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.
I really think that it is THE worst UI redesign I saw in my life. ALL important things like saved messages are moved to the obscure places and grouped with random shit like "new group". ALL unimportant shit I don't need 90% of the time like "Profile" and "Contacts" are live now on the main screen on the awful floating island. NEW MESSAGE (who tf use it, telegram is not twitter) button is placed in place where I scroll my chats. SEARCH field for some reason also present on the main screen at all times. I can't believe how shit it is. Who did it. Why. You had literally the most pleasant to use UI from all the apps on my phone. Why I must suffer because of iOS or something? I cancel premium this year. My deepest, sinsereest "f you", telegram devs.
K
Korol
bring back the design
Moni
Will there be an option to switch to the previous UI? This one is very clumsy for me in many ways already stated. If this is part of a test, I want to vehemently downvote it!
Fran
The interface (with the side menu showing all the options) was more user-friendly before the latest update, in which the side panel has been replaced by a floating bar, although a mini menu remains in the top corner. Please allow us to choose between the different interfaces. The previous one was much more practical for those of us who frequently switch between personal and professional accounts. Thank you.
George Neveric
Awful redesign. I don't understand: - Why you need to change something that works great - Who thought that will be a good idea - How abysmall floating island with 4 buttons (3 are used once a month) are approved by QA - Where the fraking saved messages? Nvm, they are in the MOST INCONVENIENT SCEEEN CORNER IN THE SMALL MENU RIGHT BESIDE "New group". Strangely enough, no "new channel" here, but "change to light mode". - The actual flick.
αηү1ηε
Bring back the old interface. The new design, with the menu at the bottom, is just really inconvenient. I keep accidentally pressing those buttons. Please.
e
exavior
Send me a DM when you'll be done with unnecessary experiments of dragging iOS UI guidelines onto a entirely different ecosystem with it's own guidelines (material 3 expressive). I will be using telegram x for time being.
Eugene Albert
Please, give an option to hide the bottom menu
撕梓咩 哈气中
At least give us an option to roll back to the old UI.
K
Kirill
if ui/ux guy doesn't have any other tasks, he redesigns their own shit and here it is - useless, ugly and absolutelly nobody asked for it.
What about users choise and freedom that durovs likes so much? ah I guess it's different, am I right?)
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I can't believe how shit it is. Who did it. Why. You had literally the most pleasant to use UI from all the apps on my phone. Why I must suffer because of iOS or something? I cancel premium this year. My deepest, sinsereest "f you", telegram devs.
Please allow us to choose between the different interfaces. The previous one was much more practical for those of us who frequently switch between personal and professional accounts.
Thank you.
- Why you need to change something that works great
- Who thought that will be a good idea
- How abysmall floating island with 4 buttons (3 are used once a month) are approved by QA
- Where the fraking saved messages? Nvm, they are in the MOST INCONVENIENT SCEEEN CORNER IN THE SMALL MENU RIGHT BESIDE "New group". Strangely enough, no "new channel" here, but "change to light mode".
- The actual flick.
What about users choise and freedom that durovs likes so much? ah I guess it's different, am I right?)