Most apps don’t change just to look pretty.
They redesign when they are trying to do something bigger, like push new services, get users to spend more time, or stand out from growing competition.
That’s what makes PhonePe’s redesign interesting.
It reorganized the entire experience, from how you scan to how you save.
Let’s see what changed… and whether it helps users do what they came for.
Original PhonePe UI
Here's how the old PhonePe app worked:
Navigation at the bottomThe bottom of the screen had basic buttons, such as Home, History, and Profile. These buttons looked normal, and people knew how to use them.
Everything grouped togetherAll the services were put into big groups, such as Pay Bills. You had to tap many times to pay your electricity bill, and the same went for other bill payments.
Plain list of your payments|When you looked at your old payments, it was just a simple list. It worked fine, but it looked boring, like another bank account statement.
New PhonePe UI
Here's what's different now:
New bottom buttons with a scannerThe buttons at the bottom are different now. The scanner (the thing that reads QR codes) is easier to find. Your payment history is also easier to get to.
Better groups for servicesInstead of big messy groups, now there are clear sections such as Savings and Travel. It's easier to find what you need without looking everywhere.
Looks more modernThe whole app looks newer and cleaner. It has better colors and spacing. Everything looks more like other apps you use today.
What's Better? What's Worse?
Better: The new groups make more sense. If you want to save money, there's a "Savings" section. If you need to pay for travel, there's a "Travel" section.
The scanner is easier to find, which is good because most people use it a lot.
Worse: People who used the old app for a long time are confused. They can't find things as easily because everything moves around.
Some people liked the old, simple look better.
So, what do you think?
How do you feel when apps revamp their UI and UX completely?
If you were the PM who made this change, how would you measure success of the new design?