Element releases its new version (and future replacement) 'Element X', featuring significant improvements in speed and UX/UI

Element X, the latest version of the group chat app Element, has been released on the App Store. This new version introduces a completely redesigned user experience and interface to be more intuitive, consistent, familiar, and reliable, with the intention of eventually replacing the current Element main app. This initial release is designed for personal use, but enterprise functionality and more features will be added later.

Element X is fast, waaay faster than the previous version, outperforming other Matrix clients by up to 6000 times, thanks the new Rust-based matrix-rust-sdk and incorporating the latest UI frameworks like SwiftUI for iOS and Jetpack Compose for Android. However, the real game-changer is the introduction of sliding sync, a powerful Matrix API that revolutionizes data synchronization, enabling instant login, launch, and sync. This approach changes how the app syncs data from the homeserver, fetching precisely the required data to render the UI rapidly. Sliding sync ensures a consistent user experience regardless of account size, with performance scaling at O(1) instead of O(N) with the number of rooms. The result is a room list that can be displayed in less than 100ms after login, even for large accounts, as only the necessary data for displayed rooms is loaded.

Early access to Element X is available for early adopters, allowing them to get a glimpse of what the future holds for Element. Existing users can log into their accounts using Element X, although certain features such as creating new accounts and accessing message backups are not yet supported. Also, keep in mind that the app is initially available on iOS, and the Android build will be released shortly. Regular updates will be rolled out to add remaining features and ultimately replace the current Element mobile clients. Element Web and Desktop will also benefit from Element X, receiving updated UI and the new end-to-end encryption.