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.
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?)
Denis ka
-ergonimics with new design, pls bring it back
LuckyStike
Someone buy telegram devs an Android phone, we have the damn Back key on bottom, we're not iPhone "special features requirements users"
but thx, I had to dig and find alternative clients that just a bit but care, for now disabled updates on store version, luckily I received update first on standalone and saw what's coming.
Tracer
What a terrible redesign. Please give the option to disable bottom bar at least.
Tracer
The person responsible for Android UI design should be fired
Silver Wolfy | @SxCcomms
Two recent updates has been horrible for me. The rounded and transparent bottom menu made my phone navigation buttons (back, home and menu) invisible on gray backgrounds on telegram. Now I have to stick with white only or black only.
Buttons has been made noticeably smaller. They has to be made smaller, because all menu windows are rounded now.
It all makes me harder to access telegram as nearsightedness user. Can't imagine how people with farsightedness are feeling.
I agree with post critisim fully. The new placement and design of navigation and settings is just wrong. I would really love to at least bring the side menu back.
Sergey Radich
One more vote for this. Android has it's own design principles, please stick with them. Apple design choises for iOS should not influence Android users.
Вы
iOS design principles and Android design principles are too different. You should adopt Android principles for Android.
I
Ilia
Bottom bar is just annoying. Search bar on top also takes too much space
Evgeniy Timokhov
As a loyal premium user since it became released (despite not using them probably at all since I'd prefer to pay for the product I use than being a product myself) I'm disappointed with the redesign and agree with what people are saying on this thread. The main issue - eating up precious screen space without providing any value to the customer (e.g. search bar or bottom bar) - I compared current and previous versions and the new version uses at least 1-2 chats of space for these controls. (Not saying that every now and then the app messes up with which folder is the current or main). Seriously considering not extending my premium subscription once current yearly plan ends.
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What about users choise and freedom that durovs likes so much? ah I guess it's different, am I right?)
but thx, I had to dig and find alternative clients that just a bit but care, for now disabled updates on store version, luckily I received update first on standalone and saw what's coming.
Buttons has been made noticeably smaller. They has to be made smaller, because all menu windows are rounded now.
It all makes me harder to access telegram as nearsightedness user. Can't imagine how people with farsightedness are feeling.
I agree with post critisim fully. The new placement and design of navigation and settings is just wrong. I would really love to at least bring the side menu back.