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.
New ui is so 🥀🥀🥀 also it's a bit laggy on phone with s855 😭💀 What's the reason to split "Telegram" title (ofc I forgot that I'm in telegram) and search button into two rows? Was there some kind of competition for the most irrational use of screen space?
🐺🦖 Anna The WereKaiju 🦖🐺
Don't like the new update. My whole group says they hate it. Please, get rid of the new update. It's terrible.
A
Aryan Choudhary
please focus on reaal things like screen reader friendlyness instead of things that just make users workflow disrupt.
Николай
Why this godawful design idiocy. This will probably be another android app that is stuck in 'never update' state.
Buttons are useless. They take space. The design is worse looking and less readable. JUST PLAIN WHY!?
It looked nice. Now it looks like chinesium shit.
ĴΔŦƗŇ ŞΔĆĦĐ€VΔ
Please give us option to select new UI or old UI.
霖 リン
Don't change for the sake of changing.
Hello India
Yes give us option to.choose between both design i like old one don't always copy appels trash design
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Buttons are useless. They take space. The design is worse looking and less readable. JUST PLAIN WHY!?
It looked nice. Now it looks like chinesium shit.