It’s not often that we talk about UI changes in WhatsApp, but the latest such update adds more rounded chat bubbles to the main messaging experience.
As initially reported WABetaInfoThe chat bubble aesthetic that has been used for several years and was synonymous with speech bubbles is being abandoned in favor of more rounded messages according to the v2.2.6.10.2 update for Android.
All angles are softened with this change, which undoubtedly represents a more modern visual element for our smartphones. Because the “tail” of the speech bubble is eliminated, messages are also better aligned with the side of the screen, eliminating unnecessary dead space and cleaning up random indentations.
Whether it is part of the enshittification of almost all existing applications, according to WABetaInfoMeta is introducing a “Premium” tier to WhatsApp that will allow for things like custom app icons, unique app themes and ringtones, and the ability to pin more chats than is currently possible on the standard free tier.
If you are a beta user, you may see a banner or sticker at the top of the Settings section that will allow you to join the Premium tier waitlist. This is not required, but those who are happy to pay another subscription will get access on day one when the plan launches. It’s unclear when this will happen, but if you care, you have the option.
After years of struggling to monetize WhatsApp, this could be a way for Meta to finally start earning cash from the billions of daily active power users. That said, it seems like a terrible way to add these kinds of features, but at least we’re getting rounded chat bubbles when using WhatsApp on mobile, right?
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