WhatsApp is getting closer to reaching the iPad. After years of waiting, Meta decided to please users and is already testing a version of the popular messaging client optimized for the Apple tablet. In accordance with WABetaInfo, latest beta update adds support for iPadso those lucky ones who are in the program will be able to install it through TestFlight.
WhatsApp for iPad adapts its user interface to take advantage of the screen size, so we can view the list of conversations and the chat window at the same time. Shortcuts to calls, messages, statuses and settings are found in a menu in the lower left corner, just like the iOS client.
Judging by the image, Meta has not racked his brains when designing this version. Unlike the native app for Mac that they launched a few weeks ago, the engineers did not make radical changes and the messaging client works almost the same as on the iPhone. The great advantage is that there is no longer a stuffy user interface which does not allow us to chat and view our contact list at the same time.
Rumors about a version of WhatsApp for iPad have circulated for years, although it was not until 2019 that the conditions were met to develop it. The first evidence of multi-device support opened the door to enjoying the popular application somewhere other than mobile. WABetaInfo reported at the time that Meta was working on a version for iPad that would have all the functions, however, it never materialized.
Although the conditions exist to have a version of WhatsApp for iPad, Meta has never shown interest in developing it. Those led by Mark Zuckerberg do not have a successful track record on the Apple platform to date. the only application that takes advantage of the tablet is Messenger. The good news is that that could change very soon.
To use WhatsApp for iPad, first you will need to have the beta installed on iOS. Subsequently, you must go to the menu Setting and select Linked devices to access the QR code that you must scan using your iPad camera. Once activated, you will be able to message your contacts on both devices without having to log out of any of them.
WhatsApp for iPad sync all messages and does not require your iPhone to be connected to the internet, since they operate independently. WABetaInfo indicates that some features of this version do not work 100%, such as posting or reading statuses or sharing location in real time. As this is a preliminary version, it is normal for these types of errors to exist, although WhatsApp announced that it will resolve them in the next versions.
At the moment there is no set date for the launch of WhatsApp for iPad. Some features — like dark mode — often spend months in testing, so Meta may take its time before rolling it out to the public.