WhatsApp is testing a redesigned interface for its Android app.
According to the media reports, a new interface is under development, with a more rounded, floating appearance and possible changes to the placement of Meta AI.
The changes have been spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.38.10, although the redesigned interface is not currently available to regular beta testers.
The new navigation bar is visually separated from the bottom edge of the screen, giving it a floating appearance. Its corners are also more rounded than the existing design.
The updated interface appears to bring the Android version closer in appearance to WhatsApp’s navigation system on iOS, although the Android design uses less transparency.
The redesign is being tested in both light and dark modes, with the differences currently more noticeable in the light theme.
The latest interface also suggests that Meta AI could eventually have a dedicated position within WhatsApp’s main navigation bar.
WhatsApp has previously experimented with placing Meta AI directly in the Android navigation bar, including versions where the AI service appeared as a central destination for related features.
The company has also tested other navigation arrangements in recent months, including changes involving Contacts, Communities and Updates.
Screenshots from the latest development build show Meta AI appearing in more than one part of the interface. This suggests WhatsApp is still experimenting with how the service should be integrated.
The changes are part of a broader series of interface tests being carried out by WhatsApp as it develops its Android app.
For now, the redesigned navigation bar remains under development. WhatsApp has not announced when, or whether, the new design will be released more widely.
The layout could therefore change further before it reaches beta testers or becomes available to the public.
