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.
The new UI design is garbage, terrible. Telegram was the leading messaging app before this redesign.
🦆 Cybercaptain Duckness
This design is the worst. The floating "new message" that I will NEVER use, 2 out of 4 options at the bottom that I will NEVER use and 2 that I use rarely, and a very weird choice of options in the three dots menu. Please roll back or use the latest Material design guidelines
rook
absolutely agree. at least they should make a switch that lets you toggle that new ui. broken af, got my themes broken btw, sometimes top buttons at the home screen (where all the chats are) just go invisible, so i gotta blind tap it, and a lot, i mean a lot more that im too lazy to mention in this comment, but you got the point. why'd he even think of remaking ios design for android? not even material 3. no. liqud glass. gosh i pray for old ui comeback/new OWN android design. liquid glass? liquid ass.
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Alex 47517
Cancelled Premium after the redesign. A legacy / Android-native Ul toggle would prevent churn.
Ɛ1ƐVƐN
This is a big mistake, we should at least get an option to switch. Changes like these will make Telegram lose its authenticity and originality.
S
Sina
New design is terrible. Please give us option to revert the latest design. Telegram is popular for respecting the users
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BrEl
Tbh I think they don't care
Антон
The designers-wankers need to be fired!
LuckyStike
Telegram isn't about freedom anymore but slavery, slavery to such terrible design.
Johann
Completely agree. The new buttons are difficult to use and the lower bar is in the way. Rollback!!
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Benjamin McBeer
It took me 15 minutes trying to figure out how to call my girl back this morning. Switching a profile is senseless now. The bar along the bottom is horrendous and unusable. Why does it cover the bottom of the screen? It's garish! Who approved this? As a CMO and Creative Director if I let this out the door... This is why I haven't updated my Macbook yet. Is this what iOS looks like?! Please revert the Android design or fork it or SOMETHING. Woof.
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