Telegram has taken an important step in its visual strategy by Bring the new Liquid Glass-inspired design to your Android appAfter first introducing it on iOS, the messaging platform has decided to standardize its appearance across systems, opting for transparencies, redesigned menus, and cleaner navigation that significantly changes the traditional user experience on Android.
This change comes with version Telegram for Android v12.4.0, now available through the Google Play StoreThis update represents one of the app's biggest facelifts in recent times. Although the intention is to modernize the interface and bring it closer to current visual language, the result has generated intense debate among users, especially those who were comfortable with the classic design more typical of the Android ecosystem.
A new Telegram app with a bottom bar and a glass effect
With this update, Telegram is introducing a Liquid Glass-like effect across the entire interface.This is evident in the translucent backgrounds, layers with subtle blurring, and elements that appear to float, especially visible when using light mode. It doesn't exactly replicate Apple's design, but it clearly shows where it drew its inspiration.
The most obvious novelty is the New fixed bottom navigation bar with four main tabsThis bar remains visible as you navigate the app and provides shortcuts to essential sections: Chats, Contacts, Settings, and Profile. The goal is to offer more direct and predictable navigation, moving away from hidden menus.
This approach aligns with what Telegram had already done previously deployed on iOS, hence Many users perceive the redesign as "very iOS" compared to what is usually expected on Android.The feeling of using an almost identical app between both platforms is now much more evident, with more rounded edges, pill-shaped buttons, and a more uniform aesthetic.
The change doesn't just affect the visual aspect. Certain functional elements have also been adjusted, such as the way the options are distributed within the top menus and the way some internal sections of the application are displayed, seeking to make everything more visible without forcing the user to constantly open additional layers.
Goodbye to the side menu: everything now goes through the bar and the three-dot menu
One of the most significant moves in this update is the Complete elimination of the classic burger side menu which for years had been a hallmark of the Android app. That panel, accessed by swiping from the side or tapping the corresponding icon, contained shortcuts to functions such as New group, channel creation, advanced settings, and various tools.
With the arrival of Liquid Glass design, All those options are now spread between the bottom bar and a new three-dot menu. Located in the upper right corner of the main chat screen, this menu now includes actions such as creating a new group, starting a channel, and accessing other features that were previously more hidden.
This reorganization aims to simplify the interface and reduce reliance on side panels, in line with current application design trends. Telegram opts for a structure where almost everything can be found in a couple of tapseven if that means forcing veteran users to relearn where everything is.
The main chat screen itself has also been modified. Some contrasts have been softened and The separation of tones, which previously marked different areas of the interface more clearly, has been removed.resulting in a flatter, more uniform appearance. This decision is part of a broader effort to reduce visual clutter and unify the app's style.
The changes are also noticeable in the text input field and in the menu for sharing files, GIFs or stickers: more rounded edges, slightly translucent contours, and a more polished design They make the whole thing inevitably reminiscent of the aesthetic that Apple introduced with its own glass-based interface language.
A hybrid design between Liquid Glass and Material 3 Expressive
Although the inspiration from Apple is evident, Telegram has not fully copied the Liquid Glass effect from iOS in its Android appInstead of opting for very pronounced transparencies or layers of glass superimposed everywhere, the company has chosen a middle ground that tries not to clash with the design guidelines of the Google ecosystem.
On Android, the result is closer to a kind of hybrid between Liquid Glass and Material 3 ExpressiveThe visual language promoted by Google in recent years. Many of the principles of Material 3 are maintained, such as the clarity of hierarchies, the legibility and a certain sobrietybut enhanced with "glassy" details and smoother animations that break with the previous appearance.
This is evident, for example, in that Transparencies exist, but they are more discreet and have a flat, minimalist finish.Instead of aiming for a very pronounced glass effect, the app softens color transitions and separation lines so that the interface doesn't appear jarring on screens of different sizes or brightness settings.
On the chat screen, some users have noticed that the More eye-catching custom themes have lost prominenceConfigurations that previously used intense colors—like turquoise blues or other vibrant shades—now appear whiter or darker, depending on the mode, with a flatter look. The priority seems to be achieving a uniform appearance rather than maintaining certain previous aesthetic contrasts.
