WhatsApp is testing a redesigned navigation bar for its Android app, with early development showing a more rounded interface and a new place for Meta AI. The changes are still unfinished and may take several weeks before they are ready for a wider release.

The update was spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.38.10, according to WABetaInfo. The report says the current build offers an early look at the redesign rather than a final version, so the layout and placement of individual elements could still change.

Meta AI may move into the navigation bar

One of the most notable changes is the apparent integration of Meta AI into the navigation bar. In the current Android app, Meta AI is presented through a floating button positioned above the compose button. The test design suggests that it could instead become a dedicated item within the bottom navigation bar.

The preview reportedly shows the Meta AI button in two locations, which highlights the incomplete state of the experiment. One placement appears in the navigation bar, while another remains in the existing floating position. WhatsApp may remove the duplicate before the redesign reaches a public release.

A more rounded and transparent Android interface

The navigation bar itself is taking on a more oval-shaped design, with greater transparency than the current version. Its appearance is somewhat closer to WhatsApp’s navigation treatment on iOS, although the Android version does not appear to use the same degree of transparency.

The redesign is also expected to include a dark mode variation. That means the visual changes will apply across both of WhatsApp’s primary appearance settings, although the available testing material does not establish whether other parts of the app will change at the same time.

When could the redesign arrive?

For now, the updated navigation bar is limited to a beta build and is not available as a confirmed public feature. WhatsApp routinely tests interface changes with a smaller group of users before deciding whether to release them broadly.

Because this version is described as an early development design, the final navigation bar could look different or use a different arrangement. The most immediate takeaway is that WhatsApp is exploring a more modern Android layout while giving Meta AI a more prominent place in the app’s main navigation.