WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.18.10.81: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new iOS update through the TestFlight beta Program, bringing the version up to 25.18.10.81.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to choose the quality of automatically downloaded photos and videos, and it's available to some beta testers!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.18.11 update, we announced that a feature to choose the quality for auto-downloaded photos and videos is available. This feature gives users more control over their data consumption and storage usage by allowing them to set a default quality level for automatically downloaded media. It appears that WhatsApp now intends to offer iOS users the same quality control for downloads as it already does for the Android version, aiming to provide a consistent experience across both platforms. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.18.10.81 update, which is available on the TestFlight app, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to choose the quality of automatically downloaded photos and videos!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can explore a new option that allows them to customize how media files are automatically downloaded depending on their preferences. With this new feature, WhatsApp introduces a setting where users can select between standard quality and HD quality for photos and videos that are automatically downloaded. Standard quality reduces the file size by compressing the media, which is ideal for saving data and storage space. On the other hand, HD quality preserves important details about the resolution, offering clearer and more detailed images and videos, but it uses more bandwidth and device storage.

This approach is based on a new dual upload system introduced when users choose to send media in HD. In this system, WhatsApp automatically uploads two versions of the same image or video: one in standard quality and one in HD. Due to end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp cannot modify or compress media files on the servers, so both versions must be uploaded by the sender. This allows the recipient's app to decide which version to automatically download according to the user's preferences. As a result, users now have greater control over which version (standard or HD) the app should fetch by default through the new auto-download quality setting.

This feature is especially useful in situations where users receive large volumes of images and videos, such as in group chats or from archived conversations. Many users may not want to automatically download every photo in high definition if they don't plan to view them immediately. However, even if the user chooses to auto-download only the standard version, the HD version is still available. When the user taps to view the media, WhatsApp can retrieve the HD version from the server if it's still accessible. This ensures users maintain the flexibility to access higher-quality media when desired, without wasting data on files they may never open.

This change is designed to reduce unnecessary data usage, particularly in group chats where images and videos are frequently shared but not always viewed. For users with limited data plans or slower connections, automatically downloading compressed media can make storage usage more efficient and help avoid unnecessary data consumption, as it ensures that users can still receive content without exceeding their data limits.

A feature to choose the quality of automatically downloaded photos and videos is available to some beta testers who install the latest version of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app, and it's rolling out to more people over the coming weeks.

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