Early this week, Google began rolling out a One UI themed alternate design of their Messages app, exclusively in the special build intended for Galaxy S21 series phones outside of the US. With a bit of luck, it was found that this special build of Google Messages could be installed on nearly any Android phone, bringing the redesign to the masses.
After that, you get a large header above the search field. The app’s name is noted, along with a rather useful count of how many unread SMS texts/RCS chats you have. That box has an off-white background that’s a very light gray. Similarly, when the dark theme is enabled, AMOLED black is used above, while the messaging list remains gray. This two-tone color also appears at the bottom of your screen if you don’t have a full list of messages.
