WhatsApp Officially Enters Apple Watch.. Messages and Voice Replies from the Wrist for the First Time

Meta has unexpectedly launched the dedicated version of WhatsApp for Apple Watch, in a move that expands the app's presence within the Apple ecosystem and gives users greater ability to communicate without having to return to their phone each time.

The new app allows for receiving notifications, reading messages, replying to them, and sending voice messages directly from the watch.


Features of the app on the watch

According to what Meta announced, the watch version supports displaying all messages in their full text, even the long ones, in addition to receiving call notifications, sending emojis as instant replies to messages, and providing a better display of images and stickers within conversations.

Users can also view the conversation history directly from the watch without needing to open the iPhone.

The company emphasized the continuation of full End-to-End Encryption as is practiced on the phone and web.


Usage Requirements

The app requires Apple Watch Series 4 or later, with watchOS 10 and above.


A Broader Context and a Clear Strategy

Although the announcement seemed surprising, WhatsApp's focus this year has been clear in expanding its presence within the Apple environment after launching the official iPad version, indicating a development roadmap beyond just a watch app.

In a quick comparison, the Snapchat experience previously on the Apple Watch was very limited and did not provide the feature to display images or the complete history, unlike what the current WhatsApp version offers.



Notes on What the App Currently Lacks

Despite the clear gains, the watch version is currently unable to:

Make voice or video calls

Create new conversations

Display Status


This means that users who rely on those features will still need the phone or the web version until subsequent updates arrive.