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.
Agree, new interface is ugly. Whoever came up with this on Android should be fired.
A
Alex Kulakov
Totally agree. It wastes precious space for things which are ignored even by iOS users (I asked friends whether they use 4 buttons at the bottom and many say "Why? I just ignore it")
Ilya
A ridiculous, wasteful design choice that's there for apparently no reason. Thank you for highlighting this issue, hopefully the community's outcry can and will reach the devs.
Руслан Даутов
First, you took away the wall we all pleaded for (vk). Now, as a casual follow-up, you've gifted Android with Apple's 'liquid glass' aesthetic. Interesting choices.
K
Kpast
We all pray for you disabling the conceptually broken navigation. If it was done properly it would not be an issue. Though it puts something you use nearly never on main screen abd what you use daily under menu within submenu. Bottom navigation is brilliant, but wgat you did is mocking, not improvement
Е
Евгений
totally argee, they should use material design on android, not luqid glass copy
初音 ミク
totally agree
B
Bilbo Balboa
whose idea was this?
S
Steffen
Redesign is quite laggy and as multi account user I immediately want to switch to another client. Previously a single swipe on the profile picture switched accounts like in gmail etc. now it takes three clicks to do the same ...
S
Sixty Six
Get update on android today with four-tab bottom navigation bar - its show four buttons what i never used and will use only once a year. But now its shows permanently for no reason, only takes space for no reason and increase chance push something accidently. Please, add hide option for this
QuazarCat
New design is so terrible in so many ways. Please revert to previous one, it was one of the best UI in messengers, ever.
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