WhatsApp beta for tablets uses split ‘WhatsApp Web layout’

The split view was spotted in a WhatsApp beta for Android tablets. This is a layout that is already available in WhatsApp Web, but not yet on similar displays such as those on tablets or foldables.

WABetaInfo reports that this will happen from beta version 2.23.5.9. Not every tester will receive that version, so it may have to wait a while until it arrives. A screenshot shows that the list of conversations and the content of the selected conversation are shown at the same time, which is a much more efficient way of showing information than showing only the conversation list or only the content of a conversation.

WhatsApp on tablets is not a standalone application. It functions just like WhatsApp Web, but in the form of an app instead of a web page. Registration with a QR code is required before the app works.

WhatsApp and WABetaInfo don’t give a release date for this functionality, but the fact that it’s now more or less publicly available to beta testers implies that it shouldn’t be very long before everyone can use this feature. Foldables run on the smartphone version of WhatsApp, but it seems likely that they can also get the new layout.