The addition of voice-to-text transcription for videos and separate topics in large group chats are some of the new features Telegram has added.

Telegram Premium users will only be able to access video messaging transcription by tapping the "A" button on the bottom-right of a video. A Telegram Premium subscription costs $4.99 a month and comes with perks such as faster downloads, no ads, and a larger file upload limit.

A gif displaying a phone screen, demonstrating how the Telegram voice-to-text transcription feature works with video messages.
No time to watch videos from your friends? Telegrams' voice-to-text transcription feature now extends to video messages.
Image: Telegram

Telegram has added new features for free users. Groups with over 200 members can create separate spaces that function like individual chats with their own notifications. The set-up is similar to the Discord server that has a single focus but also side channels for more specific conversations. Telegram has a public group where you can try out the feature.

Fragment can be used to purchase and sell the NFT-like asset called Collectible Usernames. Telegram says these names can be as short as five characters and can be used outside of Telegram.

A gif of a mobile phone displaying the Topics feature in Telegram. The demonstartion showcases how to enable and create a Group Topic.
Topics can be used in Groups with 200 or more members to create separate spaces for more specific conversations.
Image: Telegram

The Night Mode of Telegram has been changed to make it more balanced with better blurring effects as users scroll through chats, while the chat settings have been changed to allow for the resizing of text. There are also improvements to the design, such as a new animation for left to reply and a pulsing chat bubble when messages are loading. Telegram Premium users have access to twelve new emoji packs that can be used as user statuses or used in messages and caption.

Telegram said that Apple took two weeks to review the update and apologized. It takes at least seven days for any meaningful product update to reach the App Store, according to the founder of Telegram. This isn't the first time that Durov has criticized Apple, having previously accused the tech giant of delaying updates for weeks and removing the ability for users to create pay to view posts due to Apple's strict App Store guidelines.