WhatsApp to Introduce Original Quality Media Sharing for Plus Subscribers
WhatsApp is developing an Original Quality feature for photos and videos, allowing uncompressed sharing. However, code leaks indicate it will be restricted to paid WhatsApp Plus subscribers.
WhatsApp is preparing to introduce a major feature that will allow users to send photos and videos in their original, uncompressed quality. According to code discoveries in the latest Android beta version 2.26.44.12, Meta is developing a third option in the media editor dubbed Original Quality, ensuring that files are transmitted bit-by-bit without any algorithmic compression.
However, this long-awaited addition comes with a commercial catch. Industry reports indicate that the original quality feature will not be free, but will instead be reserved as an exclusive perk for subscribers of the paid WhatsApp Plus tier. Currently, media sharing includes standard quality, which applies aggressive compression to save bandwidth, and the HD option introduced last year, which preserves higher resolution while still applying minor compression and stripping certain metadata.
The Shift Toward Paid Subscriptions
Restricting the Original Quality feature to paying subscribers aligns with Meta's broader strategy to monetize its billions of users, mirroring the successful subscription model of Telegram Premium. While WhatsApp Plus has previously focused on cosmetic enhancements such as custom themes, exclusive sticker packs, and pinned chats, introducing native high-resolution media sharing provides a compelling utility for photographers, parents, and business owners.
Users who wish to avoid monthly subscription fees can still bypass compression today by sending media as raw documents via the attachment menu. While this method preserves 100 percent of the file's original resolution, it lacks inline previews and requires extra steps for both the sender and the recipient.
Timeline and Rollout
The original quality feature is currently in early internal development within the Android beta code and is not yet available to all beta testers. Industry analysts note that weeks or months typically pass between initial code discoveries and public deployment, as Meta continues its phased regional rollout of premium features.
