A Liquid Glass Glow-Up for WhatsApp on iOS
WhatsApp is quietly rolling out a major visual overhaul on iPhone, embracing Apple’s upcoming iOS 26 design language. The update, currently surfacing in WhatsApp for iOS version 25.28.75, introduces a Liquid Glass interface that leans heavily on transparency, layered depth, and fluid motion. Instead of the familiar flat aesthetic, users in the beta channel are seeing semi-transparent surfaces and glass-like overlays that bring WhatsApp closer to Apple’s system-wide look. The redesign aims to feel more native on iOS, blending the app’s long-standing layout with a modern, polished skin. While the core structure of chats, tabs, and settings remains intact, the overall impression is of a more premium, immersive messaging experience that better matches Apple’s evolving visual direction.
Translucent Tabs, Glassy Buttons, and Smoother Animations
The most noticeable change in the WhatsApp redesign for iOS is the new translucent bottom bar. It now appears as a semi-transparent layer that subtly blurs whatever sits behind it, creating a floating, glass-like effect. Icons respond with smoother, more fluid animations, and the active tab indicator now dynamically adjusts to the selected icon, reinforcing a sense of motion and responsiveness. This Liquid Glass interface extends beyond navigation: buttons across the app feature semi-translucent surfaces and more refined tap effects, while context menus adopt similar glassy treatments with adaptive transparency and layered visuals. These changes are designed to make the interface feel less static and more alive, transforming WhatsApp from a purely functional tool into a visually expressive, translucent messaging app that feels at home on modern iPhone displays.
iOS 26 Design Language and Glassmorphism Trends
WhatsApp’s Liquid Glass update is closely aligned with Apple’s broader iOS 26 design language, which emphasizes transparency, depth, and smooth motion throughout the system. By adopting semi-transparent surfaces and layered visuals, WhatsApp is moving in step with a wider trend toward glassmorphism—interfaces that resemble frosted glass, with blurred backgrounds and subtle lighting. This isn’t just aesthetic mimicry. Matching Apple’s visual evolution helps WhatsApp feel more integrated with the OS, reducing the visual friction between system apps and third-party experiences. It also capitalizes on the strengths of newer OLED screens, where transparency, contrast, and depth are more striking. In practice, the overhaul signals that messaging apps are increasingly judged not only on reliability and features, but also on how polished, consistent, and native they feel within a platform’s design ecosystem.
Keyboard, Menus, and the New Typing Experience
Beyond navigation, WhatsApp is revamping core interaction surfaces such as the keyboard and menus to match the Liquid Glass styling. The app now taps into the iOS 26 native keyboard look, giving the typing area a translucent, reflective finish that subtly adapts to the chat background. This makes composing messages feel more cohesive with the rest of the interface, rather than a separate, flat panel. Context menus and action sheets are also updated, gaining glass-like layers with adaptive transparency and a more modern stacked appearance. Buttons feature updated shapes and animations that emphasize smooth transitions and a sense of depth. Not every element has been fully converted yet—the chat bar retains some of its older flat design—but the overall direction is clear: WhatsApp wants the entire messaging flow, from typing to tapping options, to feel fluid and visually consistent.
Gradual Rollout, Beta Limits, and What Users Can Expect Next
For now, the Liquid Glass interface is still in active testing and not everyone will see it immediately, even after updating WhatsApp for iOS. The redesign is being enabled gradually on select accounts as Meta monitors stability and collects feedback, and it currently appears in the beta channel for version 25.28.75. Some interface pieces, like the chat bar, still show remnants of the older flat design, indicating that the refresh is a work in progress. Nevertheless, the direction is clear: WhatsApp is positioning itself for Apple’s next-generation iOS experience with a more modern, premium feel. As testing continues, users can expect the translucent tabs, refined buttons, updated menus, and smoother animations to expand and solidify, eventually making the Liquid Glass interface a defining part of the WhatsApp new update on iPhone.