.webp)
WhatsApp, the widely used chat app, is taking a step towards improving your photo-sharing experience. Previously, the app's 16MB limit and compression for media often led to lower quality images and videos, frustrating users with high-quality smartphone cameras. Fortunately, a change is here.
Introducing HD Quality Photo Sharing
WhatsApp's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recently announced a significant update: high-quality photo sharing. While not immediately obvious, this option brings relief to photo enthusiasts. The setting is currently limited to images and doesn't cover videos, but it's a promising start.
.webp)
Sending high-quality photos is easier than you think. When sending a photo in WhatsApp, a new button appears next to the crop tool. This button lets you choose between "standard quality" (traditional compression) and "HD quality." The latter option maintains more detail, akin to popular messaging apps like Apple's Messages.
Familiar Feature, Fresh Approach
While this feature is new for most users, it was spotted in beta versions earlier. WhatsApp had been testing high-quality image sharing since June, gradually refining the experience.
Better Quality, Not Perfect Yet
Though this update is a leap forward, there's room for improvement. WhatsApp still applies some compression to HD photos, preventing you from sending them in their original resolution. However, the quality is significantly better than before.
Size Matters
The "HD quality" option only appears for sufficiently large images. WhatsApp assesses whether the image warrants HD quality. Smaller images are limited to standard definition.
Going Beyond Photos: Sharing High-Quality Videos
Though this update focuses on images, there's a workaround for videos. Instead of sending videos directly, share them as documents. WhatsApp allows documents up to 100MB in size, essentially accommodating various files.
Sending High-Quality Videos: A How-To
To share top-notch videos, open a chat, tap the attachment icon (Android) or (+) icon (iOS), select "Document," and pick the video file. WhatsApp sends it without compression, preserving its quality, as long as it's under 100MB. For longer videos, consider using platforms like Dropbox or Google Drive.
In Conclusion
WhatsApp's move towards better media quality is a welcome change. With HD photo sharing and clever tricks for videos, the frustration of blurred images and compressed videos could soon be a thing of the past. Stay tuned for more updates as WhatsApp continues to enhance your chatting experience.