WhatsApp video calling is a great feature that allows us to visually connect with friends and family. However, many iPhone users complain about poor video quality during WhatsApp calls. The video often appears pixelated, blurry or laggy. This can be frustrating when you’re trying to have a smooth video conversation.
Quick Summary of Main Reasons
There are a few main reasons why WhatsApp video call quality can be poor on iPhones:
- Internet connection issues like slow WiFi or cellular data
- Using an older iPhone model with a lower resolution front-facing camera
- Poor lighting conditions in the caller’s environment
- WhatsApp applies compression to video calls which can reduce quality
- iOS issues or software bugs affecting the WhatsApp app
- Trying to video call multiple people at once
Let’s explore these factors in more detail and discuss some potential fixes and workarounds.
Internet Connectivity Issues
One of the most common culprits of bad WhatsApp call quality is problems with your internet connection. WhatsApp video calls require a consistent, high-speed internet connection to work properly. Here are some connectivity-related issues that could be interfering:
- Slow WiFi – An overloaded or congested home WiFi network can disrupt video calls. Try moving closer to your router or turning off other devices using your WiFi.
- Poor cellular data signal – A weak 4G/LTE signal or switching between 3G and LTE can impact call quality. Move closer to a window or outside if using cellular data.
- Bandwidth limitations – If you’re on a metered cellular plan or shared network with bandwidth caps, you may experience throttling and lag.
- VPN connections – Using a VPN can sometimes reduce connection speeds. Try turning your VPN off temporarily.
One quick way to diagnose internet issues is to do a speed test in your location. If your internet speeds are below 2-3 Mbps, WhatsApp video calling performance may suffer.
Fixes for Internet Connectivity Issues:
- Connect your iPhone directly to your WiFi router with an Ethernet cable, if possible.
- Try switching from WiFi to cellular data or vice versa.
- Move closer to windows or go outside if using cellular data.
- Limit other activity on your network like streaming or downloads.
- If on a metered cellular plan, try switching to an unmetered WiFi network.
- Contact your internet service provider if speeds are consistently slow.
- Consider upgrading to a faster internet service plan if available.
Using an Older iPhone Model
The camera hardware capabilities in your iPhone can also impact WhatsApp video call quality and performance. Newer iPhone models tend to have improved camera sensors and lenses, allowing them to capture higher resolution video.
For example, the front-facing FaceTime HD camera on the iPhone 14 Pro Max can record video at 1080p HD at 60fps. But on an iPhone 6 or 7, the front camera may max out at 720p HD at just 30fps.
The rear camera on newer iPhones is also much better optimized for video calling than the front camera on old iPhone models. So someone using an older iPhone may have grainier, choppier video when placing WhatsApp video calls.
| iPhone Model | Front Camera Video Resolution |
|---|---|
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 1080p HD at 60fps |
| iPhone 12/13 Mini | 1080p HD at 60fps |
| iPhone XR | 720p HD at 30fps |
| iPhone 7/8 | 720p HD at 30fps |
| iPhone 6 | 720p HD at 30fps |
Upgrading to a Newer iPhone for Better Call Quality
The simplest fix is to upgrade to a newer iPhone model that has superior cameras and video recording capabilities. Apple improves the iPhone camera with each new generation. So moving from an older device to something like an iPhone 12 or 13 can make a noticeable difference in WhatsApp video call quality.
You don’t necessarily need the absolute latest iPhone 14 model – even upgrading a few generations like from an iPhone 7 to an iPhone 11 can provide better video fluidity and resolution. The key is that your new iPhone was released within the last 2-4 years for optimal video call performance.
Poor Lighting Conditions
The lighting conditions in your physical environment when making a WhatsApp video call also matters. If you are in a dimly lit room, the iPhone camera will have to compensate by using slower shutter speeds, resulting in more motion blur.
If you’re completely backlit or there is very harsh/bright lighting behind you, the camera may struggle with high contrast and overexposure. This can make your face appear dark or grainy as the camera tries to adjust.
Ideally, you want a video call environment that is evenly lit from the front or side. Natural daylight near a window is great. Avoid having strong light sources behind you that force the camera to work harder.
Tips to Improve Lighting for WhatsApp Video Calls
- Sit facing a window during daylight hours (avoid backlighting)
- Add a desk lamp, ring light or other artificial lighting in front of you
- Increase brightness on lamps/overhead lights to reduce contrast
- Avoid spaces with flickering fluorescent lights which can cause banding
- Use the rear iPhone camera if the environment behind you is better lit
- On an iPhone 12/13, enable HDR video mode for greater dynamic range
WhatsApp Compression and Video Encoding
WhatsApp also applies some default compression and encoding to video calls which can negatively impact quality. This is done to reduce bandwidth usage, making video calls accessible on slower networks.
