whatsappWhatsApp received an update this morning that adds official support for the larger display on Apple's iPhone XS Max, as well as some other improvements and new clues on what's next for the messaging platform.

Prior to today's update, the WhatsApp interface didn't scale properly on the 2,688 x 1,242 resolution screen exclusive to Apple's new 6.5-inch device, but happily the issue has been fixed in this update and the UI now takes full advantage of the larger OLED display.

Elsewhere in this version (2.18.100), WhatsApp has introduced a redesigned contextual action menu for message bubbles in chat threads. Previously, a long press on a message would bring up a horizontal popup menu similar to the one found elsewhere in iOS.

whatsapp message menu

Old message action menu (left) versus redesigned menu

In contrast, the new vertical menu masks the background to highlight the selected message and allows more options to be shown in the first popup, with an ellipsis replacing the arrow button to reveal additional actions.

Elsewhere, consecutive voice messages now play in sequence, so users no longer have to tap play on each message. The latest update also adds new reply options to user status messages, with documents, voice messages, locations and vCards being added to the existing text, images, GIFs and videos.

In addition to these changes, WABetaInfo has uncovered alpha code in the latest version suggesting future features for the app will include an optional Dark Mode and the ability to preview videos in WhatsApp notifications.

alpha dark mode whatsapp

Image via WABetaInfo

In the hidden Dark Mode, incoming messages currently have a dark gray color and outgoing messages are dark green, but it's worth noting that the theme is still in early testing and may look very different when the Dark Mode officially goes live.

WhatsApp is a free download for iPhone available from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

vmachiel Avatar
87 months ago
Thomas, post: 26685856, member: 1021539"]Following up with Telegram, but most likely they'll fail to implement the automatic switching...
I don't understand why so many people stick with WA...
You try convincing all of you friends to switch, and your friends’ friends to switch and so on..
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BvizioN Avatar
87 months ago
To me, dark mode seems a bit overrated!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacFan23 Avatar
87 months ago
I still hate that I can't use this on my iPad.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
[AUT] Thomas Avatar
87 months ago
Following up with Telegram, but most likely they'll fail to implement the automatic switching...
I don't understand why so many people stick with WA...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BigMcGuire Avatar
87 months ago
How long does it take to implement dark mode? :/ One of the last apps to do so (that I use). Hate WhatsApp with a passion, but like others stated here.... try convincing a horde of family/friends to switch to something else.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
makr Avatar
87 months ago
Thomas, post: 26685856, member: 1021539"]Following up with Telegram, but most likely they'll fail to implement the automatic switching...
I don't understand why so many people stick with WA...
I have both installed, almost all my friends have WhatsApp, whereas only 6 of my contacts have Telegram.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in Three Months With These 12 New Features

Saturday June 14, 2025 5:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of June 2025:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Monday June 16, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...
Logitech Logo Feature

Logitech Announces Two New Accessories for WWDC

Friday June 13, 2025 7:22 am PDT by
Alongside WWDC this week, Logitech announced notable new accessories for the iPad and Apple Vision Pro. The Logitech Muse is a spatially-tracked stylus developed for use with the Apple Vision Pro. Introduced during the WWDC 2025 keynote address, Muse is intended to support the next generation of spatial computing workflows enabled by visionOS 26. The device incorporates six degrees of...
iPadOS 26 App Windowing

Apple Explains Why iPads Don't Just Run macOS

Friday June 13, 2025 7:46 am PDT by
iPadOS 26 allows iPads to function much more like Macs, with a new app windowing system, a swipe-down menu bar at the top of the screen, and more. However, Apple has stopped short of allowing iPads to run macOS, and it has now explained why. In an interview this week with Swiss tech journalist Rafael Zeier, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that iPadOS 26's new Mac-like ...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday June 12, 2025 8:58 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
terminal macos tahoe

Apple's Terminal App Gets Colorful Redesign in macOS Tahoe

Monday June 16, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's Terminal app is getting a visual refresh in macOS Tahoe, and it's the first notable design update since the command-line tool debuted. The updated Terminal will support 24-bit color and Powerline fonts, according to Apple's State of the Platforms presentation at WWDC25. The app will also adopt the new Liquid Glass aesthetic with redesigned themes that align with macOS 26's broader...
iOS 26 Feature

Apple Seeds Revised iOS 26 Developer Beta to Fix Battery Issue

Friday June 13, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with a revised version of the first iOS 26 beta for testing purposes. The update is only available for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, so if you're running iOS 26 on an iPhone 14 or earlier, you won't see the revised beta. Registered developers can download the new beta software through the Settings app on each device. The revised beta addresses an...
apple watch ultra snow

6 Features Coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 3

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:00 am PST by
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to launch later this year, arriving two years after the previous model with a series of improvements. While no noticeable design changes are expected for the third generation since the company tends to stick with the same Apple Watch design through three generations before changing it, there are a series of internal upgrades on the way. By the time the ...