WhatsApp has been testing many new features over the past few weeks including creating polls in groups. The Meta-owned instant messaging app is now testing a feature that shows the estimated time for completion of sending or downloading files while also allowing users to send files that are almost 2GB in size. The feature is being tested on Android, iOS and Desktop apps.
Currently, users are able to track the file upload and download progress through a circular green bar. However, in the newest feature, you will be able to see the percentage as well as an estimated time remaining. Although the feature has already made its way to the WhatsApp desktop app, it is now rolling out to the beta version of the iOS and Android apps.
The more exciting update is WhatsApp testing a feature of sending files up to 2GB. The feature is available only in Argentina at the moment but is expected to roll out to other countries in the future. The stable version of the app allows users to send files up to 100MB which is minuscule in comparison to Telegram which placed a limit of 2GB since July 2020.
The features are currently being tested on WhatsApp beta versions 2.22.8.11 on Android, 22.8.0.74 on iOS and 2.2209.3 for the desktop app.
Better late than never
Many of the features that WhatsApp is testing are a relief to many users who find it difficult to send media files to their loved ones. While most smartphones record videos in high-quality resolutions, it becomes difficult to share the same files over any instant messaging app.
Telegram has been at the forefront of allowing users to send multiple video files of up to 1.5GB since it was launched. And apart from the privacy features that the app offered, the file-sharing limits were the only reasons why many used the app as a secondary messaging app on their device.
It's a good sign that WhatsApp is adding a lot of features to make the app more versatile. But many of these features like the file-sharing limit were due on the app these past years. It is unclear why the company delayed the feature. But like they say, it's better late than never.
