WhatsApp Begins Testing Companion App for Apple Watch

WhatsApp has started testing a new companion app for Apple Watch, marking its first significant step toward deeper smartwatch integration. The update, currently available through TestFlight, comes with WhatsApp for iOS beta version 25.32.10.71.

The new companion app enables Apple Watch users to view their WhatsApp chat list, read messages, and check shared media directly from their wrists. It also lets users send new messages without waiting for notifications and react to messages using emojis.

In addition, the app supports voice input, allowing users to dictate or send audio messages conveniently. However, the experience still depends on a connected iPhone with WhatsApp installed, as this version functions as a companion app rather than a standalone one.

Even with this limitation, the move represents meaningful progress for WhatsApp on Apple’s wearable platform. The existing experience has long felt restricted, but this update hints at broader capabilities coming in future versions.

For now, the companion app remains in testing, and there’s no official timeline for when it will be available to all users through the App Store.