A native experience with all of the great WhatsApp features, including the ability to natively receive push notifications, will be a nice upgrade for those who prefer to use the desktop for messaging. Using WhatsApp on the desktop without going to a web browser is an excellent step in the right direction. It's unclear when the iPad app will be released. All three applications will work with WhatsApp's multi-device feature, so there is no need to have a phone on and connected to the internet to use the apps. In both cases, the app will be created based on universal APIs, making it easier to develop for their respective ecosystems. The Mac version of WhatsApp is interesting as the publication says that it's based on the unreleased iPad app, with some minor tweaks. The Windows app will be built under the Universal Windows Platform, and the Mac app will be built under Apple's Catalyst. WABetaInfo is now reporting that WhatsApp is developing Windows and Mac applications. Related: Universal Apps: Best macOS Apps Compatible With M1 Macs (So Far)

WhatsApp makes it clear that multi-device still maintain end-to-end encryption.

Before, there wasn't an easy way to access WhatsApp on another device without having a primary device connected to the internet.

Regardless, multi-device is a fantastic feature and is welcomed for those who carry multiple phones. So these limitations could be a product of being in beta.

Whatsapp ipad beta