WhatsApp Now Available on Apple Watch

After a brief beta testing phase through TestFlight last week, the official WhatsApp app is now accessible to all users on the Apple Watch.

On Tuesday, WhatsApp said that it would be releasing a companion app for the Apple Watch. Users of WhatsApp will be able to record and send audio messages, view complete texts, and receive call notifications on their Apple Watch for the first time.

WhatsApp stated in a blog post that “this new experience will help you stay on top of your chats without needing to pull out your iPhone.” “For the first time, WhatsApp on the Apple Watch will now support many requested features in addition to reading and replying to messages.”

With the help of the app, you can send, read, and react to texts, record and send voice messages, receive call notifications, and more all from your Apple Watch without ever pulling out your iPhone.

The ability to respond to messages and the choice to view more of your conversation history on the screen while reading messages are further supported capabilities. You will also notice stickers and graphics that are clearer.

The messaging service owned by Meta emphasises that end-to-end encryption is in place to protect your private calls and messages. WhatsApp also states that it intends to provide Apple Watches with even more features in the future.

WatchOS 10 or later must be installed on an Apple Watch Series 4 or later in order to use the new WhatsApp app.

Given that WhatsApp was seen testing the new Apple Watch software last week, Tuesday’s revelation is not entirely surprising. 

WhatsApp has been trying to make it simpler for users to use the service on devices other than smartphones and PCs. WhatsApp’s eagerly anticipated iPad software was released in May. It lets you utilise both front and rear cameras, share your screen, and make audio and video chats with up to 32 people. The web version of WhatsApp had to be used in a browser prior to the app’s release if you wanted to use it on your iPad.

A few months after Snapchat also released an app for the Apple Watch, WhatsApp has now released its own. Users of the app can preview incoming messages and respond with an emoji, keyboard, Scribble, or Dictation. The primary goal of Snapchat’s watchOS software is to allow users to reply to messages promptly, not to view photos or videos.

Some of the main features users should expect and that was mentioned in Meta’s announcement are;

Call notifications: You don’t need to look at your iPhone to see who is calling.

Complete text/ Full messages: Long WhatsApp messages are viewable right from your wrist, and you may read them in their entirety on an Apple Watch.

Written messages: You can use your watch to write and send messages.

Voice messages: Voice messages can be recorded and sent.

Reactions: You can send rapid emoji reactions to communications you receive.

The media experience: Your Apple Watch will display crisper pictures and stickers.

Conversation history: When reading messages, a larger portion of your conversation history is displayed on the screen.

The Apple Watch Series 4 and later models running watchOS 10 or later can access WhatsApp seamlessly.