New Delhi: WhatsApp is quietly changing how its iOS app feels to use. In its latest update, version 25.28.75, the messaging giant has started rolling out Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language, first introduced in iOS 26. The update is still limited, with only some users, including beta testers, getting access right now.
According to Wabetainfo, this is one of the first times users can actually experience WhatsApp redesigned with Apple’s new framework. The Liquid Glass design language uses transparency, depth effects, and smooth animations to give apps a more modern and fluid look.
WhatsApp iOS update with Apple Liquid Glass design | Source: WaBetainfo
WhatsApp embraces Apple’s iOS 26 visuals
The design refresh is not just about looks. WhatsApp is adopting Apple’s iOS 26 SDK, which brings subtle transparency, layered effects, and adaptive interactions. For example, the tab bar now appears semi-translucent, creating a floating effect above the main content. Each icon animates smoothly when tapped, making navigation feel more responsive and alive.
The new tab bar also adjusts automatically to both light and dark modes. The indicator for the selected tab dynamically changes its width to fit the icon perfectly. This prevents overlapping visuals and keeps the active tab clearly visible across screen sizes.
A closer look at Liquid Glass changes
WhatsApp’s integration of Liquid Glass shows up in many areas of the app:
- Tab bar redesign: Semi-transparent, with background blur and smooth icon animations.
- Keyboard update: Now matches iOS 26’s translucent keyboard, adapting to chat backgrounds with intensified depth effects.
- Buttons and context menus: Semi-translucent surfaces with reflective effects, plus responsive animations when tapped.
The context menu is perhaps the clearest showcase of the change. It now carries a “glass-like appearance that subtly reflects the background content,” WhatsApp explained in the update notes. This keeps focus on the selected options while maintaining a modern visual feel.
Light, dark, and adaptive
One of the standout aspects is how the new design automatically adapts to whichever theme users pick. Light or dark, the transparency adjusts on the fly, ensuring clarity without losing the floating, layered feel.
Beta testers have already noticed that the Liquid Glass keyboard “subtly interacts with the background content to create a sense of depth.” In practice, this means that even typing feels more immersive, with keys reflecting and blending into the chat screen instead of standing apart.