WhatsApp is rolling out a wave of updates across Android and iOS beta builds. The biggest change this week is a redesigned voice note player with a translucent Liquid Glass interface. Here is everything spotted in the latest WhatsApp beta.
Liquid Glass Voice Note Player
WhatsApp is testing a redesigned voice note player that adopts Apple’s Liquid Glass design language, first introduced in iOS 26.
The new player features a frosted, translucent surface with soft reflections and blurred background elements beneath the playback bar. It replaces the flat, solid-color design currently used in chats.
Playback controls, including the waveform scrubber and speed toggle, remain in place but are now wrapped inside the glass-style container. This update has been spotted in the WhatsApp beta for iOS.
Chat Filters Get a New "Groups" Tab
WhatsApp is adding a dedicated Groups tab inside the Chat Filters bar at the top of the inbox. Users can tap it to instantly view only group conversations, separate from direct messages and unread threads. It is currently live in the WhatsApp beta for Android.
HD Photo Sharing Set as Default
WhatsApp is testing a change that automatically sends photos in HD quality without requiring users to manually select the option each time. The toggle will still exist, but HD will be pre-selected by default. This is under testing in the Android beta.
Voice Chat Indicators in Groups
Group chats will soon display a live indicator when a voice chat is active inside the group. The banner appears at the top of the chat thread, allowing members to join directly without navigating to a separate screen.
Pinned Messages Get Timestamps
WhatsApp is updating the pinned messages panel to display the exact date and time a message was pinned. This makes it easier to track when key information was highlighted in a conversation. The change is spotted in the latest iOS beta build.
Status Updates with Link Previews
WhatsApp is working on support for link previews inside Status updates. When a user includes a URL in their Status, a preview card with a thumbnail and title will appear automatically. The feature is in early testing on Android beta.
Event Reminders Inside Chats
WhatsApp is building a native event reminder feature that allows users to create and share event details directly inside a chat. Recipients can save the event without leaving WhatsApp. The feature appears in the latest Android beta and is not yet available to all testers.
These features are expected to reach stable builds on Android and iOS over the coming weeks.
