WhatsApp is enhancing user experience by offering more control over data usage and device storage with a newly introduced feature for selecting the download quality of photos and videos.
This much-anticipated update is currently being rolled out to a larger audience and includes options for “standard quality” and “HD quality” for media that is automatically downloaded. These options can be found in the “Storage and Data” section of the app’s settings.
As noted by WABetaInfo, this new feature is presently available only to beta testers who have installed the latest WhatsApp beta version for Android (2.25.18.11) from the Google Play Store.
This update effectively addresses a widespread concern among users regarding managing the large volume of media, particularly in busy group chats.
Previously, all automatically downloaded media would use data and storage space regardless of whether users required high-resolution files. Now, individuals can adjust their auto-download settings to match their data plans or network conditions, allowing for a more tailored experience.
Selecting “standard quality” will generate compressed files, which means faster downloads and reduced data and storage usage. On the other hand, choosing “HD quality” maintains higher details and resolution, albeit at a greater cost to data and storage.
This feature is supported by an innovative dual-upload system for high-quality media.
When a user sends an image or video in HD, their device will automatically create and upload both a standard and an HD version of the file. This process is necessary due to WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, which prohibits alterations to file quality at the server level.
The recipient’s app will then download the version based on their predetermined auto-download preferences.
A significant advantage, particularly for participants in group chats, is the option to only automatically receive standard-quality media.
This feature prevents unnecessary data usage for high-resolution images or videos that a user might not wish to view in detail. If a user later decides they want to see the HD version, the app can still access it from the server, as long as it remains available.
This update marks a notable improvement for users with limited data plans or slower internet connections, contributing to a more efficient and seamless WhatsApp experience.
Meanwhile, users who favor high-quality images for important visuals can opt to consistently auto-download HD content.
The feature is anticipated to be available to all users shortly.
