Android chief Sameer Samat said the update will retain Material You rather than adopt Apple-style glass effects on Pixel devices.
The report says Google favours simpler, more static visuals and conservative background processing to protect battery life, even though Tensor chips could technically handle heavier transparency and blur effects.
Apple's new interface has split opinion, while some Android makers, especially Chinese brands, are adopting similar looks, though such effects may increase power use on Qualcomm and MediaTek-powered phones.
Can Google's AI and camera strengths justify premium Pixel prices if its graphics continue to lag behind rivals?
Is Google’s battery-first stance a choice or a necessity forced by its lagging Tensor GPU?