Whatsapp unleashes colorful new emojis, but not for everyone

WhatsApp has rolled out a fresh batch of emojis, expanding its emoticon arsenal with a slew of new faces and symbols. The update, which incorporates Unicode 17.0, brings a host of dynamic and expressive icons to the messaging platform.

Emoji extravaganza

The star of the show is undoubtedly the distorted face emoji, perfect for conveying a sense of dizziness, extreme confusion, or when a situation gets overwhelmingly chaotic. Inspired by comic book style, the 'fighting cloud' emoji features a puffy cloud with stars bursting out, ideal for illustrating a heated discussion or impending conflict.

Other noteworthy additions include the 'land sliding away' symbol, initially designed for depicting natural disasters, but sure to be used colloquially to indicate a situation spiraling out of control. The 'hairy creature' emoji, reminiscent of mythical beasts like Bigfoot or the yeti, will add a touch of whimsy and humor to conversations.

A treasure trove of new symbols is also on offer, including ballet shoes, a trombone, and a chest overflowing with gold and jewels. For ocean enthusiasts, the sleek orca whale emoji makes a welcome debut, just in time for summer.

However, not all users can enjoy these vibrant new emojis yet. Since Apple only publicly released iOS 26.4, which includes native support for Unicode 17.0, WhatsApp has been able to integrate the new icons exclusively on Android devices running the beta version 2.26.13.5. A gradual rollout is expected to bring this colorful update to the masses soon.

For those eager to try out the new emojis, simply open a chat, access the native WhatsApp keyboard, and explore the categorized emojis. If you're part of the beta testing program, you're in luck – but for the rest, patience is a virtue. After all, as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.