Android app should follow Material Design, not iOS patterns
The recent Android update (12.4.*) introduces design elements directly ported from iOS, creating a non-native experience that ignores platform conventions and reduces usability.
Core issues:
Platform-inappropriate navigation
The fixed bottom tab bar (Chats / Contacts / Settings / Profile) wastes screen space on rarely used sections. Settings and Profile are accessed only occasionally, yet occupy permanent space. This reduces chat visibility and forces extra scrolling—especially problematic on smaller screens and during one-handed use.
Material Design addresses this with navigation drawers or contextual bottom sheets, showing relevant actions only when needed instead of always displaying everything.
Reduced information density
New borders, spacing, and visual effects in chat lists add visual clutter without functional benefit. Users scan dozens of chats regularly—extra noise slows this down and reduces the number of visible conversations per screen.
Inconsistency with platform expectations
Android users expect Material Design patterns because they are consistent across the OS and well-designed apps. Deviating from these creates cognitive friction and makes Telegram feel like a lazy cross-platform port rather than a thoughtfully designed Android app.
Why this matters:
iOS enforces Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines through App Store review. Android does not mandate Material Design, but this freedom should be used to create better native experiences—not to copy-paste iOS designs that don’t fit the platform.
Suggestion:
Design the Android UI according to Material Design principles. Use platform-appropriate navigation patterns, respect Android’s visual language, and optimize for different screen sizes and interaction models expected by Android users.
The desktop and web versions also deserve platform-native designs or their own Telegram style rather than a universal iOS aesthetic.
Not only does the new interface feel out of place on Android, it also is just a poor attempt at Liquid Glass. It's just transparency and blur – no refraction or anything. Also, elements look much too small.
If you can afford to use native design on iOS, then you can also do the same on Android. Make an update based on Material Design.
Max Kanzu32
The "bar" at the main screen is just 3 useless buttons out of 4 and the last one is that main screen...
Denis
Literally hate the new design. Its ugly and user hostile. It eats screen space with buttons one uses once a year!
Viacheslav Manulik
Honestly I may list a lot of points, but there are guidelines for the each OS, guys... This is just terrible!
David Niko
Wtf is this new design?
Святослав Серов
Is there any way to get it all back? This design looks lousy and like a cheap copy of iOS, especially the bar at the bottom. It looks like crap and is inconvenient when you pick up the phone and quickly scroll through it, constantly bumping into it.
Jorge Luis
Please bring back the Material interface
M
Maxim
This is just terrible! This design is not Android or user-friendly at all. I DON'T NEED THESE BUTTONS AT THE BOTTOM!! Probably will just stop using mobile version to save my mental health
G
Ghita
Hundred percent agree, this new change is just inconvenient and frankly ugly
t
tam
Why did you waste so much UI space with buttons one normally uses once a month or so?
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If you can afford to use native design on iOS, then you can also do the same on Android. Make an update based on Material Design.
Probably will just stop using mobile version to save my mental health