Google Messages’ new pinned chats are dividing users, and we want your take

Google Messages’ latest pinned chat UI is dividing users like no other. The iMessage-like interface, which gives pinned chat its own dedicated section above all regular chats, is only beginning to reach users, but it has already started sparking a lot of debate on forums like Reddit.

There are proponents of the new look, and then there are those who aren’t nearly as enthusiastic about the change.

One of the biggest complaints about the change is the sheer size of the new pinned contact bubbles. Users say that pinned chat icons are massive, and they take up a majority of the Google Messages home screen. One user said:

It takes up damn near 50% of the screen and feels like your contacts are staring into my soul when I open the app.

Others say that the new UI makes it harder to keep track of recent messages at a glance.

I hate the pinned messages are at the top like this. I like being able to see the most recent text. It looks like it only shows the last text sent/received if it’s unread, otherwise it’s just the contact picture

Proponents of the change don’t seem to mind the huge icons, with some even praising Google for borrowing a page from Apple’s book. One user said:

There are some things Android does better but messaging has never been it. I’m ecstatic to see Google borrowing from iMessage. Just makes Android even better.

A different user said:

As someone that had an iPhone for about 4 years that is one thing I miss about iMessage. This is one feature I’m glad Google is copying and in my opinion making slightly better

I personally like the change, especially since I know a bit about what could be coming next. In a teardown late in September, we uncovered evidence about upcoming improvements to the redesigned pinned chats interface, including the likes of animated typing indicators and richer message previews within pinned icons.

That said, while I like the redesign, I also think the implementation could use some polish. And users on Reddit seem to second that sentiment. Several users aired the idea of more control over the layout, including the ability to resize pinned contact bubbles.

Testing features in beta before their stable rollout gives Google the opportunity to gather feedback. There’s no guarantee that the company will act on user suggestions, but posts like this one and the numerous threads on Reddit could give Google more insight into what users like and dislike about the change.

We also want to hear directly from you. Do you prefer Google Messages’ new iMessage-like pinned chats interface, or would you rather stick with the old layout? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments!