WhatsApp tests new Liquid Glass chat design on iOS and green‑dot online status on Android

WhatsApp is expanding its visual redesign for iPhone users, extending the Liquid Glass aesthetic—transparent bars, floating composition field and animated depth effects—to the main chat screen. The changes, observed in a beta version of the iOS app, follow earlier rollouts for navigation elements and aim to match Apple’s iOS 26 design language. A release date has not been announced and the update will roll out gradually.

In parallel, the Android beta of WhatsApp is testing a green dot indicator that shows when contacts are online directly in the chat list, mirroring similar features on Instagram and Facebook. The indicator respects users’ privacy settings and will initially be limited to a small group of testers before broader distribution.