Google Inbox is an email app by Google for Android, iOS, and Google's Chrome browser, with other web platforms planned. Currently, users can access Inbox through invitations only.
Operation
When the user logs in, Google scans the email account for important and similar information. It then presents what it considers the most important parts of the email first and groups similar emails as "Bundles" that are named by type (e.g., "Travel" or "Updates"). It also converts physical addresses into Google Maps links and airline confirmation numbers into a flight status update. Users can make custom Bundles as they would make Gmail filters, and can specify the time of day to show the Bundle. They can also organize emails with quick actions, such as swiping the screen to the right to archive a message, or swiping left to defer an email for another time. This "snooze" function works similar to that of the Mailbox app. The user can hold their finger on the screen to access bulk actions, like archiving, snoozing, or deleting emails in batches. Mail is displayed chronologically, with newest messages at the top. Emails can be pinned to the top of the screen as a Reminders to-do list. In the bottom right corner of the screen, a red "compose" button shows recent contacts. It does not support Google Apps for custom email domains. Currently, an invitation is required to access this beta-only service.
Reception
Reviewers praised the app's visual and product design, and noted that they would use it in place of the existing Gmail app. The Verge 's David Pierce wrote that the app's design was easy to use, fast, "minimalist, and lovely". He noted that its abundant white space would cause issues for email power users and asked for a "compact view". At the app's launch, Pierce preferred Inbox on iOS over the dedicated Gmail app and said that Inbox "feels a lot like the future of email". CNET 's Sarah Mitroff similarly praised Inbox as Google's "new killer email app", and planned to use the app over Gmail in the future. She added that Inbox followed Google's Material design introduced with Android Lollipop.
External links
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