DMs are now accessible by the menu bar on the bottom. Before it was at the top of the server list
user list is now only accessible by pressing a button on top of the screen
swipe on a message to reply to it.
colours have been tweaked to be less contrasted

As for my thoughts:

IDC about DMs
I look at the user list more often than I reply to people, so I rather swipe to see it. Even more than before, replying only needed a long tap on the message that would be in thumb reach, and now you needed to stretch out your thumb to reach the user list button (that is a search icon)
I don't suffer from any particular contrast eye issues, but for those that does, contrast is pretty important.
No communication. This update breaks a lot of muscles memory, and it's forced upon you even if you don't like it. The old UX was completely fine too.
desktop/mobile discrepancy. Before, mobile was a lot like desktop, but now some thing are moved and you need to learn two interfaces
There is talks that it's more buggy and slower than before, but I can't objectively prove it

If you like the new ui, then that's great. But there's clearly people who don't for great reasons.

[–] TheDonkerZ@lemmy.ca 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The reasons might be fine, but my opinion is that is whole thing is a little bit... Blown out of proportion.

Just on a couple of your points:

The muscle memory point is very valid, but that boils down to not liking change for changes sake. Muscle memory can always be rewired, and it will take less time than you think it will.
The discrepancy between desktop and mobile has always been there, imo. So many of the desktop features were crammed away into menus and submenus that were hard to use on mobile. With a new mobile-centric design, we may not know where everything is yet, but it'll likely be easier to access once we get more familiar with it.

The other thing for me is that Discord is the messaging app I prefer, by a long shot. If they see this as an opportunity to add SMS linking to their feature set, and allow users to then also bridge those from the mobile to desktop version, it would solve a lot of communication issues I have, having everything in one place.

It's a welcome change in my book.

[–] RustyNova@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Yeah I do agree it kinda exploded. For me the new layout is a really deal breaker because my phone is abnormally tall, and I literally need to move my whole hand to reach the top.

I know that discord isn't the only one to use icons at the top, heck, the "send message" button on Eternity is literally at the top, but when there is change for change sake, it just feels insulting. I don't even reply all that much too.