WhatsApp makes its own unique emojis – that look similar to Apple's

WhatsApp's 1.2bn users given iOS-style emojis that differ from those on Facebook and Messenger, adding to general air of cross-platform confusion

WhatsApp has created its own range of emoji for its more than 1.2 billion users, shunning those created by Apple, Google and Samsung.

The new icons, visible for the first time in a beta version of its Android app, are nearly identical to those created by Apple, which WhatsApp had previously used not only in its iOS app, but also in its Android and Windows versions. Only a few small differences give away the update: for instance, the water pistol has turned orange, the ghost emoji no longer has lopsided eyes and the frying egg is now double-yolked.