Overview
- Reporters and app trackers say the new look began reaching select TestFlight users in build 26.29.10.70 on Friday, July 24, 2026, as WhatsApp moves the tweak out of development and into staged testing.
- The update makes chat bubbles noticeably rounder and removes the old bordered outline around photos, videos, GIFs and link previews so media appears more integrated in the conversation.
- The frameless media treatment is not universal because group chats and forwarded messages still show a sender or forwarded header above media, so the new style is only partially applied in those contexts.
- WhatsApp has not given a public release date for the redesign and continues to test changes via TestFlight, with reporting outlets saying the tweak should reach more iOS users over the coming weeks and some App Store users may see it early.
- The redesign builds on the Liquid Glass interface already shipped to iPhone users and is part of a broader push of visual and feature updates that aim to modernize WhatsApp’s iOS experience and make chats feel cleaner and easier to read.