The popular messaging app that millions of users have been waiting for: WhatsApp has launched its first official app for Apple smartwatches. The app is currently available to iOS beta users (version 25.32.10.71) via TestFlight, but it is expected to be released soon to all users worldwide.
Until now, Apple Watch users had to settle for notification messages only, without a real option to read conversations or reply. Now, the new version changes the picture and delivers an almost full experience on the wrist, although at this stage it still requires a connection to the iPhone.
The new capabilities on the smartwatch are relatively impressive: You can read full messages, reply via text, record voice responses, send emojis, and use quick reactions. In addition, you can access the list of recent chats, open pinned conversations, and manage disappearing messages – all directly from the watch, through an interface adapted for watchOS.
The new app also allows sending new voice messages, starting a direct chat with a contact, and maintaining the continuity of conversations, all displayed in a clean and clear layout suitable for the small screen. However, for now, the app requires the iPhone to be nearby, as it is still dependent on a connection to the main device.
This move marks another stage in the app’s expansion to new devices. Just a few months ago, WhatsApp launched its first dedicated app for iPads, after years of user requests. This integration now allows, for the first time, an almost complete ecosystem for Apple users – from iPhone, through iPad, to the watch on the wrist.
According to testers, this is an early-stage version but offers a stable and convenient user experience, with an interface that matches Apple’s design language and includes shortcuts for important chats. The next step, according to estimates, is expected to include the ability to use the watch independently, without a constant connection to the iPhone, similar to other music and navigation apps.
If there are no delays, the WhatsApp version for the watch is expected to be released to the public in the coming months, as part of a broad Apple system update and upcoming WhatsApp versions.