WhatsApp continues developing new features for its apps across Android, iOS and desktop. The latest beta update for its iPhone app now offers the functionality to share Live Photos in their original format.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is testing a new Share Live Photos feature in the beta version 25.24.10.72 for iOS. This feature will allow iPhone users to send and receive Live Photos in their original format. This means the images shared on the app will retain the motion and audio as originally captured.
Prior to this, when Live Photos were shared on WhatsApp, the app would only display the still versions of the images. Users were able to share the animated version by long-pressing on an image and sharing it as a GIF, but that meant a loss in quality, frame rate and audio.
With this update, Live Photos will be fully supported on WhatsApp, at least on iPhones. When a user shares a Live Photo, the image preview will show a Live Photo icon at the top left. Upon clicking on the preview, the image will load up in full screen with a "Live" label at the top left. Tapping on this label will play the image in Live Photo mode with motion and audio.
Additionally, recipients can save a Live Photo from WhatsApp, it will show up as a Live Photo on their iPhone's Photos app. The app will offer users the option to decide whether to share images as Live Photos.
The source adds that the Live Photos should work across iOS and Android and will support cross-platform compatibility. This means, Live Photos shared from iPhones will be accessible as Motion Photos on Android and vice versa.
The feature is currently available for WhatsApp beta testers enrolled on the TestFlight app on iOS, and it will be available for more iPhone and Android users in the coming weeks.
