iPhone users in Spain and Europe are starting to notice significant changes in your WhatsApp chats. The latest batch of emojis approved by the Unicode Consortium It has begun to arrive on Apple devices via iOS 26.4, first in beta form and very soon in a stable version.
With this update, the iPhone keyboard catches up with the international standard and allows The new WhatsApp emojis will look the same on iOS, Android, and Windows. and all other compatible platforms. There will no longer be blank squares or strange symbols when someone sends one of these icons from another mobile device.
What new emojis are coming to WhatsApp on iPhones?
The iOS 26.4 update, currently in its beta 4 for developers and public beta, incorporates the Unicode 17.0 approved icon pack. This translates into 8 completely new emojis which can now be tested on WhatsApp and other messaging apps installed on the iPhone:
- Distorted facewith exaggerated features and bulging eyes for extreme reactions.
- Fighting Cloud Comic book style, that classic whirlwind with punches and kicks.
- hairy creature, a kind of Bigfoot or Sasquatch, designed for all kinds of symbolic uses.
- Orca, the whale that many users missed on the keyboard.
- Trombone, which expands the repertoire of musical instruments.
- Treasure chest, full of coins, jewels and a crown, ideal for talking about prizes, savings or “loot”.
- Landslide or mudslidewith rocks falling down a hillside.
- Ballet dancer or dancerswith a gender-neutral option.
These icons are part of the batch of emoji that Unicode recently approved and that Apple has been implementing in iOS beta 26.4 4During the previous beta they still appeared as question marks, but now they show their final design on the iPhone keyboard and are displayed correctly in WhatsApp as long as the recipient also has a compatible version.
In addition to these additions, Apple is activating full support for Emoji 17.0 with Unicode 17.0This sets the standard that other platforms will follow to ensure that chats maintain visual consistency.
Over 150 skin tone and gender variations to personalize your messages
The new features aren't limited to the new icons. With iOS 26.4, Apple introduces approximately 150 new skin tone variations and greater diversity in existing emojis. This is especially noticeable in:
- The people fightingwhich can now be configured with different skin colors.
- The figures with rabbit ears, widely used in festive and leisure contexts.
- The emoji of ballet dancerwhich includes a gender-neutral version.
This expansion responds both to user requests and to the diversity agenda that Unicode and Apple have been promoting it for several years.In practice, this means that WhatsApp will allow users to send much more precise combinations of characters, avoiding the need to always resort to the generic yellow version or a single gender representation.
Although some of these changes may generate debate, the official goal of the Unicode Consortium is that Anyone can see themselves reflected in emojis which you use daily. Apple adapts these guidelines with its own graphic design to integrate them seamlessly into the iOS keyboard.
When will you be able to use the new WhatsApp emojis on your iPhone?
As of today, the icons are already available in iOS beta 26.4 4This applies to both the developer version and the public beta. Any user with this version installed can see and use the new emojis in WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, and other compatible apps.
The stable version of iOS 26.4 is expected for late March or early AprilFollowing Apple's usual spring update schedule, once the update is released to everyone, simply installing it will integrate the emojis natively into the keyboard, without any additional steps.
If someone sends you one of these icons from the beta version or another system that already supports them, and your phone displays an empty box or a strange symbol, it's a clear sign that You haven't updated to iOS 26.4 yet.Once your iPhone receives the new version, both sending and receiving the new WhatsApp emojis will work seamlessly.
Compatibility with Android, Windows and other platforms
One of the key points of this update is that the new emojis are part of the unicode standardThis ensures they won't be limited to the Apple ecosystem. When Google, Microsoft, and other companies integrate Unicode 17 into their own systems, the icons will display correctly in:
- Mobile phones and tablets with Android.
- Computers with Windows.
- Other platforms that use the Unicode standard in their keyboards and fonts.
Meanwhile, Apple's own tools such as Genmoji (within Apple Intelligence) allows you to create custom icons from descriptions, but these creations aren't always universal. That's why official Unicode emojis remain the primary way to ensure that everyone sees the same thing, regardless of the device they use.
How to update your iPhone to get the new emojis on WhatsApp
To access the new WhatsApp emojis on your iPhone, you need to have the corresponding version of iOS installed. If you don't want to join the beta program and prefer to wait for the stable version, the process will be the same as usual when Apple releases iOS 26.4:
- Open the app Configuration on your iPhone.
- Sign in General> Software update.
- Wait for the system to search for the new version of iOS.
- Press on Download and install when iOS 26.4 comes out.
It is recommended to perform the download while connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and with sufficient battery or the iPhone plugged into a power source. Once the installation is complete and the device restarts, the new emojis will be automatically integrated into the system keyboard and available in WhatsApp and the rest of the apps who use the iOS emoji selector.
Those who prefer to get ahead and try them out early can register for the Apple public beta from the official website, although it is worth noting that trial versions may include minor bugs or last-minute design changes to the icons.
With this step, Apple reinforces the iPhone's role as a go-to device for everyday communication and adjusts the keyboard to meet current demands: More expressiveness, better representation, and full compatibility with platforms like WhatsAppwhere emojis have become, almost without us realizing it, a language shared by millions of people.
