Telegram released version 12.4.0 for Android this week, bringing Apple's Liquid Glass design language to the messaging app's mobile interface. The update replaces the traditional hamburger menu with a four-tab bottom navigation bar and introduces translucent panel effects throughout the user interface.
The redesign marks Telegram's full adoption of Liquid Glass styling on Android, following its iOS implementation that launched in early January. Version 12.4.0 features dedicated tabs for Chats, Contacts, Settings, and Profile, mirroring the layout Apple popularized with its mobile operating system.
Telegram removed the side hamburger menu that had been a staple of its Android app for years. Functions like creating new groups now reside in a three-dot overflow menu positioned in the top-right corner of the Chats screen.
The interface incorporates transparent elements and refraction effects that characterize Apple's Liquid Glass aesthetic.
Android users can download the update through the Google Play Store. The redesign builds on interface changes Telegram began testing in late 2025, when the company first introduced translucent elements to its Android beta.
Apple unveiled Liquid Glass as its new design language in June 2025, with public rollout beginning in September. The aesthetic emphasizes transparency, depth, and fluid motion effects across iOS applications. Telegram's rapid adoption follows a pattern of developers quickly implementing Apple's design directions.
The Android update arrives as Telegram continues expanding its feature set. The company launched over 75 new capabilities across 13 major updates in 2025, maintaining an average release cadence of 26 days between versions. Earlier this month, Telegram introduced AI-powered summaries for channel posts and Instant View pages on iOS.
Telegram's Liquid Glass implementation on Android lacks Material You's dynamic color palette, a core feature of Google's design system that automatically matches app colors to device wallpapers. Google introduced Material You in 2021, with the Material 3 Expressive iteration becoming available to early adopters through Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 in May 2025.
The messaging platform's design shift reflects broader industry trends where cross-platform apps increasingly prioritize visual consistency over platform-specific design languages. Telegram's Android user base now experiences interface parity with iOS counterparts, though without Android-native design elements like themed icons or dynamic color adaptation.
