Download APK Telegram X What’s New, Most Useful Functions & Review

I first opened this client on a quiet morning while my phone was still charging and I had a few minutes to spare before the day properly began. What struck me first was the simplicity of the layout and the way the important actions sat exactly where I expected them. The opening screens asked for little and the main view appeared quickly, so I could try the core feature before any long setup.

What keeps this alternative client on my phone is not one spectacular feature but the way it handles everyday tasks without fuss. Menus stay where you left them and the app rarely surprises you with a moved button or a hidden feature at a bad moment. The design favours clarity over spectacle, and that calm approach makes short sessions feel productive rather than rushed. I found myself returning because it respected my time and never demanded a long session to feel useful.

This review covers what is new, which functions are actually useful in daily chats, how this client compares with the main Telegram app and other social apps, and where it falls short. I used it for a month as my daily messenger, on good days and on rushed ones, and I will tell you plainly who should try it and who should stay with the app they already have.

What Telegram X is and how it differs from the main Telegram app

This client is an alternative Telegram app, built by the Telegram team on a different technical base called TDLib, the Telegram Database Library. It connects to the same Telegram network, the same account, the same contacts, chats, groups, and channels. You do not need a new account, and your messages, media, and contacts are the same ones you see in the main app. What changes is the client itself: how it looks, how fast it feels, and which experimental touches it tries first.

The same account, a different shell

Signing in works the way Telegram always works: your phone number, a code sent to your existing Telegram account or by text message, and you are in. Your chats, groups, channels, saved messages, and stickers come with you, because they live on your account rather than inside one app. You can even keep both apps installed side by side and switch between them, which is the easiest way to compare them fairly on your own phone.

Why speed was the original point

The original promise of this client was speed, and that is still its clearest strength. TDLib handles the heavy work of syncing chats and media in a way that keeps the interface responsive while messages, photos, and files load in the background. In practice that means the chat list appears fast after a restart, large groups scroll without the app gasping, and sending a photo does not freeze the screen you are looking at.

Bubble mode and chat previews

One of the touches people notice first is the bubble mode option, which shows chats in rounded bubbles rather than the flat list, and the press-and-hold preview that lets you peek at a chat without marking it as read. Both are small things, and both are the kind of detail that makes the app feel considered. Try the preview on a group you check often: a long press shows the latest messages, and you can decide whether the conversation needs you right now.

Gestures that save taps

Swipe gestures are built into the way the app works. Swipe on a message to reply to it, swipe in the chat list to pin or mute a conversation, and use a long press for the extra options that do not deserve a permanent button. These gestures take a day to learn and then save you a tap on almost every visit. That is the pattern of this client in miniature: nothing dramatic, just a lot of small savings that add up.

What is new in Telegram X

Because this client is a living test bed, the list of what is new changes with each release, so check the current listing for the exact version on your device before you rely on a detail. The direction of recent work has been steady rather than dramatic: smoother animations, better handling of large chats and media, more theme and display options, and closer alignment with the features of the main Telegram app, such as stories, reactions, and improved calls.

Themes and night mode

Themes are one of the oldest strengths here, and recent builds have made them easier to live with. The built-in night mode is genuinely dark rather than grey, the accent colours are easy to change, and you can set a different theme for day and night so the app stops blinding you at midnight. I set the night theme to switch automatically in the evening, and that one change made late-night reading far more comfortable.

Most useful functions in daily chats

A messenger earns its place on the functions you use every day, not on the ones in the settings menu. The functions below are the ones I actually used in a month of daily chats, in the order they saved me time.

Fast chat switching and search

Switching between chats is the single most repeated action in any messenger, and it is fast here. The chat list loads quickly, search finds a conversation or a message inside it without a long wait, and jumping back to where you left off works the way you expect. If you manage several busy groups, that speed is the difference between keeping up and giving up.

Media, files and saved messages

Sending photos, videos, and files up to the generous limits Telegram allows works smoothly, and saved messages give you a private space to keep links, notes, and files you want later. I use saved messages as a pocket notebook: a link I want to read, a photo I need to send later, a reminder to myself. A short list you trust beats a long list you never revisit, so I clear mine out once a month.

Privacy controls that are easy to reach

Privacy settings matter more in a messenger than in almost any other app, and here they are easy to reach: who can see your last seen time, your profile photo, and your phone number, plus passcode lock and two-step verification for the account itself. Turn on two-step verification if you have not already, because a messenger account is a tempting target and a second password costs you a minute to set up.

• Fast chat switching and search that keeps the list responsive even with many busy groups.
• Swipe gestures and chat previews that let you reply, peek, pin, and mute without digging through menus.
• Bubble mode and flexible themes, including a proper night mode that switches automatically in the evening.
• Saved messages as a private pocket notebook for links, files, and notes you want to find again.
• Privacy controls in easy reach, from last-seen settings to passcode lock and two-step verification.

Telegram X compared with Telegram and other social apps

The comparison that matters most is with the main Telegram app, because the two share an account and a network. The other apps in the table are not messengers in the same way: OK is a social network, Bigo Live is a live streaming app, and Twitch is a live streaming platform for games and creators. They appear here because readers often consider them together, and the table makes the difference plain.

If you enjoy this client then OK is a natural next app to try and it offers a different angle on the same kind of everyday activity. When you want a change of pace then Bigo Live covers that need neatly. And for a third option Twitch is worth a look as well. I still came back to this client for my daily routine because the simple loop I built here suited me best, and none of the streaming apps could replace a messenger I open fifty times a day.

