New “glass” design for WhatsApp on iPhone: First details

WhatsApp users on iPhone have started noticing a new app design inspired by the aesthetics of iOS 26. According to the WABetaInfo portal, the developers of the messenger have begun limited testing of the updated interface, which is currently available only to a portion of users. Meta has not officially announced the redesign, but the first changes have already appeared in app version 25.28.75.

Key Changes: Liquid Glass and Transparency

The main feature of the new design is the bottom navigation bar, created in the Liquid Glass style — a signature concept of iOS 26. It now has a semi-transparent effect that blends seamlessly with Apple’s modern visual language. This approach makes the interface lighter and more elegant, emphasizing the smoothness and minimalism characteristic of the iPhone experience.

Testing and Availability

According to WABetaInfo, the new design is being activated server-side, not through an App Store update. This means that even users with the latest version (25.28.75) might not see the changes if their device is not included in the test group. Such a selective rollout suggests a gradual implementation process aimed at collecting user feedback and fixing possible bugs before the global release.

What’s Next?

It is expected that the “glass” design will become available to a wider audience in one of the upcoming WhatsApp updates. The exact release date has not yet been announced, but given the current trend toward unified interface design, the rollout will likely expand within the next few months. Interestingly, Telegram is also preparing an update in the iOS 26 style — a beta version of the messenger with a similar interface is already available online.

In Brief

WhatsApp is testing a new “glass” design for iPhone featuring a semi-transparent Liquid Glass-style navigation bar from iOS 26. The update is available to a limited number of users on version 25.28.75 via server-side activation. A full release is expected soon, while Telegram is also working on a similar interface.