If you updated Google Photos today and something looks different on your Pixel, it’s because Google went from a transparent status bar to a translucent one.
Previously, the status bar in Google Photos was transparent. With version 7.7, it’s translucent, which is most noticeable when the system dark theme is enabled. (This change is hard to see in the first set of screenshots below, but it’s more apparent on devices.)
When you are scrolled to the very top of the app, you’ll notice how the status bar is now lighter than the rest of the app, including the app bar, rather than being the same color.
7.6 vs. 7.7
The transparent status bar resulted in a visual annoyance when you scrolled down in the Photos tab. Google Photos uses a shadow to note the day/date in the top-right corner as you browse. The contrast between that effect and the original status bar was quite stark, and visually doesn’t make sense.
Light theme
On the left, you see how you can clearly see/read what’s underneath the status bar. That’s no longer the case on the right.
Dark theme
The contrast is still there today, but looks much better and less out of place.
Most apps avoid this problem by not having anything appear underneath the status bar upon scroll (Google Keep), while others dock the status and app bar (Google Messages).
Google Photos 7.7 is widely rolling out via the Play Store.
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