Overview
- WhatsApp has begun rolling out a new message animation to a subset of iOS beta testers via TestFlight in the 26.24.10.70 build.
- The new effect makes message bubbles fade in while slightly scaling up instead of appearing instantly, creating a smoother transition in chats.
- For the first time on iOS, WhatsApp adds a dedicated Messages toggle under Settings > Chats > Animations alongside controls for emoji, sticker, and GIF animations.
- The change restores an earlier feature that was removed after users raised motion-sensitivity concerns and aligns iOS with recent Android beta behaviour, but testing is limited and no public release date has been announced.
- The toggle gives motion-sensitive users direct control over visual effects and signals that WhatsApp is moving toward consistent cross-platform settings, which could make a broader rollout more likely if testing goes well.