Popular free email service Gmail is reportedly gearing up to introduce emoji reactions in its upcoming update, giving users the option to express their reactions via emojis in their emails.
Reports from several tech news outlets including The Verge, Gadget Match, and 9to5Google, suggest that the feature is presently in the works, following the discovery of new code in the iOS Gmail app in August. This finding was akin to emoji implementations found in other platforms such as Outlook, fueling speculations of a similar update for Gmail.
Further backing these rumors, The Verge pointed out that the recent Gmail APK for Android contains “several lines of code” that “directly refer” to the anticipated emoji reactions feature. Although there is no official release date mentioned, the code noted that the feature would undergo a limited-time trial period before being rolled out to all Gmail users globally.
According to the reports, users will be able to access the emoji reactions through the email screen or a three-dot overflow menu, with a restriction of a maximum of 20 emoji reactions per email to avoid overcrowding and maintain readability.
While the feature seems promising, it is important to note that Google has yet to confirm the rumors officially. When reached for a comment, Google spokesperson Madison Cushman Veld remained cryptic, advising everyone to “stay tuned” and playfully incorporating emojis in her response, as reported by The Verge.