WhatsApp users on Android will soon be able to see messages inside a chat without tapping it. The preview screen the company is working on offers a quick look from the chat list — and you can even scroll up inside the window to reach older messages. Reading happens without a blue tick ever reaching the other side.

The feature was spotted and enabled in Android beta version 2.26.44.12. It hasn't been rolled out to users yet, but the tests give a good idea of how the screen will work.

Long press turns into a new card

On Android today, a long press selects the chat and opens options like pin, archive or mute. In the new build, the same gesture brings up a card showing recent messages. Right below the card sits a refreshed menu with quick actions for the chat.

The critical part is read receipts: glances from this window are not reported as read. Users can check content without opening the message or feeling obliged to reply.

A step ahead of iOS: scroll support

iOS has had a similar preview for a while, but without scrolling. With long or stacked messages, you can't see the full content. Android's design allows scrolling up, so past messages are accessible without generating blue ticks.

The release timeline is unclear. The screen is still in development and hasn't even opened to a wide beta audience; its look or behavior may change before the final release.