What Are Google’s New 3D Noto Emojis?
Google’s new Noto 3D emojis are a hand-crafted redesign of more than 4,000 existing Android emoji characters, replacing the current flat Noto Color Emoji set with fully modeled 3D icons that add depth, lighting, and texture for richer visual expression across messages and apps. This Noto emoji redesign is Google’s biggest emoji update since the Noto Color Emoji set arrived with Android 11, marking the fifth major style era after the early black-and-white icons, the well-known blob emoji phase, the Android 8 gradient look, and today’s flat designs. The Android new emojis were first shown during The Android Show ahead of their wider rollout tied to Android 17. Pixel phones are expected to see the official Noto 3D release first, with other Android devices and apps receiving the update over time.
What’s New Visually in Google 3D Emojis?
The Google 3D emojis move away from the flat, sticker-like Noto Color Emoji style and toward a more tactile look. Faces, hands, and objects appear rounded, with subtle shadows and highlights that give each emoji a sense of volume. Textures are more defined too, so metallic, soft, or glossy surfaces feel distinct at a glance. This Noto emoji redesign aims to make expressions clearer and more expressive without changing the basic shapes people already recognise in their chats. According to Smartprix, “more than 4,000 emojis were redesigned by hand as part of the project,” which explains why the visual jump feels so sweeping. The result is a consistent 3D language that should look more lively in chats, notifications, and any Android app that uses the system emoji font.
How to Get Emoji Early Access with Kboard
You can get emoji early access to the Noto 3D style through Kboard, which uses a custom emoji font file shared via its Telegram channel. First, download and install the Kboard keyboard app from its official GitHub page, following the developer’s instructions. Once installed, open your keyboard settings, find Kboard, and go to Appearance. There, choose Set Custom Font From File, then locate and select the downloaded .TTF emoji font file. After you apply it, the keyboard should begin showing Google 3D emojis instead of the old flat icons wherever Kboard is active. This method affects how emojis appear in the keyboard and, in many apps, in your text input field, giving you an early taste of the Android new emojis before Google’s full rollout.
Risks, Limits, and What to Expect from the Official Rollout
The current way to try Noto 3D emojis is not an official Google release. The emoji font file is distributed by third parties, and Google has not offered an official emoji early access package. That means you install and use the font at your own risk, and you should always verify that you are downloading from the correct Kboard GitHub and Telegram links. The custom font only affects apps where Kboard is used and may not match exactly what Google ships later. Smartprix notes that Noto 3D will arrive on Google products later this year, with Pixel devices expected to get it first. A wider rollout across Android phones, apps, and platforms will likely be gradual, similar to how past major emoji updates reached different devices over time.
