Older Pixel phones appear to be getting Google’s new 3D emoji

Google's new 3D emoji library debuted on the Pixel 11 but may now be slowly rolling out to older Pixel devices. One Pixel 6a user on Reddit observed their emoji library switching from traditional designs to the new 3D set, suggesting that Google could be gradually transitioning older devices to the 3D format. However, the rollout appears to be slow, with only one other commenter reporting the same experience.

It's unclear which specific devices are targeted by the update, though it's known that the Pixel 11 is the device initially released with the new 3D emoji set. So far, the majority of devices in the Reddit thread have not received the update. One user who did get the new Noto 3D emoji set mentioned it appeared after a Google Play Store update.

Like it or not, Google is replacing the standard emoji library with 3D designs that closely resemble them on all Pixel devices, starting with Android 17. The subtle differences in the emoji selection may take some time to get used to for longtime Android users. Have your emoji library updated to Google's 3D set? Share your experience in the comments below! For more news, check out 9to5Google on YouTube.