Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Learn more.
The WhatsApp on iPad dream is tantalisingly close
In This Article
WhatsApp is about to end the long wait for an iPad app, according to a newly released beta version for Apple devices.
While iPhone, Apple Watch (by enabling notifications) Mac, and the Safari browser are all compatible with the Meta-owned communications app,iPadusers have been out in the cold. At least from a native app perspective.
Save £6 on a handy iPhone 15 power bank
Now the iPhone 15 is USB-C, there are some new accessories to be had. The Anker Nano Power Bank has a 5,000mAh battery and the ability to transfer that power rapidly.
That’s about to change, according to theWABetaInforeport, which shows closed beta testers are now able to use the app natively on iPad.
The advantage, of course, is similar to using on desktop; the ability to use a tabbed interface with the chat list on the left and the message content of the selected chat on the right. The app can be connected to a WhatsApp account in the usual fashion, by scanning a QR code with your phone.
A test version of the app, which is available only to members of the closed beta via TestFlight, is the first proper confirmation we’ve seen that an iPad app is coming. You can see it manifest in the image below.
It’s been more than 18-months since WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart confirmed (viaThe Verge): “People have wanted an iPad app for a long time. We’d love to do it.”
Initially, there was a reason for WhatsApp to avoid an iPad; the need for connection to a phone number to sync to other devices. Remember when you’d lose connection to the web-based version if, for instance, your phone batter died, for example?
These days, while you still need an active phone number for WhatsApp, the various apps don’t require the phone to be connected to the internet in order to send and receive messages. The fully web-based element has been great forsyncing content between the various appsand all without without breaking the end-to-end encryption.
An iPad app would be the cherry on the cake for some users, and it now appears to be in the works. WhatsApp has been great for pushing features out quickly in recent months, so this might arrive sooner rather than later.
You might like…
Chris Smith is a freelance technology journalist for a host of UK tech publications, including Trusted Reviews. He’s based in South Florida, USA. …
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
