WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.18.11: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.25.18.11.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to choose the quality for downloaded photos and videos, and it's available to some beta testers!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.12.14 update, we announced that a feature to choose the quality for downloaded photos and videos was under development. This feature will allow users to select whether automatically downloaded media should be in standard or high quality, offering greater control over storage and data usage. The system would ensure that, depending on user settings, the appropriate version of the media is downloaded automatically, while still allowing access to the high-quality version on demand if needed. It appears that WhatsApp is now testing this feature with the public, as some beta testers have reported new settings to manage the auto-download media quality. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.18.11 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out an optional feature to allow resharing and forwarding status updates!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can explore the new media quality settings under the Storage and Data section. The new setting introduces two quality options for automatically downloaded media: standard quality and HD quality. Standard quality compresses media to reduce file size, making it faster to download and more efficient in terms of data and storage usage. HD quality, on the other hand, preserves more visual detail and resolution but consumes more data and storage. With this update, users can decide which quality level to apply to incoming media depending on their preferences or connectivity conditions.

It's important to mention that WhatsApp just introduced a new system involving a dual upload process when sending high-quality images or videos. When users choose to send media in HD quality, their devices automatically generate both a standard and HD version of the same file. This is necessary because WhatsApp, due to end-to-end encryption, cannot compress or alter the file quality on the server. As a result, both versions are uploaded by the sender, and the recipient selects which version the app should automatically download based on their auto-download settings.

If the recipient has chosen to only auto-download standard quality media, the app will fetch the smaller version by default. However, if the recipient later decides to manually view the media file, the app can still retrieve the HD version, as long as it is still available on the server. This control is especially helpful in group chats, where large amounts of images and videos are shared regularly. Often, users receive high-quality photos they don't necessarily want to open, which previously caused unnecessary data usage. Now, they can opt to download only standard quality images and videos automatically and selectively load HD content only when desired.

For users with limited data plans or slow network connections, this can significantly improve the experience of using WhatsApp. At the same time, users who prioritize image clarity or frequently receive important visuals can still choose to always auto-download HD content if they wish. This update strikes a balance between preserving media quality and optimizing device performance. It allows users to customize media downloads based on their preferences, especially when they have no intention of opening received images and videos, particularly in group chats or archived conversations.

A feature to choose the quality for downloaded photos and videos is available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming weeks.

Stay up-to-date on WhatsApp news by following WABetaInfo on X. You can also discover other new features for WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows.

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