In case your chat app of alternative is Telegram, you might have some adjustments to look ahead to. The corporate introduced plenty of updates this week, chief amongst them a brand new search for its Android and iOS apps—the previous is getting a complete overhaul, however iPhone customers will nonetheless notice some new UI components when chatting with pals on Telegram. There are additionally some new options, together with one I discover a bit odd.

There is a new search for Telegram on cellular

Credit score: Telegram

Per the announcement, the most important adjustments come by way of UI updates, significantly on Android. Telegram says that its Android app has a “totally redesigned interface” supposed to make navigating the app faster and extra intuitive—Telegram notes the interface code itself was solely rebuilt to satisfy these objectives. Adjustments embrace a brand new iOS-like backside bar that allows you to swap between your chats, settings, and profile, amongst different performance. Should you discover the brand new interface results to be an excessive amount of, or too large a draw in your battery, Telegram says you’ll be able to regulate them from Settings > Energy Saving.

The corporate additionally up to date its iOS app, although not fairly in the identical approach. Telegram says it added “much more Liquid Glass” to its iOS app, Apple’s new design language for iOS 26, together with a redesigned media viewer, sticker and emoji pack preview panels, and new context menus in profiles when selecting messages.

Now you can switch a Telegram group chat to a brand new admin

Credit score: Telegram

As of this newest replace, if the proprietor of a Telegram group chat leaves that dialog, the possession of the group will switch mechanically to one of many group’s admins after every week. Nonetheless, the departing group proprietor can even select their very own admin in the event that they need to, as Telegram now presets an choice to appoint one other admin when leaving the group. The corporate provides that admins can switch possession at any time, even when they do not depart.

Telegram bots are actually extra colourful

Credit score: Telegram

A small change, however in the event you develop bots for Telegram, you now have the choice so as to add colours and emojis to these buttons. It is from a radical replace, however it might make it a bit simpler to inform choices aside at a look.

There is a new ship message shortcut on the Telegram iPad app

A small however noteworthy function for any Telegram customers on iPad: Now, you’ll be able to ship a message utilizing the shortcut “Command + Enter.”

Now you can “craft” presents in Telegram

And here is that bizarre new function: I do not normally anticipate my chat app to supply collectible presents, however apparently Telegram does. It beforehand launched the power to ship presents to different individuals, and even improve these presents to collectibles that may be auctioned on NFT marketplaces (which requires actual cash).

Now, Telegram is reportedly increasing this present system within the newest replace with the power to mix current presents in a brand new “crafting” system to create “Unusual, Uncommon, Epic or Legendary” variations. You possibly can mix as much as 4 presents without delay, and including a number of presents with the identical “attributes” raises the prospect the crafted present may have that attribute as properly. Once more, that is the very last thing I might anticipate or need from a chat app, however, because it’s a part of this replace, so I am telling you about it.