Telegram had already been introducing small touches of this kind in previous updates, changing icons, buttons, and some panels within the app. This new version, v12.4.0, This completes the consolidation of that transition, extending the redesign to virtually every corner of the Android interface., after having done the same on iOS earlier this year.
How to update Telegram on Android to the Liquid Glass version
The rollout of the new design is underway through the Google Play Store under the Telegram for Android version v12.4.0In Spain and the rest of Europe, the update is being rolled out gradually, so some users already have it available and others will receive it in the coming days if they don't yet see it on their device.
To check if the update is ready, Simply open the Play Store and check the apps that need updating.If you want to push the process a little further, you can follow a few simple steps within the Google Play Store to manually search for new versions of your installed applications.
The usual procedure on Android would be something like this: first, Open the Google Play Store app. On your mobile phone or tablet, tap on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen to open the account menu and options.
From there, you must access the section “Manage apps and device”This displays a list of installed applications and available updates. Once the panel finishes loading, the new version of Telegram will appear in the "Updates" section, if available. Simply tap "Update" next to the app's name, or select "Update all."
Once the process is complete, The app will now open with the new design based on Liquid GlassNo additional adjustments or activation of experimental features are required; the revamped interface is automatically applied to all Android users who install version v12.4.0.
Mixed reactions: from curiosity to outright rejection
The debut of the Liquid Glass design on Android has not gone unnoticed by the user community. On forums like Reddit and in Telegram channels dedicated to discussing new features, Opinions are far from unanimousWhile some appreciate the effort to modernize the app, others are directly opposed to the changes introduced.
In several discussion threads, Some users describe the new interface as "horrible" or excessively similar to iOS.One of the most repeated comments refers to the "floating menu" and the feeling of using a kind of clone of the iPhone's Telegram but without fully respecting Android's design conventions.
Messages have also been read from those who They miss the classic side menu They believe its removal has resulted in certain functions being less well-placed. For these users, the previous design was more in line with their expectations of an Android app and the navigation style they'd been accustomed to for years.
Another recurring criticism points to the a feeling that the app now prioritizes aesthetics over functionalitySome users perceive certain buttons as redundant, or believe they could have been placed differently, and many are asking Telegram to offer some kind of option to choose between the new and old designs, something that doesn't exist at the moment.
At the same time, there are also users who value the movement positively and highlight that the application It looks more modern, cleaner, and consistent across platforms.For them, the change was necessary so that Telegram wouldn't fall behind other apps that have been refining their appearance, such as WhatsApp or different chat clients focused on a more modern design.
A change in the midst of a period of growth and controversy
This redesign comes at a particularly significant time for the platform. Telegram It surpassed the 1.000 billion user mark in March 2025consolidating itself as one of the major global alternatives to WhatsApp, also in Europe and Spain, where its presence is increasingly visible in news channels, communities and personal use.
Shortly after reaching that figure, the company became embroiled in controversies related to the figure of its founder, Pavel Durovwhose public statements have drawn criticism from various political quarters. In this context, the app has continued with its technical roadmap, launching new features and now this profound visual change on Android.
La Update to version v12.4.0 with extended support for Liquid Glass On Android, it reinforces the idea that Telegram is seeking a more distinctive and easily recognizable visual identity, even if that means moving closer to the style that Apple has promoted in its systems while also coexisting with Google's guidelines for mobile applications.
From the perspective of European users, the movement can be interpreted as a It aims to offer a consistent experience regardless of the deviceThis might be convenient for those who switch between iPhones and Android phones. However, it also intensifies the debate about the extent to which it's advisable to ignore certain aspects of Android's unique design.
For now, Telegram has not announced Official plans to introduce customization options that allow the old design to be maintained Nor has it specified whether it will adjust the interface based on the feedback received. The company usually iterates fairly quickly, so it wouldn't be surprising to see small changes or nuances in future versions if the reception remains so divisive.
With Telegram's move to Liquid Glass-inspired design on Android, the app finds itself in a peculiar position: It gains aesthetic coherence and aligns with the latest interface trendsBut at the same time, it breaks with deeply ingrained customs in the Android community, which perceives a loss of the platform's unique character. Time and future updates will tell if this redesign ultimately proves successful or if it forces the company to readjust its course to appease a user base that, at least for now, appears clearly divided.