WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion monthly active users. However, WhatsApp was originally designed to work on smartphones with an internet connection. So can you use WhatsApp on a basic feature phone?
What is a feature phone?
A feature phone is a basic mobile phone that provides calling and text messaging functionality along with some additional features like a camera, FM radio, music player, etc. Feature phones run on proprietary operating systems and have limited computing power compared to smartphones. They typically do not have a full touchscreen interface or access to app stores like Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Examples of feature phone brands include Nokia, Samsung, Alcatel, etc.
What are the requirements to run WhatsApp?
To use WhatsApp, a phone must meet the following minimum requirements:
- An active internet connection (mobile data or Wi-Fi)
- A device with iOS 9 or later installed for iPhones
- Android OS 4.0.3 or later installed for Android phones
- A minimum of 100MB storage space
- A battery power for internet connection and data transfer
Additionally, WhatsApp recommends using the latest OS versions for the best experience. The app regularly stops supporting older OS versions.
Can feature phones run WhatsApp?
Most standard feature phones cannot run WhatsApp directly as they do not meet the minimum OS requirements. Feature phones run on proprietary firmware and lightweight operating systems like Nokia’s Series 30+, Series 40, etc. These OS versions cannot support apps like WhatsApp.
However, some specific feature phone models do support WhatsApp. These phones have enough processing power, storage, OS capabilities, and internet connectivity to install and run WhatsApp. Examples include:
| Phone Model | Operating System |
|---|---|
| Nokia 2720 Flip | KaiOS |
| Nokia 8110 4G | KaiOS |
| JioPhone 2 | KaiOS |
| Huawei Y5 lite | Android Oreo (Go edition) |
| Orange Sanza | KaiOS |
KaiOS – Enabling WhatsApp on feature phones
The most important factor that allows WhatsApp to work on some feature phones is the KaiOS operating system.
KaiOS is a lightweight mobile OS based on Linux and Firefox OS. It is optimized for low-end devices with limited hardware specifications like 256MB-512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage. KaiOS can run HTML5 apps and supports essential smartphone features like LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi, NFC, apps, camera, etc.
In 2018, WhatsApp officially launched for KaiOS-based phones like the JioPhone and Nokia 8110 4G. This allowed millions of feature phone users to use WhatsApp for the first time. WhatsApp on KaiOS provides nearly all the core messaging capabilities but misses out on some features like document sharing, payments and stickers.
Android Oreo (Go Edition) – Creating ‘lite’ Android for entry-level phones
Android Go is a stripped down version of Android optimized for low-end smartphones and feature phones. Android Oreo (Go edition) allows running essential apps like WhatsApp on phones with limited RAM, storage and processing capabilities.
Key capabilities of Android Oreo Go include:
- Works smoothly on phones with 1GB RAM or less
- Lightweight Google apps like Gmail Go, Maps Go, YouTube Go etc.
- Play Store access shows lite apps that use less memory and storage
- Data management features to minimize mobile data usage
By providing a lite OS experience, Android Oreo Go enables using apps like WhatsApp even on entry-level feature phones and smartphones.
Steps to use WhatsApp on a feature phone
If you have a feature phone model that supports WhatsApp like the JioPhone 2 or Nokia 8110 4G, follow these steps to install and start using WhatsApp:
- Check that your phone has an active internet connection and meets WhatsApp’s minimum OS requirements.
- Go to the app store on your device and search for ‘WhatsApp’. On KaiOS devices, this would be the KaiStore.
- Download and install the WhatsApp application on your phone.
- Open WhatsApp and agree to the Terms of Service.
- Verify your mobile number by entering it and completing the OTP verification process.
- Once verified, WhatsApp will automatically detect your contacts who also use WhatsApp.
- You can now chat with your contacts, make calls and send files up to 100MB in size.
Using WhatsApp on a feature phone provides a convenient communication option even if you don’t have a smartphone. However, keep in mind you may miss out on some specialized WhatsApp features.
Conclusion
While most basic feature phones cannot support WhatsApp directly, some specific models with KaiOS or Android Go edition can run WhatsApp. Key requirements are an active internet connection, adequate processing power and OS capabilities. Models like JioPhone 2, Nokia 8110 4G and Orange Sanza allow accessing WhatsApp messaging on feature phones. With over 2 billion users, WhatsApp is an essential communication app – having it available on feature phones makes it more accessible worldwide.