Illustration of WhatsApp’s tested Android bottom navigation redesign with a floating, rounded bar treatment.
WhatsApp is testing a redesigned bottom navigation bar on Android in beta version 2.26.38.10, giving the app a more floating look with rounded corners and extra space from the bottom edge of the screen. The change makes the Android interface look closer to the iPhone version at a glance, but it does not turn the app into an iOS copy. For now, this is still an early development build rather than a public rollout, and regular beta testers on Google Play cannot access it yet.
Android bottom bar gets a more iPhone-like look
The visible change is concentrated in the Android app’s bottom navigation bar. Instead of sitting more directly against the lower edge of the display, the bar appears lifted slightly with a rounded, floating treatment that creates more separation from the screen border. That spacing change is the clearest visual cue in the redesign, alongside the softened corners.
The new look pushes WhatsApp’s Android app closer to the visual style users already know from iPhone, but the design still follows Android conventions rather than mirroring iOS outright. That distinction matters because the test is about surface presentation, not platform convergence. Users looking for new controls or a different app structure are unlikely to find that here.
A second pass on the same navigation area
This is not WhatsApp’s first recent rethink of Android navigation. In 2023, the company moved its main sections to the bottom of the screen, a more structural shift that changed where users accessed core areas of the app. The latest test revisits that same part of the interface, but with a narrower goal.
This time, WhatsApp is changing the shape and spacing of the bar rather than the navigation model itself. The core sections stay in the same general area, so the update reads as a visual refresh instead of a full interface reset. If it ships, most Android users would mainly notice a different look at the bottom of the app rather than any new navigation behavior.
Rollout remains limited, and the final design is still open
The redesign is still in early development and has not reached the regular WhatsApp beta channel on Google Play. There is also no official release date, which leaves open whether this exact version of the bar will ship more widely or change further before release. At this stage, the safest concrete expectation is that WhatsApp is still experimenting with the presentation.
One smaller detail is how differently the test reads across themes. The floating treatment stands out more clearly in light mode, where the extra spacing and rounded container are easier to notice. In dark mode, the redesign is less visually pronounced, which means some users may not immediately register the change even if it eventually rolls out more broadly.
Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only.
About the author
Samarth Agrawal is an AI and technology professional who writes about WhatsApp, automation, and emerging AI trends. He focuses on simplifying complex tech updates into practical insights for businesses, creators, and everyday users
