X completely overhauled its Android app, taking a full year to do so.
Android users have historically experienced the less refined version of X. After nearly a year of efforts, the company has ceased updates to the old app and completely rebuilt it.
The new version is released as a regular update via the Play Store, according to X, meaning there is no need for a separate installation. It promises improved loading times, smoother scrolling, and more reliable notifications.
Reasons for the overhaul
The previous app had a poor reputation for valid reasons. For years, the Android experience lagged behind iOS, and at one point last year, it even struggled to load posts when users clicked on links, as noted by Digital Trends. This is a significant flaw for an application designed primarily for accessing posts.
Nikita Bier, X’s product head, described the rewrite as one of the largest engineering undertakings in the platform's history. The team opted to reconstruct the foundation instead of merely patching the old code.
Focus on speed
The goal extends beyond just smoother scrolling. Bier indicated that the new foundation enables X to develop and deploy features much more rapidly. This is important as Elon Musk promotes his vision for an “everything app.”
X is branching out into private messaging, payments, video, and its Grok AI. A codebase that can adapt quickly is essential for all these initiatives. The overhaul enhances speed more than any individual feature does.
Released with imperfections
It is not fully completed. Currently, the live-audio feature, Spaces, is not supported, and performance on older devices requires improvement. Features such as a video editor, video reactions, cashtags, and custom timelines are promised for the future, though release dates are not provided.
Users have taken note. Responses to X's announcement were filled with complaints: slow-loading images, stalling videos, crowded notification icons, a persistent two-factor login issue that arose after a phishing incident that replicated X's login alerts, lack of foldable support, and absence of a dark mode.
Some concerns went beyond mere bugs. Tablet users still experience a single-column layout instead of the web's three-column design. Galaxy Fold users have lost the side padding that made the app functional on larger screens. One response simply inquired about the programming language used for the rewrite.
Basic expectations, not a significant feature
None of these changes are groundbreaking. In 2026, having a fast and reliable social app is the standard, not a standout feature. Competing applications also face reliability issues, and all are striving to deliver similar essential features.
Nonetheless, for Android users who witnessed the previous X struggle with basic functions, effective scrolling represents a step forward. XChat, the encrypted messaging feature, made its way to Android in June. The platform is finally acknowledging its most overlooked audience.
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