WhatsApp is testing a new look for iPhone chats. The message bubbles are rounder now. They also feel softer than before. So if your chats look a bit different lately, you are not seeing things. This is part of a beta update. It is not out for everyone yet. Still, it shows where WhatsApp is headed next.
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What’s New in This Update
Here is a quick look at the changes:
- Bubbles now have fully rounded corners.
- Shared photos and videos no longer sit inside a bubble border.
- The look matches the Liquid Glass interface that already reached the Mac app last month.
- The whole chat screen feels lighter and less boxy.
These changes seem small at first. But together, they add up to a fresh new feel. In fact, many people say the new bubbles look close to Apple’s own Messages app. That is likely on purpose. WhatsApp seems to want a style that iPhone users already like and know well.
Why the Old Design Felt a Bit Outdated
For years, WhatsApp bubbles barely changed. Sure, new chat themes came and went. Wallpapers changed too. But the bubble shape itself stayed almost the same. Meanwhile, other apps kept updating their chat screens. So, over time, WhatsApp began to feel a little old next to newer apps. This update is WhatsApp’s way of catching up. It also lines up well with Apple’s own design style on iPhone.
Chat apps tend to follow each other in small ways. One app rounds its corners, and soon others do too. This kind of shift is common in tech. So it is not a surprise that WhatsApp is moving in this direction now. Still, it is a welcome change for anyone who spends hours a day inside the app.
Photos and Videos Get a Cleaner Look Too
Media sharing is changing as well. For example, photos and videos in a chat no longer sit inside a bordered box. Instead, they blend right into the conversation. This sounds like a small thing. But it changes how the whole chat feels while you scroll. Even shared links look a bit neater now.
Here is what changed for media:
- No border around shared photos or videos.
- Media blends into the chat instead of sitting in its own box.
- Shared links also look cleaner and less cluttered.
Because of this change, chats with lots of photos or videos should feel less crowded. Group photo dumps, in particular, often felt heavy with borders everywhere. Now, that same photo dump should look calmer and easier on the eyes.
One Exception: Group Chats and Forwarded Messages
Not every message gets this frameless look, though. In group chats, WhatsApp still shows a small header above photos and videos. This header tells you who sent the file. That part still matters, so WhatsApp kept it. The same goes for forwarded messages. A small header shows where the message first came from. So, in these two cases, you will still see a bit of structure above the media. Even so, the rest of the design still feels rounder and softer.
This small detail shows that WhatsApp still cares about clarity. A cleaner look is nice. But knowing who sent a photo matters more in a group chat. WhatsApp made the same choice with its group info screen. So it kept that detail in place here too, even while simplifying everything else.
Who Can See the New Bubbles Right Now
Right now, this update is mostly for beta testers. They can try it through the WhatsApp beta on TestFlight. On top of that, a few regular App Store users may spot early hints of the new look too. If you have not seen it yet, do not worry. WhatsApp tends to roll out changes slowly. More accounts should get it over the coming weeks.
If you want to try it early, joining the TestFlight beta is usually the fastest way. That said, beta versions can be less stable than the regular app. So it is worth keeping that in mind before you join.
Is This Coming to Android Too?
This round of testing is only for iPhone right now. WhatsApp does not always roll out design updates to iOS and Android at the same time. Sometimes one platform gets a new look months before the other. So it is possible Android users will see something similar later on. That said, there is no confirmed timeline for that yet, so Android users should not expect it right away.
Why Small Design Changes Like This Matter
This update will not add new features. It will not change how you send a message or make a call. Instead, it changes how the app feels to use every day. That might sound minor. But small details like bubble shape add up over time. After all, most people check WhatsApp many times a day. So even a small visual change reaches a huge number of chats once it goes fully live.
For now, only testers get an early look. Everyone else can expect this smoother, more modern chat screen soon. If WhatsApp keeps its usual pace, the design should reach more App Store users before long. Slowly, it will replace the bubble style most iPhone users have looked at for years.
A Quick Recap
To sum it up, here is what to expect from this update:
- Rounder, softer message bubbles on iPhone.
- Photos and videos without a bubble border.
- Group chats and forwards still show a small sender header.
- The update is in beta now, with a wider rollout coming soon.
This is not a huge change on paper. But once it reaches your phone, you will likely notice it right away. Chats will simply feel newer, cleaner, and a bit more polished than before. And given how often most of us open WhatsApp each day, that small bit of polish should go a long way.
