WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. Despite its widespread usage, many users have complained about the poor image quality on WhatsApp, especially when sharing photos and videos.
What causes low image quality on WhatsApp?
There are a few key reasons why WhatsApp images and videos tend to be lower quality:
- Image compression – To reduce upload time and save storage space, WhatsApp compresses images and videos when you send them. This compression results in reduced image quality.
- Restricted file size – WhatsApp limits media attachments to 100MB for photos and videos. Larger files are automatically compressed to meet this restriction, lowering their quality.
- Reduced resolution – WhatsApp scales down images to save space. The maximum resolution for photos sent on WhatsApp is 4032×3024 pixels. Videos are compressed to a resolution of 1280×720 pixels.
The impact of compression on image quality
The type of compression WhatsApp uses also impacts image quality. WhatsApp uses lossy compression, which permanently removes pixel data from photos and videos to shrink their size. This results in reduced image clarity, more pixelation, artifacts, and blurred details.
Lossy compression works by selectively discarding less important visual data that is less noticeable to the human eye. However, excessive compression leads to noticeable degradation.
Image artifacts
Compression can result in visual artifacts in images – undesirable or strange-looking distortions like pixelation, banding, noise, and jagged edges.
Blurring
Blurring is also a common artifact of image compression. Fine details in an image can become fuzzy and blurred out.
Blocky pixels
Heavily compressed images can develop a noticeable pixelated or “blocky” appearance from loss of high frequency image data.
Factors that influence quality reduction
Certain types of images are more affected by compression than others. Here are some factors that determine how much image quality loss occurs with WhatsApp’s compression:
- Image resolution – Higher resolution images have more pixel data that can be discarded during compression. Lower resolution images have less data to start with, so quality loss is less noticeable.
- Image complexity – Photos with more complex scenes, colors, textures, and fine details are more prone to artifacting from lossy compression.
- Image noise – Noisy images with grain, low light, or sharp edges get degraded more by compression.
- Number of saves – Image quality decreases each time a photo gets compressed and re-saved.
How much quality loss is caused by WhatsApp?
It’s challenging to quantify exactly how much image quality decreases when using WhatsApp. The amount depends on the factors discussed above. As a rule of thumb, here’s how experts describe the impact:
- Most full resolution photos suffer a minor to moderate quality loss.
- Print quality is rarely affected for typical smartphone photos.
- Detailed inspection reveals artifacts and blurring upon zooming in.
- Night photos and videos with grain/noise suffer the most.
The following table compares how an original high-resolution photo (left) looks after WhatsApp compression (right):
Original Photo | Compressed on WhatsApp |
---|---|
As you can see, the WhatsApp version appears slightly more pixelated and has lost some fine details and sharpness compared to the original.
Tips to retain image quality on WhatsApp
To help preserve image quality when sharing photos on WhatsApp, try these tips:
- Send the original photo instead of screenshots.
- Avoid forwarding images multiple times.
- Send fewer images per message.
- Crop images to smaller sizes before sending.
- Send higher resolution photos if quality is critical.
- Use other sharing platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox for important images.
Will WhatsApp improve image quality?
WhatsApp has not announced plans to improve media quality. The compression techniques are optimized to provide reasonable quality while managing data usage for over 2 billion users.
However, here are two factors that can potentially improve WhatsApp’s image quality in the future:
- Advances in compression algorithms – Newer compression methods like HEIC/HEIF achieve similar compression ratios as JPEG but with less loss of quality.
- Increased bandwidth and storage – As internet speeds and smartphone storage capacity improves, WhatsApp may be able to relax compression and size limits.
Workarounds for sending high quality images
If you need to share uncompressed, full resolution photos through WhatsApp, here are some possible workarounds:
Use a cloud storage service
Upload your original images to Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud or a similar service. Then, share the cloud download link via WhatsApp instead of attaching the image directly.
Use a third party compression app
Apps like Remini and PhotoCompress let you compress images before uploading while retaining more quality than WhatsApp’s compression algorithm.
Share through a secondary messaging app
WhatsApp alternatives like Telegram and Signal offer less compression. You can send your images through them when quality matters most.
Email high-res versions
If your contacts don’t mind extra steps, email the images directly as file attachments without compression.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s compression and limits result in minor to moderate image quality loss for most photos, and more noticeable degradation of detailed or large images. While improved algorithms or limits could enhance quality in the future, WhatsApp’s approach is reasonable for serving billions of users globally across low-bandwidth connections.
When image quality is a priority, utilize alternative sharing methods or platforms. For most everyday messaging purposes, the convenience of WhatsApp outweighs the minor quality reduction for casual photos.