WhatsApp reactions received Liquid Glass Apfelpatient

Meta is continuing work on the Liquid Glass redesign of the WhatsApp app for iOS. The latest TestFlight version shows that the reaction tray and context menus in individual chats are now also receiving the new design vocabulary. This fills two of the last visible gaps in the visual overhaul.

The findings come from the latest beta build and fit a pattern that has been solidifying for months. Following the widely announced WhatsApp CarPlay update and the ongoing expansion with AI features, Meta is simultaneously working on the visual unification of the iOS app. Liquid Glass, Apple's design system introduced with iOS 26, is being gradually integrated into more and more areas of the app.

What the new beta shows

According to previews activated by WABetaInfo, Meta is addressing two areas that previously didn't visually match the rest of the app. The response tray, which appears after long-pressing a message, currently looks relatively solid and opaque. The context menu within individual chats also currently uses a simpler background with limited transparency effects. Meta had already changed the context menu in the chat overview – this inconsistency between the different menus is set to disappear with the current beta build.

The planned changes will only become visible after the respective feature has been activated. Therefore, it is not yet available to regular beta testers.

📝 WhatsApp for iOS 25.28.75: what's new?

WhatsApp is rolling out the new Apple's new Liquid Glass design language for the iOS 26 app, and it's available to some users!
Some users can experiment with this feature by installing the previous update.https://t.co/SPrdOvJGgc pic.twitter.com/LmDlCfAJeQ
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) October 8, 2025

Liquid Glass on WhatsApp over time

The redesign has been happening in stages since Apple rolled out Liquid Glass with iOS 26. In October 2025, Meta launched a small rollout experiment in which the bottom navigation bar and parts of the Chats tab received the new look. This test remains extremely limited to this day – most users still see the old design.

In parallel, new Liquid Glass components have been appearing in the TestFlight builds: most recently, adjustments to the in-chat interface, and a few weeks ago, a revamped voice message player. The newly discovered changes to reactions and context menus fit into this beta pipeline.

When the public rollout might happen

Meta hasn't given an official release date, and WABetaInfo isn't making any concrete predictions either. Experience shows that after a feature appears in TestFlight, WhatsApp typically needs several weeks to months before it reaches all app store users.

One thing is clear: the frequency with which new Liquid Glass references appear in the beta builds suggests a wider rollout in the foreseeable future. Meta is already expanding WhatsApp in several areas, from an AI summary of unread chats to the paid WhatsApp Plus subscription. A consistent Liquid Glass look and feel is the logical accompaniment to these functional enhancements.

Design adaptation with a foreseeable endpoint

With the removal of the reaction tray and context menu, two of the last remaining elements that WhatsApp's Liquid Glass design hasn't yet reached are now being removed. Once Meta flips the switch, the app should appear noticeably more consistent on iOS 26 – and thus visually compete with the standards set by Apple's own apps. (Image: Shutterstock / Mitriakova Valeriia)