I can't help but gush about how stunning this Android app is! It's a breath of fresh air compared to the usual.
The iOS Advantage
I made the switch from iOS to Android, and one thing I miss is the vibrant indie app community on iOS. Their apps are works of art, meticulously crafted down to the tiniest detail.
Android's Design Dilemma
On Android, I often struggle to find apps with unique, well-designed interfaces. Most people seem content as long as an app functions as intended. I, however, crave more. I believe Google needs to lead by example. Material 3 Expressive is a step in the right direction, showcasing Google's growing emphasis on design. But it's only meaningful if it's applied consistently across apps.
Fitbit: A Glimpse into the Future
Google's Fitbit app is a shining example. The new version, still rolling out, showcases a potential future for Android apps. From the moment you open it, you're greeted with a seamless blend of motion design, UI elements, and performance. A spinning circle chart displays your weekly cardio activity, seamlessly syncing data from your smartwatch. Simple shapes at the top of the screen present key fitness data in tastefully chosen colors. The text size is carefully selected to prioritize important information. And it all loads without a hint of lag.
The Power of Details
When you begin scrolling, the floating action button at the bottom right animates smoothly, ensuring it doesn't obstruct your view. This attention to detail is noticeable and adds to the overall experience. The pull-to-refresh animation is another highlight, utilizing Google's Material 3 Expressive stock animation. What's impressive is that Fitbit's design largely relies on elements accessible to any developer in Google's latest design library.
Avoiding Information Overload
Fitbit excels at presenting a wealth of information without overwhelming the user. Take the Fitness tab, for instance. The top half of the screen displays three important overview charts in a simple yet informative manner. The exercise days chart is a fun example. Icons representing days of the week change from greyed out with a running person to colored in when a workout is completed. If a specific workout from your Fitbit plan is completed, the icon changes to reflect that workout, and the container shape transforms into a special shape from the Material 3 Expressive catalog. This chart communicates a lot with simple icons and shapes, and you can tap for more details.
The Snappy Experience
Perhaps the most crucial aspect is Fitbit's snappiness. There's no lag when switching between screens, and micro-animations on most screens make the app feel robust. Aside from the circle graph animation in the Today tab, the other tabs (Fitness, Sleep, and Health) also feature small animations in their charts. These animations are a hallmark of modern design, and I believe Android apps would greatly benefit from incorporating them.
Setting the Bar High
Fitbit shouldn't be the exception; it should be the standard. We don't want every app to mimic Fitbit, but it should inspire developers to create beautiful experiences with the tools provided by Material 3 Expressive. I look at what developers like sinasamaki are achieving with Jetpack Compose and see the potential. This is the level of design I often see on iOS, and while there are some good examples on Android, it's not nearly as prevalent.
The Future of Android
I'm learning Android development and hope to contribute to this change. Coding is a steep learning curve, but I'm excited about the potential. Fitbit's redesign is a testament to what's possible. When you compare the old and new versions, you can't help but be excited about the future of Android apps. I hope this isn't just about one app; I hope it's the beginning of a new era for Android apps.
