Top new features coming to WhatsApp soon; check list

A number of new WhatsApp features are coming to your smartphone soon. Check what you will get.

The WhatsApp list of upcoming features includes the option to manage chat backups and pause voice recordings. (Pixabay)

WhatsApp recently started rolling out end-to-end encrypted chat backups in the beta version of its Android app. Now, new reports have detailed a bunch of new features that will be coming to WhatsApp in the coming days. The list includes the option to manage chat backups and pause voice recordings. Let's go through them one by one.

Manage Chat Backups

According to a report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working on a feature that will enable users to manage the size of their chat backups that is saved on the cloud. This will happen through a series of controls that will enable WhatsApp users to pick the kind of data, such as audio files, photos, and videos, that they want to save as a part of their chat backup. The blog site says that after enabling end-to-end encrypted backups in the 2.21.21.5 beta update, WhatsApp is releasing the possibility to encrypt the backup for more beta testers starting today. This update is available in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.21.21.7.

A screenshot of the feature shared by the company that once rolled out, WhatsApp users will get a total of five controls that will enable them to control the size of their chat backup. This includes photos, videos, audio files, documents and other media files. Toggling any of these buttons on or off will enable WhatsApp users to include or exclude them from the chat backup on Google Cloud. These controls will be available under a separate Manage Backup Size section, which is still under development.

Pause Voice Recordings

In addition to this WhatsApp is also working on a feature that will enable users to pause voice recordings while recording them. This feature will give users more control over their voice messages by not forcing them to stop and re-record a new message. Once users stop a voice recording they will see another record button. On tapping this button they will be able to resume recording the voice note. This feature is in development for WhatsApp for iOS. It is already available on WhatsApp beta for Android. It is expected to be available to WhatsApp's beta testers soon.

New Contact Info Design

WhatsApp is also working on a new contact info design. The new contact info design page is quite similar to the redesigned contact info section for WhatsApp's business app. As a part of the redesign, when users click on a contact's profile picture, they will see three options -- one to chat, the second is to make an audio call and the third to make a video call. Under it, users will be able to see their contact's description. This redesign is available as a part of WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.21.19.2. There is no word on when it will be available within the main app.