WhatsApp had always lacked an iPad version of the app, making users run through a few hoops to get the text messaging platform running on their tablets. However, with recent improvements to WhatsApp that now allows users to have one WhatsApp account running across multiple smartphones, it looks like WhatsApp will also soon be available via a native app on the iPad too.
According to WABetaInfo, they’ve found that one of the latest updates to the WhatsApp app on the Apple TestFlight beta program includes a compatible beta with the iPad. Screenshots of the WhatsApp for iPad app shows a fairly familiar layout, similar to the regular iOS app, except that you can now find your contacts and chat history with specific users all on the same screen now.
If you happen to be part of the WhatsApp TestFlight beta program, you’ll be able to download the WhatsApp beta version on both your iPad and your iPhone. You can then use your smartphone with WhatsApp on it to scan the QR code on your iPad under the ‘Linked devices’ section in the Setting page. Just like setting up a second smartphone with the same WhatsApp account, once you’ve hooked up the iPad to your WhatsApp account you’ll be able to use WhatsApp on the tablet by itself. This means that you won’t have to keep your smartphone with you by your side and connected to the internet, which should be great news to those of you who use an iPad for productivity.
That being said, because it is a beta version of WhatsApp for iPad, there are still some features not properly working. For instance, those using the WhatsApp for iPad beta app have reported that the ability to view and post status updates aren’t working as intended just yet, while the live location feature is a little buggy too. Unfortunately for iPad users not part of the WhatsApp TestFlight beta program, there’s no word just yet on when it’ll be available to the public.
