Google is updating the icons for two of its popular apps.

Google continues to improve the design of the icons used to represent its most widely used and popular apps.
In September, Google announced that its decision to use gradients was motivated by a desire to represent the wave of AI innovation occurring across the company's products, while still maintaining the brand's four iconic colors. According to Google, the gradient look will be used to represent the entire company, and the update will be implemented across more products and platforms in the coming months.
Last week, Google updated the icons for Google Maps and Google Photos. The new Google Maps icon still features a pin, but it now uses a gradient, is thinner and larger, and has a bigger hole in the middle. The previous icon used two shades of blue, which the updated version does not.
The Google Photos icon still has four sections, each with its own color. Now, each section of the pinwheel design features a gradient that goes from the inside to the outside. The new icon is also larger than the previous version.
It is unknown when the new Photos and Maps icons will be released. The Google app and Gemini app icons on my Pixel 6 Pro already use the new gradient design.
Other apps that could have their icons updated soon include the Play Store, Chrome, and Calendar. Currently, these apps use the four colors divided into solid sections. The gradient look may be an improvement, and Google's apps could benefit from the icon refresh.