Google’s Noto 3D emoji rollout is expanding beyond Pixel phones, bringing the redesigned 3D emoji style to Google apps, Android and selected devices from a long list of partner brands. Google Design has now named the manufacturers participating in the rollout, which makes this more than a Pixel-only visual refresh.
The important caveat is that Google has not said every supported phone will receive Noto 3D on the same day. Availability can depend on the device maker, software build and the specific Google or Android component that renders emoji.
Which Android brands are getting Noto 3D emoji?
Google Design says Noto 3D is rolling out across Google apps, Android and selected partner devices from the following manufacturers:
- Nothing
- Lenovo
- Xiaomi
- OPPO
- OnePlus
- realme
- vivo
- iQOO
- HONOR
- TECNO
- Infinix
- itel
- Motorola
The list is broad enough to cover a large part of the Android market, but it is not a promise that every model from those brands will switch immediately. Manufacturers can control how system emoji are packaged and when new assets appear in their software.
Samsung is not on Google’s partner list
Samsung is a notable omission from Google’s published partner list. Galaxy phones use Samsung’s own emoji design system, so users should not assume that installing Android 17 or One UI 9 will automatically replace Samsung emoji with Noto 3D.
If you are following Samsung’s Android 17 update instead, our One UI 9 rollout guide tracks Samsung’s own software rollout separately.
Do you need Android 17 to get Noto 3D?
Not necessarily. Google describes the rollout as spanning Google apps, Android and selected partner devices, rather than tying the design exclusively to one Android version. That means some users may encounter Noto 3D inside particular apps or vendor builds before it becomes a universal system-level look on their phone.
Android 17 is still relevant because newer devices and software branches are among the first places the redesign is appearing. For the platform changes beyond emoji, see our Android 17 features guide.
Why Google redesigned its emoji in 3D
Google says the goal was not to make emoji look like miniature photorealistic objects. The design team focused on emotional clarity: adding depth while keeping each symbol easy to recognize at the tiny sizes used in chats and notifications.
According to Google Design, excessive anatomical detail, texture and accessories can actually make emoji harder to process quickly. The team therefore kept facial geometry simple and used a rule of limiting each emoji to a small number of essential visual details.
Dark mode and tiny sizes influenced the design
Moving from flat artwork to 3D created practical UI problems. Google had to make sure the new emoji remained readable against dark backgrounds and still made sense when rendered at very small sizes such as 18×18 pixels.
The team also revisited full silhouettes for many animals rather than relying only on floating heads. Google says complete posture and body language can make the emotional intent easier to understand.
Noto 3D is being released as an open-source project
Google is also opening the Noto 3D library to developers and designers. The Google Fonts Noto Emoji repository now includes a dedicated 3D area, and Google says the new emoji files are being made available for creative reuse.
The Noto Emoji project itself is open source. Its fonts use the SIL Open Font License, while most image resources and tools in the repository use the Apache 2.0 license. Developers should still check the license attached to the exact asset they redistribute.
How to check whether your phone has Noto 3D
- Install pending Android and system updates from your phone maker.
- Update Google apps and your keyboard from Google Play.
- Compare the emoji appearance in Google apps with the system keyboard or messaging app.
- Remember that an app can render a different emoji style from the system UI.
- If your brand is on Google’s partner list but you still see the old design, wait for the staged rollout rather than installing unofficial emoji packages.
What the rollout means for Android users
Noto 3D is becoming a broader Android ecosystem design rather than a Pixel-only experiment. The partner list includes several of the world’s largest Android manufacturers, but the rollout is still staged and implementation can vary between apps and device makers.
For users, the practical takeaway is simple: seeing Noto 3D on one Google app does not guarantee that every app on the phone will use the same artwork yet. The transition will be gradual.
Start the conversation
Corrections, useful experiences and focused questions are welcome. Keep discussion respectful and on topic.