The latest WhatsApp beta for iOS includes references to a revamped set of chat customization options, including animated wallpapers. Here are the details.

As spotted by WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp build available on TestFlight includes references to something they had already found on a recent WhatsApp beta for Android: new sets of chat themes divided into categories called Featured, Doodle, and Minimal.

According to the report, Doodle will offer wallpapers inspired by WhatsApp’s classic doodle pattern, while Minimal will use solid white or black backgrounds depending on whether light or dark mode is enabled. Featured, meanwhile, will include wallpapers with subtle motion.

Here’s WABetaInfo:

The Featured themes will bring something new to your conversations: animated wallpapers. However, WhatsApp made a deliberate choice about how fast they move. In particular, the animation will be slow and gradual. Just enough to make the background feel dynamic without drawing attention away from the conversation. This is a good decision since a faster animation would create different problems. It could distract users from reading their messages, since motion may draw the eye. In addition, rapid movement on screen can be uncomfortable for people with certain accessibility needs. This is not a technical limitation. Instead, WhatsApp decided to keep the movement subtle to maintain the conversation in focus.

The site also notes that chat bubble colors will vary depending on the wallpaper, with WhatsApp selecting them automatically rather than letting users customize them separately.

WABetaInfo says the feature is still under development and not yet available to beta testers. However, with WhatsApp now working on it for both iOS and Android, it may not be long before some beta testers begin seeing it ahead of a wider release.

To read WABetaInfo’s full report, follow this link.

• Geoffrey Cain – ‘Steve Jobs in Exile’
• David Pogue – ’Apple: The First 50 Years’
• MacBook Neo
• Logitech MX Master 4
• AirPods Pro 3
• AirTag (2nd Generation) – 4 Pack
• Apple Watch Series 11
• Wireless CarPlay adapter