Telegram launches smartwatch apps and rich formatting for bots

Telegram has announced a major update introducing official smartwatch applications for both Apple Watch and Android Wear OS users, expanding its messaging platform to wearable devices. This release is designed for the global user base of Telegram, targeting anyone who owns a compatible smartwatch. The apps are publicly available and allow users to: 1. Send and receive text and voice messages 2. View media 3. Read long messages 4. Preview locations 5. Send stickers 6. Manage chats directly from their wrists On Android, additional options include muting, pinning, and deleting chats, while iOS users benefit from features such as viewing locations and sending stickers, with further feature parity between platforms expected in future updates. > We now support rich formatting for all chatbots. > > Tables, nested lists, inline media, formulas, headers and more — right in Telegram messages. > > 🔨 Start building! Docs: https://t.co/zgzPOOUJF5 pic.twitter.com/H9z3bkNCkX > > — Pavel Durov (@durov) June 13, 2026 Telegram’s latest rollout also includes rich text formatting for bots, equipping developers with tools like: 1. Tables 2. Blockquotes 3. Inline media 4. Carousels 5. Collapsible sections 6. Math formulas Message lengths now support up to 32,768 characters. The update introduces AI-powered guardian bots for group chats, enabling admins to screen and manage join requests using mini-app interfaces. Poll options now support links, Markdown (.md) files can be viewed in the in-app browser, and users gain more control over which browser opens external links, including privacy features such as non-persistent browsing history. Telegram continues to position itself as a versatile, privacy-focused messaging platform with frequent updates for its user community. Source