WhatsApp is testing a major upgrade that gives users control over the quality of automatically downloaded media. Currently rolling out to select beta testers on Android (version 2.25.18.11), the feature allows choosing between standard-definition (SD) or high-definition (HD) for photos and videos in chats.
WhatsApp is revolutionizing media management with its latest beta feature that puts users firmly in control of their storage and data usage. The messaging giant, owned by Meta, is currently testing a sophisticated quality selector in its Android beta version 2.25.18.11 that could fundamentally change how we handle media downloads.
The innovative feature, discovered by reliable WhatsApp tracker WABetaInfo, introduces a granular quality choice for auto-downloaded content. Found under Settings > Storage and Data > Media Auto-Download Quality, the new option addresses two key pain points: storage space and data usage. SD mode compresses files for faster downloads and smaller storage impact, while HD preserves original quality at the cost of more bandwidth and phone space.
What makes this particularly clever is WhatsApp’s dual-download architecture. When someone sends media, the app automatically uploads both HD and SD versions to its servers. Your phone then downloads only the version you’ve selected in settings – but the kicker is that the alternate version remains available for manual download later if needed.
The feature is currently limited to Android beta testers enrolled via Google Play, with a wider release expected in coming weeks. Meta had previously tested similar functionality for iOS in April, but hasn’t yet launched it publicly.
With group chats often flooding phones with media, this update could significantly help users manage their devices – especially those with limited storage or cellular data plans. WhatsApp continues to refine its platform, recently introducing HD media sharing and now tackling the download side of the equation.
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