WhatsApp launches new UI redesign with 'darker dark mode', better attachment layout & more

WhatsApp is launching a new update featuring a full UI redesign, including a new "darker dark mode" with a revamped color palette of deeper tones designed to reduce eye strain in low-light conditions. Over 35 colors were considered to improve readability and aesthetic appeal.

The update further improves the dark mode option, now offering a darker shade for easier message reading in different lighting conditions. Android users receive a native bottom navigation bar for the first time, previously only available to iOS users, allowing quicker access to chats, updates, communities, and calls.

For iOS users, the update improves the attachment layout, replacing the full-screen menu with an expandable tray for clearer options when sending media, polls, documents, etc. Alongside the UI redesign, WhatsApp is also updating its icons to a rounded, outlined style, and refreshing the default background in chats to enhance the visual appeal of the user interface.