WhatsApp is developing a new optional subscription that will provide access to exclusive premium features in a future release. This subscription will let users unlock extra capabilities, offering a richer experience beyond the standard app features.
| Key points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | WhatsApp Exclusive Features |
| Feature availability: | Some features announced in this article may be under development and not yet available to all beta testers, or they may be gradually rolling out to users. If you're unable to access a certain feature, you will need to wait for a future update. Keep reading for more information. |
| News shared last week: | WhatsApp is rolling out chat history sharing for new group members on iOS! |
| Previous article: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.4.11: what's new? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that shows how many times a channel update has been forwarded! |
Weekly WhatsApp Beta Updates: New Features and Improvements
This new weekly roundup brings together all the latest updates about WhatsApp beta shared this week. As a result, you can finally catch up on everything you might have missed from our past announcements. You can consider this summary as a way to stay informed about new features, improvements, and fixes. This week's highlight focuses on an optional subscription plan that will offer users access to exclusive premium features. See what else has been announced this week.
WhatsApp is working on thinking mode for Meta AI
WhatsApp is working to support the new thinking mode for Meta AI. It is built for deeper reasoning. When this mode is enabled, Meta AI takes more time to process the request so it can analyze context, break down complex problems, and produce more accurate or structured answers. Note that users can currently interact with Meta AI using the fast mode, which is particularly designed for speed, providing quick responses to simple questions and prompts. In the future, users will be able to choose which mode best suits their needs depending on whether they prioritize speed or deeper reasoning.
WhatsApp is working on an optional subscription plan with premium features
With the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.4.8 update, we announced that WhatsApp plans to provide access to a new subscription plan through a waitlist. The plan will include some premium features, such as exclusive stickers, app themes, the ability to pin more than 3 chats, app icon customization, and a dedicated set of new chat ringtones. This is just the first set of features, and more may be added over time as WhatsApp collects feedback. However, while this subscription plan remains under development, some features and details may be revised before the official release. Additionally, this premium subscription will be optional. This means that users won't be forced to subscribe unless they want an enhanced experience according to their preferences.
WhatsApp is working on status updates in channels on Android
WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow admins to share channel status updates. As a result, channel admins will be able to share images, videos, and voice messages as status updates directly into the channel. Like standard status updates, channel status updates will expire after 24 hours. This means channel admins will be able to share ephemeral content as status updates. This functionality will give creators more flexibility to connect with their audience in an ephemeral way.
WhatsApp is working on paid partnerships for channel updates
WhatsApp is developing a feature that would allow channel admins to mark their updates as paid partnerships. Channel creators can collaborate with businesses and brands to publish sponsored content on their channels. With this functionality, channel admins can label these updates as a paid partnership so followers clearly understand it is sponsored content. Once added, the promotional label cannot be removed. To remove it, the channel admin will have to delete the channel update for everyone and publish it again without the paid partnership label. Adding this label to a status update will ensure transparency between channel creators and their audience.
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that displays recent chat searches
Following the release of the WhatsApp for Android 2.26.3.80 update, some users can explore a recent searches section directly in the Chats tab. Similar to the one available in the Updates tab, this section provides an overview of recent searches. This means that when users search for a contact or group, WhatsApp stores the search locally in the device and makes it available for later reference. This improvement helps users quickly return to conversations without needing to repeat the same searches.
WhatsApp is rolling out statistics for forwarded channel updates
The WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.4.11 update lets some channel admins see how many times their updates were forwarded. The number of times a channel update has been forwarded will appear next to the forward button, alongside the emojis followers used to react to the update. It is worth noting that followers won't be able to see how many times a channel update has been forwarded, as this analytics tool is reserved for channel admins. This information can help channel admins understand which content has been the most engaging. Based on this information, they can create and share similar content to encourage more forwards.
WhatsApp is widely rolling out strict account settings on iOS and Android
WhatsApp has announced strict account settings for Android and iOS users. With this functionality, users can quickly activate the strongest security protections with a single toggle. While it simplifies account security for everyone, it also ensures robust protection for users at higher risk of targeted attacks. For most people, WhatsApp's standard protections already provide strong security. Enabling this option is mainly recommended for those users who want extra security. WhatsApp is also announcing the adoption of Rust, a memory-safe programming language used to enhance media handling libraries. This provides more protections against malware hidden in seemingly harmless files.
Stay tuned with us to discover new features and updates about WhatsApp coming your way next week. We will continue tracking all the latest beta releases, improvements, and bug fixes so you never miss a thing. Make sure to check back regularly and stay ahead with the newest ways to enhance your WhatsApp experience.
Stay Connected with WABetaInfo
Following WABetaInfo on X is the best way to stay informed about new features under development and those released to WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web, and Desktop. We love hearing your feedback, so let us know what you think! You can also explore our dedicated page to discover all our services, or join our Discord Server to chat with others, get help and advice, and stay up to date with the latest WABetaInfo announcements.