After months of speculation and internal testing, X (formerly Twitter) has finally shipped its long-awaited rebuilt Android application. The update, which began rolling out to users this week, represents a significant technical overhaul of the app's underlying architecture. However, users expecting a dramatically different experience may be disappointed: the changes are largely under the hood, aimed at improving performance, stability, and maintainability rather than introducing flashy new features.

Background: The troubled history of X's Android app

X's Android app has been a point of contention for years. Since Elon Musk acquired the platform in October 2022, the company has undergone massive restructuring, including layoffs of engineers and cuts to infrastructure. The Android app, in particular, has suffered from bugs, slow loading times, and feature parity issues compared to its iOS counterpart. Users frequently complained about app crashes, delayed notifications, and a general lack of polish.

The decision to rebuild the app from the ground up was announced in early 2025, when X's engineering team admitted that the existing codebase had become 'unmanageable' due to years of patchwork updates and rushed feature additions. The rebuild, code-named 'Project Osprey,' aimed to modernize the app using the latest Android development tools—namely Jetpack Compose, Material 3, and Kotlin Coroutines—while also migrating to a more modular architecture.

The project was led by a small team of engineers, many of whom were new hires brought in after the acquisition. Development took longer than anticipated, with several delays attributed to the challenges of rewriting millions of lines of code while simultaneously maintaining the existing app. Beta testing, which began in late 2025, was limited to a small group of users and focused primarily on stability rather than feature testing.

What's new in the rebuilt app?

According to X's official release notes and developer blogs, the rebuilt Android app includes several key improvements:

• Performance boosts: The app now launches 30% faster and uses 20% less memory during typical browsing. Scrolling through timelines is smoother, with reduced jank and dropped frames.
• Smaller app size: The APK size has been reduced by approximately 15%, which should benefit users with limited storage space. The reduction was achieved by removing legacy code and optimizing assets.
• Better battery efficiency: Background activity has been optimized to reduce battery drain, especially during streaming and notification polling. Early tests show an 18% improvement in battery usage compared to the previous version.
• Enhanced accessibility: The app now fully supports Android's accessibility APIs, including TalkBack and Switch Access. Keyboard navigation has also been improved for power users.
• Offline support: DMs and timeline content can now be cached for longer periods, allowing users to browse previously loaded posts even without a network connection.
• Dark mode refinement: The dark theme has been tweaked to use AMOLED-friendly pure blacks, saving battery on devices with OLED screens.

However, there are no major visual redesigns. The app looks nearly identical to the previous version, with the same icon set, navigation bar layout, and overall color scheme. The user interface remains consistent with X's current design language, which some critics have called 'stale.'

What wasn't changed? A look at the missing features

Despite the rebuild, several long-requested features are absent. The app still lacks:

• Edit button for posts: X has not yet implemented a native edit button for tweets (now called 'X posts'). While third-party workarounds exist, the official app still does not allow users to edit a post after publishing.
• Full undo send: A timer-based 'undo send' feature, similar to Gmail's, is still not available. Users can cancel a post within a few seconds, but the option disappears quickly.
• Live streaming improvements: X's integration with live streaming platforms like Twitch remains basic. Users cannot broadcast directly from the app without using third-party software.
• Advanced analytics: Business accounts and creators still have limited access to analytics beyond basic metrics. Competitors like Bluesky and Threads offer more detailed insights.
• Group DM improvements: Group direct messages remain limited to 50 participants, with no ability to create channels or moderate conversations effectively.

It appears that X chose to prioritize foundational improvements over new capabilities. This aligns with CEO Linda Yaccarino's recent statements about 'building a stable platform first' before adding more complex features.

The broader context: X's position in the social media landscape

X's rebuilt Android app arrives at a critical juncture for the platform. Since the acquisition, X has lost significant market share to rivals like Threads (from Meta), Bluesky, and Mastodon. Threads, in particular, has seen explosive growth, reaching over 200 million monthly active users as of mid-2026. Bluesky, while smaller, has gained a loyal user base among journalists and creatives.

