WhatsApp now allows users to share photos and videos without compression, maintaining their original quality. The platform has previously been criticized for its low-quality media transfers, even after an update in August slightly improved compression. This latest change is a welcome improvement.
The secret to this upgrade lies in the fact that media files are not compressed at all. Instead, they are treated as standard data files. When a user sends one of these files, they are not transformed into previews for the chat window, but the recipient can click to view them. However, users can still send media in the traditional compressed way if they prefer to keep the chat window preview thumbnails.
It’s important to note that this change is not automatic. Users have to consciously decide to send an uncompressed image or video and click the “+” icon to transfer a document. WhatsApp has said that this is a tiered rollout, so some users may not receive the update for a couple of weeks. As for Android, there is no release information, but according to MacRumors, the company is working on it.
Meta’s WhatsApp has been busy this year, introducing several new features. In August, the platform added video calling capabilities for up to eight people, and a disappearing messages feature. It also added a feature that allows users to make voice and video calls on the desktop, as well as the ability to use QR codes to add contacts.
