WhatsApp beta updates iPad app with Liquid Glass design
WhatsApp's beta app for iPad now features Liquid Glass design with rounded corners, translucent menus, and a frosted-glass blur effect, aligning with Meta's push for visual consistency across devices.
WhatsApp has quietly rolled out its Liquid Glass design to iPad users testing the beta app, bringing rounded corners, translucent menus and a frosted-
Read Full Story at 9to5Mac →Why This Matters
WhatsApp’s adoption of Liquid Glass design for iPad signals Meta’s escalating push to unify its ecosystem under a single visual language, even as fragmentation persists across platforms. For users, this means a more polished experience but also raises questions about whether consistency will come at the cost of feature parity with native iPad apps. The move reflects a broader industry trend where tech giants prioritize aesthetic cohesion over platform-specific optimizations.
Background Context
Meta’s Liquid Glass design—first introduced in WhatsApp’s iOS redesign—draws inspiration from Apple’s own translucent UI elements, blending frosted glass effects with rounded corners. Historically, WhatsApp’s iPad app lagged behind its mobile counterparts, relying on a stretched smartphone interface. This shift aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to leverage design as a competitive differentiator, especially as it competes with Apple’s native apps in messaging and social features.
What Happens Next
If the beta proves stable, WhatsApp may roll out Liquid Glass to all iPad users, but challenges remain in ensuring the design adapts to multitasking and split-screen modes unique to tablets. Observers should watch for user feedback on performance lag from the blur effects, as well as whether Meta extends the redesign to WhatsApp’s Android or web versions. Regulatory scrutiny of Meta’s design choices could also arise if the changes are perceived as anti-competitive in the messaging space.
Bigger Picture
This is part of a wider industry move toward "liquid" or dynamic UI systems that blur the line between apps and operating systems, as seen in Google’s Material You and Apple’s Ventura redesigns. As cross-platform apps dominate, the battle for user retention is increasingly fought in the realm of feel and fluidity rather than raw functionality. For tech giants, design consistency has become a proxy for ecosystem loyalty in an era where switching costs are plummeting.
