WhatsApp is reportedly working on playback speed controls for audio messages

Whatsapp Group Message on iPhone X (Image credit: Luke Filipowicz/iMore)

What you need to know

WhatsApp is reportedly testing new audio message playback speed controls.
WhatsApp already offers voice note playback speed controls.
Audio message controls are now being tested with TestFlight beta testers.

The popular instant messaging app WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature that will allow people to control the playback speed of audio messages. A similar feature already exists for voice notes.

Audio messages are essentially forwarded voice notes, but while the latter can have its playback speed manipulated by the user, that isn't the case with the former. According to a WABetaInfo post, that's going to change — and has already done so for those who are testing the WhatsApp beta release.

The feature to play voice notes using different playback speeds was a huge success. After releasing the feature on WhatsApp beta for Android 2.21.9.10 and WhatsApp Messenger beta for iOS 2.21.90.11 updates, WhatsApp is now working on a new version of the feature, making it compatible with audio messages.What's an audio message? It's simply a forwarded voice note. When you forward a voice note, it's not possible to speed up the audio because the playback speed button is not available, but a new feature is coming for it at a later date

Whatsapp Audio Note Controls (Image credit: WABetaInfo)

WhatsApp is considered by many to be the best iPhone app for sending and receiving messages instantly and across multiple devices — including Android hardware. Whilet his new feature is currently being tested with those on the iOS TestFlight beta, it seems likely that it will roll out to everyone soon enough.

Don't yet have WhatsApp installed? It's available in the App Store now — and it's free.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.

Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.