For years, Android has displayed app icons in a light tint in the status bar to alert users to new notifications. However, Google plans to add a new feature in Android 15 that allows icons to be displayed in full color or monochrome.
According to Android Authority, the source code of Android 15 contains two new app icon options that can be enabled in the status bar. One option is to replace the icon in the status bar with a full-color version, which is what you see in the Play Store, home screen, or app drawer. The other option is to replace it with a monochrome icon (provided that the app supports adaptive icons).
As you can see in the image below, full-color icons make it easier for users to identify which specific app sent a notification. Monochrome icons may have some issues with contrast, but once Google fixes these problems, they should provide a more unified look on the home screen or app drawer with the adaptive icon feature.
It’s worth noting that this change can also be applied to the AOD (AoD) interface, which means that in the AOD interface of a mobile phone or tablet, the application icons can also be displayed in default, full color or monochrome. This is very cool.
If Google decides to go ahead with this change, Android 15 will likely offer an option for users to choose between default icons, monochrome icons, or full-color icons. Hopefully, Samsung will also introduce this feature in its upcoming One UI 7.0 system.
