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What is Google’s best four-color app icon? [Tournament]

Abner Li | Nov 27 2024 - 9:15 am PT

For its biggest services, I don’t see Google deviating from four-color logos anytime soon. To that end, we have a knockout tournament to find out what you think is Google’s best four-color app icon.

Gemini and Pixel-exclusive apps are the exception, but Google Authenticator and Google Chat got four-color icons in 2023, while Sound Search just got that treatment a few weeks ago.

The big critique of these icons is that that shared color palette makes all the icons look the same, and therefore hard to differentiate. You are basically relying on shape to distinguish the logos, with more than a few just being rectangular

The icons before you belong to Google’s biggest apps on Android. To get to 16, we’ve excluded apps that are not internationally available (Fi and GPay), shortcuts (Assistant and Lens), Go variants, and services that aren’t really seeing active development (Fit and the Wear OS companion). Those with downloads in the low millions have also not been included.

The 1-16 seeding is based on download count and release date on the Play Store. When thinking of “best,” factor originality, uniqueness, and obviousness.

1.) Google Maps vs. 16.) Google Chat:

The highest and lowest seed pits one of Google’s oldest Android apps with the newest logo to be redesigned.

2.) Gmail vs. 15.) Google Authenticator:

This is another classic app versus a new icon that was introduced last year.

3.) Google Drive vs. 14.) Find My Device:

The Google Workspace suite is well-represented in this bracket with five picks, while Find My Device is another recent logo.

4.) Chrome vs. 13.) Google Home:

Google’s browser got a new icon in 2022 with version 100, while Home has a fairly distinct shape.

5.) Google Photos vs. 12.) Google One:

The Photos pinwheel goes up against the equally unique ‘1.’

6.) Google TV vs. 11.) Files by Google:

Battle of the rectangles