Last year, WhatsApp introduced an option for users to send “HD photos,” preserving the original resolution with minimal compression. However, users had to select this option manually each time they sent a photo. Now, WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to set HD quality as the default for sending both photos and videos.
Default HD Media in WhatsApp
As highlighted by Matt Navarra, both iOS and Android users can now configure WhatsApp to send high-resolution media by default. This setting can be found under the Storage and Data menu in WhatsApp’s settings.
Standard quality reduces photos taken with an iPhone to 960×1280 pixels, while HD quality maintains the image’s original resolution of 3024×4032 pixels. Although some compression still occurs with the HD option enabled, it is significantly less aggressive than the standard setting.
Last year, WhatsApp also introduced an option for videos, allowing them to be sent in 720p resolution instead of 480p. While this is still lower than 1080p or 4K, it is an improvement over standard definition (SD) quality. The new setting to choose default quality applies to both photos and videos.
How to Access the New Feature
To utilize these features, ensure you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on your device. WhatsApp is available for free on the App Store and Google Play Store. Keep in mind that the new feature may take some time to appear on your device as it rolls out gradually.
With this update, WhatsApp continues to enhance its user experience by providing more control over media quality, making it easier to share high-resolution photos and videos seamlessly.