WhatsApp’s swipeable navigation bar is finally official
0WhatsApp’s swipeable navigation bar is finally official
WhatsApp has been busy this month, introducing several functional and visual updates to enhance the app's design. As March draws to a close, Meta has announced that WhatsApp's new navigation bar design is here to stay, even on the stable channel. However, the work for beta testers is far from over, as they have spotted a new feature that suggests contacts for users to chat with.
WhatsApp has been testing a new navigation bar design for approximately a year. Beta testers first noticed the change, which aligned with Google's Material Design guidelines. However, WhatsApp quickly reverted the change, only to reintroduce it in June and September 2023, before it was spotted again last week.
Last week's beta test of the new bottom bar design seemed more final, as it was also observed on linked Android phones, which were previously unaffected by the tests. Now, WhatsApp has officially confirmed the change with an announcement on X (formerly Twitter). The new tab bar is fixed at the bottom of the screen and includes four tabs: Chats, Updates, Communities, and Calls. This is a change from the old tab bar, which had a smaller tab for Communities and larger ones for Chats, Status, and Calls, in that order.
WhatsApp states that the new bottom bar design is closer to users' thumbs, making it easier to reach. It also supports swiping sideways to switch between tabs. The app changelog on the Play Store has been updated, and the feature is already rolling out on most devices.
Exciting features are still in the pipeline for the beta community. For example, WABetaInfo recently discovered that the app is developing a new Suggested contacts section in the Chats tab. After examining the latest Play Store beta for WhatsApp (version 2.24.7.23), testers found a section dedicated to suggesting new contacts for users to chat with.
This section is located at the bottom of the list of active chats, where few users may ever look, given WhatsApp's importance in some markets. However, it could be beneficial for someone setting up a new WhatsApp account. Since the feature is still under development, the final implementation may differ. However, it would be useful if this addition appeared for a short time after saving a new contact on WhatsApp or the device dialer app.
Update your WhatsApp to experience the new navigation bar design and stay tuned for the upcoming 'Suggested contacts' feature.