Future of Google Sans and Roboto as Default System Font
In 2018, Google developed Google Sans font, a size-optimized variant of the Product Sans font. Google adopted Google Sans Text as the primary system font for Android system apps (such as Settings) on Google Pixel devices, aligning with other Android OEMs (for example Samsung uses SamsumgOne as custom font option on Samsung phones) that incorporate custom fonts in their system apps. → Watch Video Tutorial below.
In 2021, the Google file manager ditched the old Roboto font for Google Sans font.
The buzz about ‘Google Sans’ is since 2018.
However, in 2021, one commenter on a tech portal, commented in this way:
“Google Sans Text will/may replace Roboto in the upcoming betas of Android 12! Bye Bye Roboto!”
However, in my understanding, Google Sans font may replace Roboto but it will not be available to be used as primary font for web designers. It will remain a proprietary font for only Google use like Segoe UI is for Microsoft.
Might be this is the reason that when search “Google Sans” the website of Google Fonts, it returns no results.
On the other hand, I am convinced that Roboto will continue to be supported by the Google to keep it as a system font, though not a default font. But I am worried that Roboto may not get a major update in future, as Google is moving slowly to its new love Google Sans. In recent years, Open Sans font received more updates than Roboto.
Google has used ‘Google Sans Text’ on Google Design website, with Roboto as secondary font.
font-family: "Google Sans Text", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif
Google has also used ‘Google Sans’ font on the latest version of web pages of Material Design 3 whereas on web pages of Material Design 2, Roboto font was used. URL:
font-family: "Google Sans", sans-serif
The Settings page of Google camera in Android 12 beta, uses ‘Google Sans’ font instead of previous Roboto font. [Source]
‘Google Sans Text’ font is also used in June 2022 for Material You for Gmail. [Source]
Previously, Arial font was being used for Google Search. However, in my random check in August 2022, I noticed that Google Search is now using ‘Google Sans’ font. I don’t know when this change of font took place. Check this in detail in our demo video.
I took the above screenshot where you can notice the use of “Google Sans” font in Google Search.
In June 2024, during a casual internet browse, I came across the usage of "Google Sans" on the AdSense website.
From the screenshot above, you can see that the primary web font utilized on the official Google AdSense website is "Google Sans". This screenshot is also useful if you want to see how the "Google Sans" font appears.
In 2024, ChromeOS introduced "Google Sans" as its new default font.
It is noteworthy that Microsoft Bing is still using Roboto font - latest checked in June, 2024.
Therefore, if Roboto is your favorite font only because of being a default system font on Android, then you should reconsider your decision. However, if you love Roboto, for other reasons – such as its design – then you should continue using it as web font.
Explore more articles about Fonts, or visit Home Page of Dozro website.
