Telegram Mini Apps 2.0: Top 10 Features You Need to Know

Key Takeaways

• According to Telegram, mini apps 2.0 is the largest update in its history.
• Telegram mini apps 2.0 offers a better UI/UX design and deeper integration, creating a smoother experience.
• Telegram provides robust tools and APIs for securely and efficiently creating and integrating mini apps. 
• These apps support blockchain-related services, productivity tools, social media, e-commerce, and games.

“Telegram mini apps 2.0 are lightweight applications integrated into Telegram Messenger via bots which enhance Telegram’s functionality by offering features such as gaming, productivity tools, and social experiences, all accessible without leaving the app.”

Telegram boasts over 950 million monthly active users, strengthening its position as a major player in the social media landscape.

Mini Apps like Hamster Kombat, Notcoin, Catizen,  and Paws have gone viral, demonstrating the platform’s capacity to support diverse applications and public engagement.

The mini apps 2.0 upgrade is set to enhance user experience and strengthen Telegram’s reputation as a versatile platform. 

By offering integrated and interactive experiences, Telegram aims to attract a broader global audience. It is evolving beyond messaging to become a hub for gaming, productivity, and blockchain-based applications.

According to Telegram, “this is the largest update in the history of Telegram mini apps,” there are “more than 10 new features and monetization options for developers.” 

The following is a list of the major updates shared by Telegram’s website  that are already changing how users and developers interact within Telegram’s ecosystem.

1. Full-Screen Mode: Immersive App Experience

With this UI/UX design improvement, mini apps can now use the entire screen in portrait or landscape mode. This upgrade improves usability and offers a more immersive experience for activities like gaming or document editing.

Gaming apps requiring larger views can find this enticing; other more practical apps, such as productivity tools for editing complex spreadsheets or documents, and even virtual learning apps where a full-screen experience enhances focus and usability.

2. Device Motion Tracking: Interactive and Engaging Controls

Apps can access motion data from the device, enabling unique features like tilt controls for games or motion-based interactions in other applications.

Motion tracking could be used in fitness apps for activity monitoring, augmented reality games for interactive gameplay, and educational tools that incorporate physical gestures in learning activities. 

Some apps, such as Mini Apps PAWS, have already integrated this feature for some of their challenges, in which users need to tilt their devices to earn points or PAWS. 

3. Home Screen Shortcuts: Quick Access

Users can add direct shortcuts to mini apps on their home screens, making accessing frequently used apps faster and easier. They can organize shortcuts by naming them or selecting icons—the feature syncs across devices, ensuring easy Android, iOS, or desktop access. 

This feature works well for accessing personal finance trackers, task management apps, fitness trackers, event planners, or social mini apps. It ensures timely engagement for group activities or multiplayer games.

4. Geolocation Access: Location-Based Interactivity

Mini apps can now use location data to create tools like maps, local recommendations, and games based on a user’s location. This feature makes apps more interactive.

• Travel apps can give tips for nearby attractions and real-time navigation. 
• Delivery tools can track packages, while games can offer real-world challenges like treasure hunts.
• Apps for events can help with maps and updates for festivals or conferences. 
• Retail apps can send local deals or guide users to nearby stores. 
• Social apps can connect users nearby or organize group activities.

Developers must ask for explicit permission to use location data and keep it safe to build trust with users. 

5. Gifts from Apps: Rewards for User Engagement

Apps reward users with gifts, such as in-game items, special features, or cryptocurrencies, for completing specific actions or achieving milestones. Developers can customize these rewards based on user behavior or preferences, ensuring they stay relevant and engaging. 

Users may receive notifications for these gifts or claim them directly within the app, making the process seamless.

This feature supports loyalty programs by rewarding frequent users, promotional campaigns in e-commerce apps with discounts or exclusive offers, or gaming apps to incentivize engagement and retention. 

Non-gaming apps, such as fitness trackers, can reward users for meeting health goals, while education apps might incentivize learning progress with access to premium content. 

Developers can also track engagement metrics through analytics to refine strategies and improve user interaction.

6. Expressive Engagement: Emoji Statuses From Apps

Telegram Premium users can set emoji statuses directly from mini apps to show activities like gaming or traveling. Mini apps provide a variety of emojis that users can customize. Users can update these statuses in real-time and sync with app activities. 

In some cases, users can get rewards by doing this.

Privacy settings let users control who sees their statuses, keeping the experience secure and personal.

7. File Generation

With mini apps, users can create and share downloadable files tailored to their needs. 

This functionality supports work, learning, and artistic expression, from freelance invoicing to educational certificates and creative projects like artwork or resumes.

8. Media Sharing: Seamless Content Distribution

Mini apps now integrate with core Telegram functions, enabling users to share media, referral codes, or custom content directly in chats. 

This feature enhances engagement with friends and communities by allowing users to generate and distribute downloadable files such as invoices, certificates, or artwork.

9. Subscription Plans: Monetizing Features

Developers can offer subscriptions through mini-apps using Telegram’s built-in Stars tool, providing tiered access to content and premium features.

This feature can support premium content platforms for exclusive articles or videos, software as a service (SaaS) tools for professional features, or gaming apps for unlocking additional levels and items.

10. Loading Screen Customization for a Polished Look

Telegram has introduced new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools to streamline Mini App development. These include customizing loading screens and accessing basic hardware information to optimize performance. 

The update ensures consistent performance of mini apps across Android, iOS, and desktop platforms, providing a seamless user experience regardless of the device.

Customized loading screens could improve user retention and enhance user experience in entertainment apps or provide a more professional look for business-related mini apps.

Conclusion

Telegram mini apps 2.0 brings exciting updates that make using and building mini apps more engaging. Features like full-screen mode create immersive experiences, while motion tracking and geolocation open up possibilities for interactive games and location-based services. 

Home screen shortcuts and media sharing make connecting and sharing with others easier, and emoji statuses add a fun, personal touch.

For developers, subscription plans and advanced APIs provide new ways to monetize and customize apps. 

These upgrades make mini apps more useful and position Telegram as a hub for gaming, productivity, and blockchain-powered tools, offering something for everyone in its massive user base.

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About the Author

Lorena Nessi

Lorena Nessi is an award-winning journalist and media and technology expert. She is based in Oxfordshire, UK, and holds a PhD in Communication, Sociology, and Digital Cultures, as well as a Master’s degree in Globalization, Identity, and Technology. Lorena has lectured at prestigious institutions, including Fairleigh Dickinson University, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Oxford. Her journalism career includes working for the BBC in London and producing television content in Mexico and Japan. She has published extensively on digital cultures, social media, technology, and capitalism. Lorena is interested in exploring how digital innovation impacts cultural and social dynamics and has a keen interest in blockchain technology. In her free time, Lorena enjoys science fiction books and films, board games, and thrilling adventures that get her heart racing. A perfect day for her includes a spa session and a good family meal.

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