- WhatsApp will no longer support Android 4.4
- This is indicated by WABetaInfo, which searched a beta version of the application for Android
- Android 4.4 is very (very) old, but it still has users
WhatsApp is an application used by more than 2 billion people in the world. And for a person whose WhatsApp is one of the most useful apps, a smartphone that no longer supports this app is a smartphone that is no longer useful. Unfortunately, Meta’s messaging service must periodically stop supporting Android or iOS versions for security or compatibility reasons. It is also possible that WhatsApp wants to focus on the most popular and recent versions, so as not to disperse.
If you are still using a smartphone running Android 4.4 or Android KitKat, you will unfortunately be among those who can no longer use WhatsApp (unless you find an update, or change your smartphone). In a recent article, the WABetaInfo site indicates that WhatsApp recently released a new beta version of its Android application (version 2.23.9.2).
Android 4.4 soon released by WhatsApp?
And this new beta version would indicate that WhatsApp is preparing to no longer support Android version 4.4. Soon, to use messaging, it would be necessary to have a smartphone running at least Android 5.0. It is important to remember that Android 4.4 is a very old version of Google’s operating system, which was presented 10 years ago. But contrary to what one might think, there are still many people who use this version.
The latest official Android fragmentation data was released in January 2023 and indicates that Android 4.4 is used by less than 1% of OS users. That may not seem like a lot in terms of proportion, but at the scale of Android, less than 1% still equates to a significant number of users. As a reminder, the most recent version of Android is currently Android 13, launched in 2022. And Google is already beta testing Android 14, which it should launch this fall.
A small design change for WhatsApp
Note that the abandonment of Android 4.4 is not the only change on WhatsApp observed by WABetaInfo. According to this, the messaging app is also preparing a change to the app’s keyboard interface. In essence, this change could make WhatsApp more convenient for those who use emojis often.
? WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.9.2: what’s new?
• WhatsApp is working on a redesigned keyboard.
• The application seems to no longer be compatible with Android versions below 5.0.
• Some users may experience an issue with the splash screen. pic.twitter.com/uHKijepXnK— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) April 19, 2023
In a previous beta version, WABetaInfo had also discovered a project to modify the WhatsApp interface for sending attachments.
