Meta has announced the release of a fully featured Apple Watch version of WhatsApp. This is what you can expect from it.
WhatsApp launches app for the Apple Watch
Meta isn’t always very convincing when it comes to apps for the Apple Watch. Sometimes the company supports watchOS, sometimes not. But now an update to WhatsApp is being rolled out with a fully functional Apple Watch version. That was done not so long ago announced.
Until now, WhatsApp on the Apple Watch actually only used watchOS notifications, which allow you to read and respond to messages to a limited extent. However, the new official Apple Watch app offers much more functionality. Here are the highlights from Meta’s announcement:
- Call notifications: You can see who’s calling without having to look at your iPhone.
- Full messages: You can read full WhatsApp messages on your Apple Watch, even long messages.
- Voice messages: You can record and send voice messages.
- Respond to messages: You can send quick emoji reactions in response to messages you receive.
- Media: You will see clear images and stickers on your Apple Watch.
- Chat history: You can see more of your chat history on your Apple Watch screen when you read messages.
Still encrypted
Meta emphasizes that all personal messages and chats remain private thanks to end-to-end encryption, including on the Apple Watch. The company also says it has plans for more features to appear in future updates. The aim is to improve the watchOS experience even further. WhatsApp’s watchOS app requires watchOS 10 or higher and an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer.
The feature is currently rolling out, so it may be a while before you can actually use the app on your Apple Watch. If you don’t want to miss anything about WhatsApp developments, sign up for our newsletter. Then we will automatically keep you informed!
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