WeChat, messaging apps, Tencent Messaging app

If you’re staying social using WeChat on iOS and Android, you’ll soon be able to expand your friend base beyond your own language and into the realms of other languages from around the world. That’s right, WeChat 5.3 is here and it’s bringing a hold-to-translate feature with it.

Using the new feature, you can now chat with your buddies in over 20 langauges with extra ease, by simply typing in your chosen language and let WeChat be your personal translator. It’s not exactly a built-in experience like the translator here on TruTower but it’s pretty close, and more than ample for keeping in touch with even more people.

WeChat 5.3 lets you translate conversations in over 20 languages

Simply tap and hold on the text you’d like to translate and you’ll be prompted with a self-explanatory Translate option.

WeChat 5.3 also adds an option for keeping your conversations while in group chat private with the Groups with Password feature. Using a secret 4-digit code that stands between the outside world and your private conversation, you can continue participating in group chats while keeping things a little closer to the chest.

To set up a private group chat, simply access your chats and then select the Plus (+) symbol, select Group Chat, and then Join Private Group. Finally, enter the passcode and select Join this group.

Finally, the new update adds a new face to the WeChat Sticker Shop: Boy A. WeChat described him to us as “an imaginative 7-year old boy created by Hong Kong artist b.wing. Dive into a whimsical world with Boy A in his adorable costume and add a bit of quirky imagination to your chats with this latest set of free animated stickers on the WeChat Sticker Shop.”

Other changes include:

  • Add tags to favorite messages for quick searches
  • Select multiple messages and add them to Favorites

WeChat is already giving WhatsApp a run for the top spot in today’s messaging market. The Asian application has nearly 400 million users as of last month and continues to grow alongside other heavy hitters like Viber, LINE and Skype.

No word on when these changes will be coming to other platforms. The new update can be downloaded via Google Play and iTunes. What do you think of these changes? Let us know in the comments!

Avatar photo

By Josh Robert Nay

Josh Robert Nay is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TruTower. He has worked in the telecommunications industry since 2003 and specializes in GSM based technology. He also uses (too many) VoIP apps and is a long-time user of BlackBerry, Android, and Windows Phone. He adores anything having to do with space exploration and writing. In addition to the links below, he can be found on LinkedIn and can also be found on his website at http://www.joshrobertnay.com.