WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that makes it easier for users to recognize the latest message on Android. The app shows a small thumbnail next to the label for photos, videos, and stickers when they are the latest message shared in the conversation. This gives users a quick preview of the content without opening the conversation.
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WhatsApp released draft messages in the chat list
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.20.24 update, we announced a new feature that displays draft messages in the chat list. When users type a message without sending it and go back to the chat list, a “Draft” label appears next to the conversation. As a result, users no longer need to open their chats to check if they have left any messages unfinished. Instead, WhatsApp will show the draft message directly in the Chats tab. This feature helps users keep track of their conversations that have been left incomplete. With the introduction of the draft label, chats that contain an incomplete message are marked directly in the chat list, making it easier for users to identify them.
WhatsApp keeps improving message preview in the Chats tab
WhatsApp has been quietly adding more information to the chat list over time, and this new update follows the same direction. Now, WhatsApp is experimenting with a new feature that makes it simpler for users to understand what the latest message shared in a chat is without opening it. The new feature is available with the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.32.11 update, which is available on the Google Play Store. Specifically, WhatsApp is rolling out media previews directly in the chat list. The update focuses on photos, videos, and stickers.
How the chat list currently shows the last message
At the moment, the chat list shows a text preview of the last message in all conversation. If the last message is a text, users see its content. If it is a photo, they see the word “Photo”. If it is a video, they see “Video”, and so on for other media types. This works well for text messages, but for media it doesn’t give more information. Two conversations can both show “Photo” as the last message, and there is no way to tell which photo from the chat list alone. WhatsApp is now addressing this by introducing media thumbnails in the chat list.
Photos now appear with a thumbnail next to the message label
WhatsApp shows a small preview of the photo in the chat list when it’s the latest message shared in the conversation. The app still keeps the “Photo” label next to the thumbnail. So users can still identify the message type. The thumbnail is compact enough to fit alongside the existing layout without taking up more space. The preview is particularly useful when users want to see the latest photo received in a conversation but do not want to open it immediately.
Videos also get a visual preview in the chat list
The feature that shows a preview of the latest photo shared in a chat is not limited to images. The same feature also applies to videos. Just like with photos, WhatsApp also keeps the “Video” label next to the thumbnail. This makes it clearer that the content shared in the chat is a video rather than a photo. Users who recently received many videos in different chats will find it much easier to locate the right one.