X's user engagement has also declined. According to industry analysts, daily active users on X dropped by approximately 18% between 2025 and 2026, with the largest declines occurring on Android devices in emerging markets. The rebuilt app could help slow that decline by providing a smoother experience, but it is unlikely to reverse the trend entirely.

Another factor is the ongoing advertiser exodus. Many major brands paused spending on X after Musk's controversial policy changes and reinstatement of far-right accounts. While X has attempted to woo back advertisers with brand safety tools, the rebuild does not directly address those concerns. X's ad platform remains largely unchanged, with the same targeting options and measurement tools.

On the technical side, the rebuilt app uses modern Android development practices that should make future updates faster and less risky. By adopting Jetpack Compose, X can now release UI changes more rapidly, which could give it an edge in iterating on new features. However, this advantage will only materialize if the company invests in ongoing development—something that is not guaranteed given its reduced workforce.

Reception and early user feedback

Initial reviews of the rebuilt app have been mixed. Early adopters on the Google Play Store have rated the update an average of 4.2 out of 5 stars, which is slightly higher than the previous version's rating. Positive reviews highlight improved speed and fewer crashes. Negative reviews focus on the lack of visible changes and the continued presence of unsupported features.

Some users have reported bugs specific to older Android devices running version 9 or below. X has acknowledged these issues and says a hotfix is coming soon. Notably, the app no longer supports Android 7 (Nougat) and below, which may affect a small portion of users in developing countries where older devices are common.

Tech reviewers have noted that while the rebuild is a necessary step, it feels like 'catching up' rather than 'leading.' The app is now on par with what Threads and Bluesky offer in terms of speed and stability, but it lacks the innovative features that made Twitter (pre-Musk) a culturally impactful platform. The removal of features like Moments and the decline of third-party clients have left many power users feeling alienated.

Historical perspective: How other social apps handled rebuilds

X is not the first social media platform to undergo a major app rebuild. Snapchat, for example, completely rewrote its Android app in 2022 to address performance issues that had plagued the platform for years. The result was a significant improvement in user retention and engagement, though it required months of beta testing and a phased rollout. Similarly, Facebook's 'FB5' redesign in 2019 involved a large-scale refactoring of both its iOS and Android apps, focusing on community features and cleaner code.

These examples show that a successful rebuild requires not just technical excellence but also clear communication with users. Snapchat's team regularly posted updates about their progress on their engineering blog, building anticipation for the new app. X, by contrast, has been relatively secretive about Project Osprey, with only occasional mentions in internal emails and a short keynote at X's developer conference.

The lack of communication may have set unrealistic expectations. Many users hoped the rebuild would bring a new look or transformative features, but the reality is more mundane. X's engineering team has emphasized that the rebuild is a 'foundation' for future innovation, meaning that the most exciting changes may still be several months away.

Looking ahead: What's next for X on Android?

With the rebuilt app now in the hands of users, X's next steps include:

• Rolling out new features on a faster cadence: The modular architecture should allow the team to ship updates more frequently without fear of breaking the entire app.
• Improving the X Premium experience: Paid subscribers can expect deeper integration with AI tools (like Grok) and priority access to experimental features.
• Expanding video capabilities: X has been investing in long-form video, and a new video player component is expected to leverage the rebuild's performance gains.
• Better integration with X's other products: The app may eventually include shortcuts for X Money (the company's payment system) and Spaces (audio rooms).

However, all of these plans depend on X's continued financial stability and the ability to retain engineering talent. In recent months, several senior engineers have left the company, citing burnout and disagreement with Musk's leadership style. The Android team, in particular, has seen high turnover, which could slow down post-rebuild development.

For now, users who switch to the rebuilt app will notice a difference in how smoothly everything runs, but they won't be blown away by anything new. As one early tester put it: 'It's like getting a new engine in an old car. The car looks the same, but it drives better.' Whether that is enough to keep X relevant in an increasingly crowded market remains to be seen.

Source: Mashable News