Netflix says a big mobile app redesign is coming and subscribers are bracing themselves for another UI nightmare

Date:
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Description:
There's a new Netflix update coming to mobile, and it's bringing a new vertical feed to your account.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Netflix has announced that it'll be rolling out a huge mobile UI upgrade later this year, introducing a vertical video feed This feed will spotlight new content across Netflix's library of original movies and shows, as well as integrating clips from video podcasts Netflix's last big redesign was for its TV
interface in May 2025, but it was met with user backlash

Another big Netflix revamp is on the way, and its one of the most significant redesigns for one of the best streaming services : its getting a vertical video feed.

During Netflixs Q4 2025 earnings call, CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos reflected on Netflixs successful year but didnt shy away from giving us a taste of whats in store for its mobile experience. They announced that a vertical video feed will be rolling out in late 2026, with Peters describing it as a broader upgrade of the mobile experience.

Its not new information that Netflix has been experimenting with short-form video for a while now, but this new redesign will see its wider rollout. During the earnings call, Peters shared that the platform has been testing vertical video feeds for six months, or so, which is filled with clips from Netflix original shows and movies.

At the moment, this is pretty much all that Netflixs vertical video feed entails, but Peters reassured that theres more to come; you can imagine us bringing more clips based on new content types, he shared. So, how is Netflix planning on advancing its vertical video feed in the future? Video podcasts are the short answer. Analysis: rejecting change

While theres plenty of room for more Netflix content to be added to its vertical video ecosystem (I can see it being a means of mainly promoting highly anticipated movies and shows), video podcasts will also be integrated, which Netflix has spent ample time and money investing in to compete with the likes of YouTube. Peters went into more detail:

Video podcasts were added to the general service, so were bringing a sort of appropriate component of that into that vertical video feed, he explained. This next chapter for Netflix follows its biggest UI update for TVs, which rolled out in May 2025, and similarly to this update, the new mobile
interface will become a starting point for (us) to continue to iterate, test, evolve, and improve, Peters added.

Netflixs huge TV interface revamp marked a huge step for the streaming platform, but it was met with a tidal wave of user backlash very shortly following its launch. On the one hand, users claimed the new unnecessary changes made it even harder to find the type of content they like to stream, while Netflix defended the redesign.

As for this upcoming vertical video feed, I cant imagine it will please subscribers, given their harsh criticism of Netflixs TV upgrade. It doesnt
sit well with me that Netflix is going full steam ahead with in-app
short-form content; it just reads as a petty attempt to mirror more
successful vertical video spin-offs like YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels. Netflix is first and foremost a space for movie lovers to indulge in quality content so lets keep it that way.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/streaming/netflix/netflix-says-a-big-mobile-app-rede sign-is-coming-and-subscribers-are-bracing-themselves-for-another-ui-nightmare


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