WhatsApp voice messages have become a popular way to communicate, allowing users to send quick audio recordings instead of typing out text messages. However, many users have noticed that the volume on WhatsApp voice messages tends to be much quieter than other audio files played on their phones.
The Audio Compression Used by WhatsApp
The main reason WhatsApp voice messages are quieter is because of the audio compression WhatsApp uses when sending and receiving the files. Audio compression reduces the size of audio files which allows them to be transferred quickly over the internet. This compression inevitably leads to some loss of audio quality and volume.
Specifically, WhatsApp uses a audio codec called Opus to compress voice messages before sending them. Opus compresses the audio down to a bitrate of 12-24 kbps which is extremely small for an audio file. For comparison, MP3 audio files are usually encoded at 128-320 kbps. This heavy compression makes the voice messages much smaller in size so they can be sent faster to the recipient, but it also degrades the audio quality and quiets the overall volume.
Differences Between Android and iPhone
Another factor is that the audio compression may work slightly differently on iPhones compared to Android phones. iPhones seem to play WhatsApp voice messages at a slightly lower volume than Android devices.
This is likely because iPhones use a system wide audio volume limit. All audio played on an iPhone has a normalized volume level set by Apple. This prevents audio from playing too loudly and damaging users’ hearing. However, it seems this volume limit impacts WhatsApp voice messages more significantly and reduces their volume even further on iPhones. The heavy compression applied by WhatsApp already quiets the audio, so Apple’s system wide volume limit compounds the issue on iPhones.
Table comparing WhatsApp voice message volume on Android vs iPhone
| Device | WhatsApp Voice Message Volume |
|---|---|
| Android Phone | Quiet volume but slightly louder than iPhone |
| iPhone | Very quiet volume due to system wide volume limit |
Tips for Increasing WhatsApp Voice Message Volume
While the audio compression used by WhatsApp results in unavoidably quieter voice messages, there are some steps users can take to increase the volume as much as possible:
- Use headphones – Headphones or earbuds will allow you to amplify the volume more than phone speakers
- Adjust media volume – Make sure the media/music volume on your phone is turned up to maximum
- Use a volume booster app – Some third party apps can boost audio volume above the system limit
- Use speakerphone – The speakerphone on smartphones isn’t limited by the volume cap
- Provide feedback to WhatsApp – Complaining to WhatsApp about the issue may convince them to improve quality
Why Does WhatsApp Use Heavy Compression?
Given that the heavy compression degrades audio quality, why does WhatsApp apply so much compression to voice messages? There are a few reasons:
- Faster sharing – Compression allows voice messages to send almost instantly
- Reduced data usage – Smaller files use less mobile data which is important for users with data caps or slow connections
- Compatibility – Heavily compressed audio will play on nearly any smartphone
- Reduced server load – Smaller files place less strain on WhatsApp’s servers
In other words, the compression, while destructive to audio quality, provides a better overall user experience by allowing voice messages to be shared quickly and easily even on low-end smartphones and slow mobile networks.
The Future of WhatsApp Voice Message Audio Quality
While WhatsApp has prioritized compression and speed over audio quality in the past, there are signs voice message quality may improve in the future. WhatsApp has been steadily improving voice and video call quality over the past few years. They may soon turn their focus to improving basic voice message quality as well.
There are also rumors WhatsApp is testing a new Opus-based codec called Lyra, that is optimized specifically for voice calls and messages. If adopted, Lyra could allow WhatsApp to use less compression while maintaining small file sizes. This could significantly boost voice message volume and quality in the future.
Conclusion
In summary, WhatsApp voice messages are compressed heavily using the Opus codec in order to minimize data usage and transfer times. This compression comes at the cost of degraded audio quality and especially quiet volume. iPhones face even quieter volumes due to Apple’s system wide volume limits. While the lower quality is frustrating, WhatsApp applies the heavy compression to optimize the voice messaging experience on slower networks and low-end devices. There are ways to maximize the volume today, and there is hope that improvements to WhatsApp’s audio codec and compression technology could improve voice message quality in the future.