A new WhatsApp redesign could render existing floating action buttons obsolete

WhatsApp for Android is rolling out a new update that could make it easier and faster to post status updates from the dedicated Updates tab. The new version 2.23.26.13 of the app, still in beta, features a redesign that essentially makes floating action buttons obsolete.

In its current version, WhatsApp for Android has two floating action buttons (FAB) at the bottom right of the screen, which must be pressed for a user to post a text or image. However, with the implementation of Channels and its introduction to the Updates tab, clicking these buttons has become less consistent. In fact, the publications of the followed channels overlapped the FABs, which made their unintentional exploitation easier.

However, an image published by WABetaInfo displays two new icons, a camera icon and a pencil icon, located in the status header that completely replace the FABs. These two icons can be used for faster and seamless sharing of GIFs, text or images between contacts. The redesign aims to improve the overall user experience.

As an additional note, WABetaInfo suggests that some users may be able to test a different redesign, where both new icons will be added to FABs. Additionally, even though the redesign is expected with version 2.23.26.13 of the app, some users may be lucky enough to get the updated look with the previous version. The new look should be more widely available in the coming days.

While the update is likely just a minor interface change, WhatsApp recently added a new feature that should have been there a long time ago: pinned messages.

As you might have guessed, this feature allows users to easily find important messages by placing them at the top. Currently, the app allows a user to pin a message to the top of a conversation for 24 hours, seven days, or a month.