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 Android UI isn't a 1:1 copy of the iOS client, it's different. They look different but they have some similarities like the bottom navigation bar. The navbar shows us that Telegram wants users to pay more attention to the profile's features like stories which need you to pay for Telegram Premium to get more stories per week. That's probably why they added the unnecessary profile tab
Sarwar
we need material u design language not liquid a$$
Ronkly 🍀
But I wish there was Material 3 Expressive instead of Apple-like Liquid Glass
Sarwar
they should at the very least give us the option to disable it
N
Nick
Had to rollback last updates. Won't update the app until android design is back. I don't like Apple. I don't like their solutions. Particularly the liquid **ass. Please return the good old material ui.
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2. Just Blur (can't even see it)