TL; DR
- WhatsApp for iOS is adopting a similar design language to offer a unified visual experience on iPhones.
- The visual change seems to be a part of the WhatsApp version 25.28.75, but only for some users as part of a public beta test.
- The navigation bar at the bottom, which contains options such as Updates, Calls, Communities, Chats, and Settings, is now transparent.
- The report says that the “indicator for the currently selected tab dynamically adapts its width to align perfectly with the icon, creating a precise and polished visual cue.”
Most recently, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp released an update with support for Live Photos and the ability to translate messages in chats. Now, the platform seems to have adopted Apple’s Liquid Glass design language as part of its latest update (but the redesign isn’t available for all users yet).
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For those catching up, Liquid Glass design on iOS 26 utilizes translucent layers of UI elements that reflect and refract light, much like glass would in the real world. We’ve written a detailed review of the new design, in case you want to check that out. Now, WhatsApp for iOS is adopting a similar design language to offer a unified visual experience on iPhones.
Dynamic Transparency and Depth Effects on WhatsApp
The visual change seems to be a part of the WhatsApp version 25.28.75, but only for some users as part of a public beta test (as mentioned in the WABetaInfo report). According to the report, WhatsApp has adopted the “dynamic transparency, depth effects, and fluid interactions” that come along with the iOS 26 SDK.
Redesigned Navigation Bar and Buttons
First, the navigation bar at the bottom, which contains options such as Updates, Calls, Communities, Chats, and Settings, is now transparent. It looks and feels the same way as the bottom bar of the App Store. The navigation bar is now inside a pill-shaped horizontal menu at the bottom of the screen.
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New Keyboard and Smoother Animations
The report says that the “indicator for the currently selected tab dynamically adapts its width to align perfectly with the icon, creating a precise and polished visual cue.” Additionally, WhatsApp now appears to be utilizing iOS 26’s native keyboard, featuring a translucent background that adapts to the chat background.
Along with the navigation bar and the keyboard, the buttons have also adopted the new Liquid Glass design language. They are now translucent and reflect the color in the background. Along with the visual changes, the app also includes smoother animations, similar to those found in the operating system.
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