

The Google Maps icon is getting a more substantial redesign. While it’s still a map pin, the shape has been tweaked a bit. The old diagonal partitions (which had two shades of blue) are gone, and the inner circle is now significantly larger. 9to5Google notes that this change reflects how Gemini is being integrated directly into place listings within the app.

It’s currently unclear exactly when these new icons will begin rolling out to everyone’s home screens, but given that the AI features they represent are already live in both apps, it could be at any time now.