X Chat App for iOS Beta Rolling Out Now

X is taking a page out of the old Facebook playbook by spinning off its messaging features into a separate app, instead of a single “everything app.” In a post shared on X, Michael Boswell confirmed that a standalone “X Chat” app is now in beta testing for iOS users.

Boswell wrote: “For the past few months, we’ve been quietly building a standalone X Chat app for iOS. Today we’re opening it to the first 1,000 users on TestFlight. Use it. Break it. We want your feedback.”

The move to launch X Chat marks a significant shift in strategy for the social media platform. For years, the trend in the industry was to bundle as many features as possible into one place. However, as apps become bloated and slow, some companies are finding that users prefer a dedicated space for private conversations.

The new app is designed to be a lightweight version of the Direct Messages (DM) section found in the main X app. Early reports suggest it features a simplified interface and focuses entirely on speed. It synchronizes with your existing account, so all your current conversations and contacts are available the moment you log in.

According to Boswell, the initial limit of 1,000 brta testers was reached almost immediately after his announcement. He followed up shortly after to reassure those who missed out, stating: “1,000 user limit reached in first batch. We will increase soon.”

While the current beta is limited to a small group of iPhone users, references to an Android version have already been spotted in the code. There are also questions about how X will handle security within this new standalone environment. Many users are hoping to see more robust end-to-end encryption features, which have been a point of discussion for the platform for months.

For now, X Chat remains an invite-only experiment. If the testing goes well, we can expect a wider rollout to the App Store later this year.