WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Meta, has rolled out a new feature that allows iOS users to send photos and videos as documents, preserving their original quality. This feature was already available for Android users, but now it has reached iOS devices as well. This article will explain how this feature works, why it is important, and what it means for WhatsApp users.
WhatsApp Update: Sharing Original Quality Photos and Videos Now Possible for iOS Users
No More Compression: Preserving Original Quality
WhatsApp has a reputation for compressing photos and videos when sending them, resulting in a loss of quality and resolution. This can be frustrating for users who want to share high-quality media with their contacts, especially for photographers, videographers, and anyone who values the quality of their images and videos.
To solve this problem, WhatsApp has introduced a new option to send photos and videos as documents, which bypasses the compression algorithm and preserves the original quality of the media. This means that users can send photos and videos with the highest possible resolution that WhatsApp supports, without any quality loss or distortion.
How to Access the Feature?
To access this feature, users need to have the latest version of WhatsApp for iOS, which is 23.24.73. Then, they need to follow these steps:
- Open a chat and tap the attachment icon.
- Tap Document.
- Tap Photo Library.
- Select the photo or video that you want to send as a document.
- Tap Send.
Alternatively, users can also select multiple photos or videos from their gallery and tap the document icon at the bottom-left to send them as documents.
Note that this feature has some limitations, such as:
- Users can only send documents up to 2GB in size.
- Users cannot edit, crop, or add stickers to photos or videos before sending them as documents.
- Users cannot send live photos or animated GIFs as documents.
- Users cannot preview the photos or videos before sending them as documents.
Android Users Await Upgrade
WhatsApp Testing Similar Feature for Android since September
While iOS users can now enjoy this feature, Android users are still waiting for it to be officially released. WhatsApp has been testing a similar feature for Android since September 2021, which allows users to choose the photo upload quality from three options: Auto, Best quality, and Data saver.
The Auto option is the default setting, which compresses the photos according to WhatsApp’s algorithm. The Best quality option allows users to send photos with the best quality that WhatsApp supports, which is still lower than the original quality. The Data saver option reduces the photo quality to save data usage.
However, this feature is still in beta testing and has not been rolled out to all Android users yet. It is expected that WhatsApp will soon release this feature for Android, along with the option to send photos and videos as documents, as it has done for iOS.
Simplifying Media Sharing: Impact of New Feature in the Messaging Platform
Improved User Experience
The new feature that lets you send photos and videos as documents while keeping their original quality is a big step forward for media sharing on WhatsApp. This is especially true for iOS users who had trouble sending photos and videos as documents before. With this feature, users will be able to share their media without losing quality or clarity, which will make them happier and more satisfied.
Importance of Preserving Quality in Media Sharing
Preserving the quality of photos and videos when sharing them on WhatsApp is important for several reasons, such as:
- Capturing and conveying the details, emotions, and aesthetics of the media.
- Maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the media.
- Avoiding pixelation, blurriness, or distortion of the media.
- Making sure that all devices and systems can work together and are consistent.
- Respecting the preferences and expectations of the sender and the receiver.
Therefore, this feature is a welcome addition to WhatsApp, as it will enable users to share their photos and videos in their original quality, without any hassle or compromise.
