What you need to know
- Telegram has released a new update this week.
- It includes a new power saving mode and new playback speed settings.
- The update also optimizes the app to work better on lower-end Android phones.
Telegram is one such messaging app that constantly brings new features to the messaging platform and often competes neck-and-neck in introducing new tools that challenge its rival WhatsApp. A recent update to the app brings a new power saving mode and optimizations for cheaper Android phones.
Telegram already has many customizations, animations and light effects that keep users engaged in conversations on the messaging service. They include things like autoplay gifs, stickers, videos, emoji animations, and more. These customizations bring a fun, energetic experience to the app, but with the new update, these animations can now be disabled to make all Android phones run faster when using the app.
In an announcement blog post, Telegram says the new power saving mode can disable the aforementioned features “to extend battery life and improve performance on older devices.”
The latest update allows users to toggle power saving mode or adjust individual settings for autoplay, animations and effects Settings > Power saving. Telegram says it has manually tested more than 200 device types to create “optimized default settings” that ensure it offers the best app experience on all Android phones.
Another highlighted feature of the new update is the ability to change the grainy playback speed more flexibly. Currently, the messaging platform allows for 0.5x, normal, 1.5x, and 2x playback speeds that can be adjusted for videos, podcasts, and audio and video messages shared within the app. The option is now much more flexible as users can select any speed such as 2.3x between 0.2x-2.5x by holding down the playback speed button.
Other cool features of the update consist of a “Read Time” feature that allows users to check when their posts have been read in a small group of 100 members. Additionally, users who are restricted from joining a group created by complete strangers or their contacts can be asked to join via an invite link with the latest update. These invite links have previews to give users an idea of what they’re getting into before joining.
As part of the latest update rollout, other newly added features include animated emojis. The update includes ten new custom emoticon packs for Telegram premium users. Likewise, the update also includes new interactive emoticons and reactions.
In addition to the new features introduced, Telegram says; it has also fixed over 400 known imperfections.