WhatsApp is preparing to add chat themes
WhatsApp has been really busy recently adding new features left and right, and that's not going to stop anytime soon. Today, a new beta version of the app was released for Android (2.24.17.19), and this brings with it incipient support for chat themes.
As you can see from the screenshot below, the feature is still in the early stages of development, but it is coming, and will let you pick a chat theme that will change the message color and the chat's wallpaper.
If you've ever used Facebook Messenger, you basically know what to expect here, as that app has had chat themes for years. WhatsApp is, like in many other regards, just playing catch-up.
If you want to test WhatsApp beta features on Android, you need to be on the beta track, which you can enroll into from its Play Store listing. Do however note that enrollment isn't open at all times.
Given how long it usually takes new WhatsApp features to make it from beta to the stable track, we assume chat themes will be available for everyone towards the end of the year.