There is no better messaging app for Android. Whatsapp remains the clear leader in that space after consistently updating its app and always striving to improve the user experience. The app continues to converge in terms of design and functionality with other Meta-owned platforms like Instagram and Meneger. The latest update has notable tweaks: global to the stable channel users and the redesigned icons on the attachment sheet.
What’s New in the Attachment Sheet?
Facebook’s attachment sheet shows how you would share documents, locations, and contacts here using the paperclip icon in the message field that appears when you tap the paperclip icon. First, these icons were round in style with white lines on solid-colored backgrounds. They have been replaced (for version 2.25.1.75 and above) with more square icons with round corners (squircles) filled with colour.
It takes the company off the beaten path of its iOS look and taste. It is another piece of the transition efforts Meta is making to create a seamless experience across platforms.
A Long-Awaited Update
The new icon is a work in progress. Sightings of those early prototypes rolled out in early 2023 and continued in the beta builds later on in the year. WABetaInfo in October 2023, the most recent appearance was in version 2.24.21.29.
Nearly two years after that redesign was first noted, the update is finally reaching stable users worldwide. More reports have surfaced about users in India and Canada receiving the update, with the latest hinting at the software being made available across Android via the Play Store. If you have not updated to the newest version of WhatsApp, you should render that change.
Why the New Icons Matter
The redesigned icons might not seem like much, but they can really help improve the overall experience with the app. They enable the squircles to have a modern look and use art colors inside to better differentiate the chosen option between Document, Gallery, and Location.
It will make WhatsApp’s Android version more similar to what its iOS counterpart looks like, which is Meta’s plan to have similar app looks across platforms. Having that consistency guarantee means it is easy for the user to switch between devices if they are mobile or already on one piece of equipment.
How to Get the Update
The new icons are rolled out to the stable build of WhatsApp from versions 2.25.1.75 and 2.25.1.76 respectively. To check if you have the latest update:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for WhatsApp.
- If there is a new version, tap on Update.
If you do not mind early access, go for the beta program on the Play Store. If you are sideloading from trusted sources such as APKMirror, you can sideload the latest APK.
Looking Ahead
Updates like this are the first step in a bigger game plan to rework WhatsApp’s user interface. As Android is gaining more consistency in design compared to iOS, this can be expected in the future.
The new icons are good enough for now, adding a little something while maintaining the app’s intuitive functionality. The revamped attachment sheet may just be a taste of the modernity you should impart to the experience of sending a document, your location, or a photo.
Ethan Cole is a tech aficionado dedicated to exploring the latest innovations and gadgets, providing reviews and insights to keep you updated in the tech world.
Please send WhatsApp code I can’t receive why?