How to add a bunch of fresh new emojis to WhatsApp for Android

WhatsApp, the world's most popular instant messaging platform, has been slowly turning from a barebone chat app, into a more sophisticated endeavor that is almost (but not quite) on par with the best out there in terms of features. Just recently it added rich link previews, like on Facebook Messenger or Viber, and the ability to star messages to its Android app. These two features have been in the 2.12.367 version you could download from WhatsApp's own site for a while now, and finally got rolled into the official app update over at the Play Store last week.

Now, there is another nugget that you can fold into your WhatsApp sessions, namely a bunch of new emojis, and we all know how important this collection will be for our freedom of expression going forward. Apart from nutritional staples like a hot dog, taco, burrito, popcorn or champagne, you will get a unicorn, shamrock, spider, medals and racing cars to broadcast your bubbling emotions. Not only that, but the emojis are now categorized in eight, instead of five different tabs, and there is a new detective face expression, so plenty to explore once you and your contacts install the newest WhatsApp.

The emojis seem to be part of the Unicode 8 set that got rolled on iOS with the latest 9.1 version, and some of those will also hit stock Android on Nexus devices with an update that is expected for next week. In the meantime, you and your friends can employ them right into your WhatsApp conversations on Android, how's that for nose-thumbing those Nexus owners! Here's what you need to do:

1. Download the WhatsApp 2.12.374 beta version for Android;

2. Tap on the download notification in the status bar of your Android gear, if you have downloaded on your mobile device, or sideload the APK file on your phone or tablet first, if you have downloaded to your computer;

3. The WhatsApp 2.12.374 version will ask you for a bunch of app permissions, just hit "next" on each screen, until the app starts to install;

4. Pick a contact, and blast them with your newfound emoji power!