Telegram is back on Android wrists. The new Telegram Wear OS app arrived on June 11. It shipped as part of the messenger’s latest update, which also brought a native Apple Watch app. Telegram confirmed the rollout in its official blog post. For Wear OS users, the release ends a long wait. After all, Telegram dropped support for Android smartwatches back in 2021.
Both watch apps cover the essentials. First, users can browse chats and read messages of any length. They can also view photos and videos. In addition, they can send text or voice messages straight from the watch. Voice notes even play directly on the wrist. As a result, quick replies no longer require pulling out a phone.
Two Platforms, Slightly Different Features
Curiously, the feature lists do not match at launch. On Wear OS, the app adds chat muting, chat pinning, and message deletion. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch version gets location previews and sticker sending instead. However, Telegram says the two apps will borrow each other’s extras in the next update.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced the Android rollout on X. He told owners of Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch, Xiaomi Watch, and other smartwatches to enjoy it. Notably, the company also left the door open for Huawei owners. If enough people ask, its developers will build a dedicated Huawei app too.
Part Of A Bigger June Update
The smartwatch apps headline a much larger release. For example, bots can now send rich text messages up to 32,768 characters. These support tables, collapsible sections, and inline media. Furthermore, group admins can appoint AI guardian bots to screen join requests. Poll options also support links now, and the in-app browser opens Markdown files.
For Apple users, the timing is convenient. Right now, watchOS 27 is reshaping which Apple Watch models stay supported. As a result, a fresh native Telegram app gives current hardware one more reason to stay on the wrist. Wear OS owners, however, get the bigger win. After all, their platform went five years without an official Telegram client.
