ok so when I still had whatsapp, I did not notice it increased battery usage.
then I uninstalled it. I was never using it anyway, everyone I actually talk to used Telegram.
then I got an additional hour of battery life out of my phone.
and there is a way to use telegram without using your screen. use telegram desktop.
if you want, you can even turn off your phone while using telegram desktop as there is no constant connection between the phone and the desktop.
sure you can use whatsapp webb, but your phone will constantly be connecting and using data, thus draining battery.
as far as what is better. its pretty simple. there are some of us that lead the way, and move to Android/iOs while the other plebs use blackberries.
there are some people who used whatsapp while everyone used BBM.
now a few years later, the early adopters have moved away from whatsapp. #justsaying.