WhatsApp trials green circle highlight in Android navigation bar

WhatsApp is testing a new Android navigation bar that swaps the existing pill‑shaped highlight for a green circular marker behind the active icon. The change appeared in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.41.7, where the floating bottom bar shows the circular indicator inside the experimental layout. Earlier trials introduced a rounded‑corner bar that floated above the screen, and a version that removed text labels, leaving only icons for Chats, Updates, Communities and Calls. In the previous design the pill extended horizontally behind the selected tab; the new design keeps the highlight close to the icon, creating a tighter visual cue. The tighter cue may reduce visual clutter and bring the Android look closer to WhatsApp’s iOS interface, suggesting a push for cross‑platform consistency. If label‑free navigation is adopted, the circular marker would help users tell which section they are in, relying on familiar icons instead of text. The update is still experimental, not yet rolled out to regular users or beta testers, and could change before any official release. Meta advises users to install updates only through Google Play and avoid unofficial builds that could threaten privacy.

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Such UI tweaks aim to align the Android app with the iOS version and follow a broader trend where apps use icon‑only navigation bars to free up screen space while keeping the active area clear for users.