WhatsApp on Galaxy devices is about to get more colorful. The Meta-owned messaging app is testing vibrant icons for chat heads. This update adds a splash of color to otherwise bland icons for contacts and groups without profile pictures. The new feature is currently available for beta users and should go global in the coming weeks.
WhatsApp tests colorful chat heads for Android users
The ever-reliable WhatsApp insiders at WABetaInfo spotted an interesting new change in the latest beta version, 2.24.24.12. The company added colorful icons for contacts, group chats, and communities that do not have a profile picture. The messaging service currently shows a plain grey icon, which looks the same for everyone.
With the new update, however, these placeholders are replaced by colorful icons. This enhances visual clarity and makes it easier to identify different chats quickly. You can color-code chats for later reference. This color-coding system resembles the one in Android’s native address book, giving Android users a familiar touch.
These new icons are only available for chats without a profile picture for obvious reasons: you’ll see the profile picture if available. Hopefully, it also works for chats where profile pictures aren’t visible due to restricted settings. WhatsApp will seemingly assign a distinctive color-coded icon to that contact on its own. You may not be able to configure those manually.
WhatsApp is also testing a new color theme feature that allows users to customize the app’s primary color. In light mode, the traditional green will be replaced by a sleek black theme, while dark mode uses white as the primary accent color. These changes aim to enhance readability, while simultaneously giving the app a minimalist and user-friendly design.
This colorful WhatsApp update is currently limited to beta users. You can sign up for the beta program here or wait until the changes roll out to the stable version. Keep WhatsApp updated on your Galaxy phone to receive the latest features and enhancements.
