I don’t understand the point of WhatsApp Desktop - the only benefit I can see is that you can type with a real keyboard. Many of the settings available on mobile aren’t available on Mac either. I thought the desktop app would improve the media browsing, which it does not. I wanted to use this seamlessly with the Photos app, dragging and dropping images each way, which I can’t. I expected I could use this independently of my mobile, which I can’t. I expected to be able to update my status from the desktop app, which I can’t. I wanted to use this for video calls from my Mac, which I can’t. Note that some features might not work as expected, though, as this is still a fresh, unstable beta.It amazes me that a desktop app could be significantly less powerful and capable than a mobile app. If you're interested in getting your hands on it, you can join the beta on TestFlight - before the empty slots run out. Those who use an iPhone will find this new macOS version more familiar to them than the previous one. The UI elements of the revamped WhatsApp for Mac matches those of the iOS app.

Finally, on the right, there's the conversation view where you actually chat with others. In the middle bar you get the chat list where you can hop between conversations. This sidebar houses the tabs you might find yourself needing the most - such as Chats, Calls, Settings, and more. On the left, you now get a sidebar that you can hide through the dedicated button in the top left corner. The app now looks more in line with the rest of the system. As the screenshot above reveals, this version ditches the user interface (UI) of WhatsApp Web and introduces an all-new design that better matches that of macOS. This version utilizes Apple's Catalyst technology and supports the company's silicon natively.

WhatsApp has launched a new beta program for its Mac client on TestFlight.

Whatsapp web for mac