Pros and cons after a month of real use

After a fair period of real use I can say that this client earns its place on my phone and I would keep it installed without hesitation. Friends who tried it on my suggestion found the main feature without my help, and that tells me more than any feature list. The experience feels steady rather than flashy, and that steadiness is exactly what I want from a daily app. I judge an app by whether I miss it when it is gone, and this is one I would notice missing from my phone.

Pros of this client

• Noticeably fast and smooth, with a chat list and animations that stay responsive on ordinary phones.
• Thoughtful gestures, previews, and bubble mode that save a tap on almost every visit.
• Flexible themes and a proper night mode that make long sessions easier on the eyes.
• Same account, contacts, and chats as the main Telegram app, so switching costs you nothing.

Cons of this client

• Experimental features can change or move between updates, so a favourite touch may look different next month.
• Some new features from the main app arrive here later, which matters if your friends use them on day one.
• It is a different shell, not a different network, so it cannot fix the limits of Telegram itself, such as who you can reach.

Reliability is the headline strength and the app behaved the same way on good days and on rushed days alike. No app is perfect and this one is no exception, yet its strengths outweigh its limits for most everyday users. Some corners take a little patience on a first visit but the core path stays simple, and that balance feels fair.

Who this client is for, and who should stay with the main app

This client fits people who message all day and feel the small delays: busy group members, people on mid-range phones, and anyone who likes trying new touches early. It also fits people who value a calm, readable layout and a night mode that actually works. Beginners will feel welcome here because the app explains itself through use rather than through long instructions.

Best for heavy chatters and busy groups

Heavy chatters gain the most, because the savings repeat on every single visit. If you check five groups before breakfast and answer messages all day, the faster list, the swipe reply, and the preview add up to real minutes saved each week. Light users who open Telegram twice a day will notice less difference, and for them the choice is mostly about taste.

Key limitations and things to check

The first limitation is the one already mentioned: this is a test bed, so things move. A menu can shift, a gesture can change, and a feature you liked can be reworked in the next release. That is the price of early access, and it is worth paying only if you enjoy that kind of change. If it annoys you, the main app is waiting with the same account.

The second limitation is that no client can improve the network itself. Message delivery, who can contact you, and what Telegram allows all stay the same, because they are decided by the service rather than the app on your phone. The third thing to check is storage: Telegram media piles up fast in busy groups, so look at the storage settings in week one, set a sensible cache limit, and clear old media now and then. A full phone makes every app feel slow, including a fast one.

Check your privacy settings first

Before you settle in, spend five minutes on privacy. Set who can see your last seen time and profile photo, turn on two-step verification, and add a passcode lock if you share your phone with anyone. These settings travel with your account, so setting them once protects you in both apps, and they are the highest-value five minutes you will spend on any messenger.

Setting it up and making it yours

The first run asks for little and the main screen appears quickly, so you can try the core feature before any long setup. Start with one purpose in week one and let that focus make the app feel simple rather than sprawling. Weekends are a good time to explore a new corner while weekdays stay focused on the core task.

1. Sign in with your phone number and the code sent to your Telegram account, then check that your chats and groups are all there.
2. Pin the three chats you check most, mute the groups that never stop, and set up folders to separate work from friends.
3. Turn on night mode with automatic switching, set a comfortable text size, and try bubble mode for a day.
4. Learn three gestures: swipe to reply, long press to preview a chat, and swipe in the list to pin or mute.
5. Set a storage limit, turn on two-step verification, and add a passcode lock if you want one.

A small note on keeping the habit alive

Keep your routine tied to something you already do each day. I linked my checks to my morning coffee, so that anchor did most of the work for me. A missed day is normal and the app welcomes you back without guilt. Placing the app on the home screen made a real difference, because out of sight meant out of mind during the first week.

One setting tweak worth trying early

Check the display and notification settings together in your first week, because a layout that suits your eyes makes every session more pleasant. A small change in week one can make the whole habit easier, and it costs only a minute to try. Take a screenshot of a setting you like, so you can restore it later if an update ever moves things around.

Frequently asked questions about Telegram X

Is Telegram X free to use?

Yes, the client is free, and there is no separate subscription for using it instead of the main app. Your Telegram account works the same way in both, and any paid features belong to the Telegram service itself rather than to one client or the other. Check the current listing for the latest version and size.

Can I use this client and the main Telegram app together?

Yes, you can keep both installed on the same phone with the same account, and your chats stay in sync between them. That is the easiest way to compare them fairly: use one for a week, then the other, and see which one you reach for without thinking.

Is this client safe, and is it official?

It is an official alternative client from the Telegram team, built on TDLib, and it connects to the same Telegram network with the same encryption and account protections. Safety still depends on you: turn on two-step verification, keep your code private, and be careful about links and files from strangers, just as you would in any messenger.

Why would I switch if the main app already works?

You would switch for the feel, not for a single feature: faster scrolling, swipe gestures, chat previews, bubble mode, and flexible themes. If the main app already feels fast enough on your phone and you like things staying put, there is no need to switch. If you message all day and small delays add up, the difference is worth a two-week trial.

When you are ready to give it a proper try, use the link below. It takes you straight to the app page on AndroidRU where you can find it. I suggest trying it for a full week before you judge it, because a week of short sessions shows the real character of an app.

Click here to download the Telegram X app

A similar app is worth a quick look too. Click here to download the OK app. For a second option, Click here to download the Bigo Live app. Whichever messenger you pick, set up your pins, your folders, and your privacy settings once, and the app will stay out of your way for months.