Liquid Glass: WhatsApp’s Next Big Visual Refresh
WhatsApp is rolling out a major visual update on iPhone that leans into Apple’s upcoming iOS 26 interface update. Internally dubbed the WhatsApp Liquid Glass redesign, the new look introduces translucent layers, softer depth effects, and smoother UI transitions across the app. Early findings from WABetaInfo show that the redesign is being tested in WhatsApp for iOS version 25.28.75, with the feature enabled gradually for select users. Rather than overhauling the entire layout, WhatsApp is refining familiar elements so the app feels more premium while staying recognisably WhatsApp. The goal is to mirror the broader iOS design language shift toward transparency and layered visuals, making the messaging experience appear more modern and immersive. For users, that means a cleaner interface that visually blends into Apple’s system-wide Liquid Glass aesthetic, especially on devices where depth and blur effects stand out.
Translucent Tabs and a More Immersive Navigation Bar
One of the most noticeable changes in the WhatsApp Liquid Glass redesign is the revamped bottom navigation bar. Screenshots from the beta show semi-transparent tabs that subtly blur content behind them, creating a floating, glass-like surface. This aligns closely with iOS design language trends, where transparency and layered depth are central themes. Icons in the tab bar now respond with smoother animations, and the active tab indicator dynamically adjusts to match the selected icon, enhancing the sense of motion and responsiveness. These WhatsApp translucent tabs are available in both light and dark modes, with transparency and background effects tuned for each theme. The result is a navigation experience that feels less flat and more integrated with the rest of the system UI. By blending in visually with iOS 26, WhatsApp aims to deliver a more consistent, premium feel every time users move between chats, calls, or settings.
Keyboard, Buttons, and Menus Adopt iOS 26’s Visual Language
Beyond navigation, WhatsApp is adopting more of Apple’s iOS design language in its core interaction elements. The app now uses the native iOS 26 keyboard style, giving the typing experience a translucent, reflective look that adapts to each chat’s background. This brings WhatsApp closer to the system-wide Liquid Glass aesthetic, making the keyboard feel like a natural extension of the OS rather than a separate, flat component. Buttons throughout the app have been refreshed with semi-translucent surfaces and smoother tap animations, replacing older, more rigid visuals. Context menus are also getting a glass-like treatment, with adaptive transparency and layered presentation that mirror Apple’s modern UI direction. Although the chat bar still retains parts of the older, flatter design, the overall interface is clearly shifting toward a more polished, immersive style that matches the broader iOS 26 interface update.
Limited Beta Rollout and What Users Can Expect Next
For now, the Liquid Glass interface is limited to select users as part of a phased beta rollout. Even if users update to WhatsApp for iOS version 25.28.75 from the App Store, they may not immediately see the new design, as WhatsApp is enabling it on a server-side basis. This controlled release allows Meta to monitor stability, gather feedback, and refine animations, transparency levels, and layout details before a wider launch. The experience is not fully complete yet; certain components, like the chat bar, still rely on older visual styles. However, the direction is clear: WhatsApp is positioning itself to feel more native within Apple’s next-generation ecosystem, aligning closely with the Liquid Glass theme in iOS 26. As testing progresses, users can expect a broader rollout and further refinements that fully unify WhatsApp’s interface with Apple’s evolving visual language.