Android users can now see a translucent status bar in Google Photos

Google switched from a clear to a translucent status bar, which is why if you upgraded Google Photos today and something seems different on your Pixel.

Google Photos' status bar used to be transparent. It is translucent in version 7.7, which is especially apparent when the system dark theme is activated. (This change is more noticeable on devices, but it's difficult to discern in the first set of screenshots below.)

You'll note that the status bar is no longer the same color as the rest of the app, including the app bar, as you scroll to the very top of the app.

Scrolling down in the Photos page caused a visual discomfort due to the translucent status bar. As you browse, Google Photos employs a shadow to indicate the day and date in the upper-right corner. The visual disparity between that effect and the original status bar was very noticeable.

You can plainly see or read what's behind the status bar on the left. On the right, that is no longer the case.

Although it still exists now, the contrast appears considerably better and is less out of place.

While some apps dock the status and app bar (like Google Messages), most apps avoid this issue by not having anything show underneath the status bar when you scroll (like Google Keep).