WhatsApp is rolling out some much-needed video and voice calling improvements to improve the experience. These include new video effects, improved video call quality, and more.
Thanks to WhatsApp’s popularity, it is used to make over 2 billion calls daily. So, these improvements should benefit a wide section of users.
WhatsApp keeps getting better
iMessage and FaceTime might be the default choice for texting and calling between iPhone users in the US. But everywhere else, WhatsApp is the de-facto messaging app. People worldwide even use it to carry out business transactions. Given its popularity, an improved voice and video calling experience are always welcome. WhatsApp’s popularity in the U.S. is on the rise, with over 100 million active users nationwide, according to the data shared by the platform in July 2024.
Taking cues from FaceTime and Google Meet, Meta is introducing video call effects to WhatsApp. You can select from 10 effects, including adding puppy ears, making it rain, and more. These effects will make video calls with your loved ones much more fun, especially with kids.
If you’re a frequent WhatsApp group caller, there’s good news: you can now choose specific participants for your calls. Instead of calling the entire group, you can easily select a few members for a voice or video call.
Enjoy higher-quality WhatsApp video calls
WhatsApp is also improving the calling experience on the desktop. You can now directly create a call link, start a call, or dial a number for calling. These functionalities were previously not available on WhatsApp’s desktop app.
Lastly, WhatsApp announced that you will now enjoy higher resolution and more reliable video calls, both for 1-to-1 and group calls. This marks WhatsApp’s second video call-focused update of the year. In June 2024, it announced switching to a new MLow codec for improved video and audio quality, especially on low-end devices and poor networks.
