WhatsApp beta hints at animated wallpapers and new chat themes

The new features were spotted by WABetaInfo in the most recent WhatsApp build for iOS available through TestFlight. The report says the update includes new chat theme sets divided into categories called Featured, Doodle, and Minimal. These same categories had previously been found in a recent WhatsApp beta for Android.

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, according to the report, will include wallpapers with subtle motion.

WABetaInfo describes the animated wallpapers as deliberately slow and gradual, saying the movement is just enough to make the background feel dynamic without drawing attention away from the conversation. The site notes that faster animation could distract users from reading messages and might be uncomfortable for people with certain accessibility needs. It calls this a deliberate choice rather than a technical limitation.

The report also indicates that chat bubble colors will vary depending on the wallpaper, with WhatsApp selecting them automatically rather than allowing users to customize them separately.

WABetaInfo says the feature is still under development and not yet available to beta testers. With WhatsApp working on it for both iOS and Android, the site suggests some beta testers could see it before a wider release.