Elon Musk-owned X released a rebuilt Android app on Monday, following nearly a year of development to address performance issues that gave its iOS counterpart an edge. The refreshed app is now available for download on the Google Play Store.
The new Android version was constructed from the ground up, with enhancements made in loading speed, scrolling, and notifications, according to a company announcement. In August, Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, described the formation of a dedicated “dream team” tasked with improving the Android app experience.
In October, X reported a surge in activity, marking one of its strongest weeks for Android downloads, which elevated the urgency of the app overhaul. Bier characterized the project as “one of the largest engineering projects” in the company’s history, emphasizing that the app was entirely rebuilt rather than simply updated.
“It’s faster, smoother and more reliable. But most of all: it will enable us to build new features at lightning speed,” Bier stated on X. The company recently introduced additional features, including X Money and X Chat, which have also been developed into standalone apps.
The new Android app’s release aims to attract more users globally, particularly in markets where Android dominates, after previous performance shortcomings. At one point last year, the X app struggled so significantly that it failed to load posts when users selected links.
Bier acknowledged that performance improvements are still needed for older Android devices, along with ongoing support for Spaces, X’s live audio feature. He also revealed that additional functionalities, such as a new video editor, a react-with-video option, cashtags, and custom timelines, are expected to arrive on Android soon.
Existing users can access the updated X app by refreshing their current version via the Google Play Store.