But the downside is video may look overly processed, softened or artefacted due to:
- Chroma subsampling – color precision reduced to save space
- High compression ratios – detail lost to shrink file size
- Bitrate limitations – caps on bandwidth restrict data rates
WhatsApp’s compression works well enough on strong networks. But users on congested or slower networks can experience blurry and pixelated video as compression artifacts accumulate.
There are no in-app settings to adjust WhatsApp’s compression level – they optimize for accessible call quality across varying network types.
Working Around WhatsApp’s Video Compression
While you can’t change in-app compression, there are some workarounds:
- Use WhatsApp on networks with higher bandwidth – WiFi or strong LTE signal
- Reduce motion and scene complexity – compression struggles with high detail
- Use the rear camera if lighting permits – higher resolution sensor handles compression better
- Switch to FaceTime for higher quality iOS video calls (no compression applied)
Making small adjustments to reduce strain on WhatsApp’s video compression algorithms can help boost quality.
iOS Software Issues
Problems with iOS software can also negatively impact WhatsApp call performance on iPhones at times. Issues like:
- General iOS bugs affecting the camera or video processing
- Poorly optimized WhatsApp software for the latest iOS
- Background iOS processes interfering with WhatsApp resource allocation
- Too little storage space available on the iPhone
These types of iOS issues are often temporary and patched in the next app or iOS update. But some users do experience poorer WhatsApp call quality due to inconsistencies with Apple’s software.
iOS Troubleshooting Steps
If you suspect an iOS issue is decreasing WhatsApp video quality, try:
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version from the App Store
- Update your iPhone’s iOS software to the newest release
- Restart your iPhone (reboot clears up memory issues)
- Check iPhone storage – free up space if less than 10GB available
- Disable background refresh and turn off Siri suggestions in Settings to reduce resource strain
- Contact Apple Support if issue persists across iOS/app updates
Staying up-to-date on iOS and the WhatsApp app is key to avoiding iOS-related bugs that impact call performance.
Group Video Calling Limitations
WhatsApp allows up to 8 participants in a group video call. But more participants means greater video compression and more potential for quality issues.
With just 2 people on a WhatsApp video call, there is sufficient bandwidth to maintain good detail and resolution if your network connection is strong. But add 4-5+ participants, and WhatsApp’s algorithms have to work overtime to squeeze all that video data through.
As a result, WhatsApp group video calls often appear more degraded than 1-on-1 calls. Individual participants become blurrier or pixelated as compression artifacts increase.
Large WhatsApp group calls also require very strong internet – slow speeds or congested WiFi networks will result in poor video performance.
Improving Video Quality on Group Calls
- Use WhatsApp group video chat sparingly, limit calls to 3-4 participants when possible
- Only use WhatsApp group video on very strong WiFi or cellular networks
- If quality is poor, hang up and start a new 1-on-1 call instead
- Set your WhatsApp video quality lower to reduce bandwidth strain (see settings)
Troubleshoot your internet connection first if WhatsApp group calls are constantly blurry or choppy. And try to limit group call sizes whenever feasible.
WhatsApp Video Call Settings on iPhone
WhatsApp does provide a few video call settings on iPhone that can potentially improve quality:
Data Usage Controls
In WhatsApp Settings > Data and Storage Usage, you can enable lower data usage for calls. This configures WhatsApp to optimize video quality for low cellular data networks at the expense of some compression artifacts.
Leave this disabled if using WiFi for highest possible video call quality.
Disable Auto-Download
Turn off auto-media download while roaming in WhatsApp Settings. This prevents your iPhone from downloading videos over cellular data during calls which can interfere with bandwidth.
WiFi Calling
Enable WhatsApp WiFi calling in iOS Phone Settings for better connectivity and call reliability over WiFi networks.
Conclusion
WhatsApp video calls fail to match the quality of FaceTime on iPhones due to compression limitations. But there are many steps you can take to boost WhatsApp call quality:
- Upgrade to a newer iPhone with better camera hardware
- Improve lighting conditions in your video call environment
- Troubleshoot internet connectivity issues on your end
- Avoid large group video calls when possible
- Adjust WhatsApp data usage settings for your network
- Keep WhatsApp and iOS updated to latest versions
With optimal lighting, a strong internet connection, and recent iPhone hardware, you can maximize WhatsApp call quality and performance for smooth video chats.