Telegram’s latest Android update is no minor refresh. With version 12.4.0 now rolling out widely via the Play Store, the messaging app has fully embraced Liquid Glass styling, delivering one of its most noticeable visual overhauls in years.
The redesign builds on changes introduced late last year, when Telegram began quietly testing translucent panels and softer UI elements. This update takes that direction much further, applying the look consistently across the app and fundamentally rethinking how users navigate it.
The most obvious change is the introduction of a four-tab bottom navigation bar, a move that will feel instantly familiar to anyone who uses an iPhone. The tabs cover Chats, Contacts, Settings, and Profile, and remain fixed on screen even as users scroll. It is a clear departure from Telegram’s previous Android-first navigation approach and brings the app closer to the structure already seen on iOS.
Alongside the new navigation, Telegram has leaned heavily into transparent and frosted visual elements, particularly noticeable in light mode. Panels, menus, and background surfaces now allow subtle layers beneath to show through. While it does not replicate Apple’s Liquid Glass aesthetic exactly, the influence is unmistakable. Telegram appears less concerned with strict platform conventions and more focused on visual consistency across devices.
One long-standing feature has quietly disappeared in the process. The hamburger side menu, a staple of Telegram’s Android app for years, has now been removed entirely. Functions such as creating new groups and accessing secondary options have been relocated to a three-dot overflow menu in the top-right corner of the Chats screen. The result is a cleaner layout, though it may take some adjustment for long-time users.
Telegram introduced full Liquid Glass support on iOS in early January, and this Android update closely mirrors that earlier redesign. The timing suggests a deliberate effort to reduce the design gap between platforms, even if it means borrowing heavily from Apple’s visual language on Android.
Whether users welcome the changes will likely depend on taste. Some will appreciate the modernised look and simplified navigation. Others may see it as another example of Android apps drifting towards iOS-style design. Either way, this is Telegram signalling that visual polish and platform parity are now as important as features and performance.
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