Meta, the parent company behind WhatsApp, is planning a significant change to the Windows version of the popular messaging app. According to Windows Latest, the current native Windows app—which is built using the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) framework—is being replaced by a simplified version that essentially acts as a web wrapper. This new app uses Microsoft Edge’s Chromium-based WebView2 technology to display WhatsApp’s web interface inside a desktop app window.
In practical terms, this means the new WhatsApp for Windows will feel more like the web app wrapped inside a lightweight browser shell rather than a fully native application. While this approach makes the interface simpler and more uniform across platforms, it also results in trade-offs. Users can expect a pared-down experience with fewer customization options, a revamped notification system that may not integrate as seamlessly with Windows, and overall weaker integration with native Windows features.
Despite these compromises, the beta version of this new WhatsApp app does bring some added features, including support for WhatsApp Channels along with enhanced Status and Communities functionalities—features that aim to boost user engagement and content discovery within the app.
Performance-wise, early tests reveal that the new app consumes around 30% more RAM compared to the existing native app. It also shows signs of slower responsiveness, which could impact the user experience, especially on lower-end systems.
Meta’s motivation for this shift appears to be largely pragmatic: by standardizing development around a single web-based codebase, the company can streamline updates and deliver a consistent experience across Windows, Mac, and potentially other platforms without having to maintain separate, platform-specific apps. While this approach eases development and reduces resource expenditure, it raises questions about the trade-offs users must accept in terms of speed, efficiency, and Windows-specific features.
