diff --git a/telegram/files/file.py b/telegram/files/file.py
index af723df3e..1caec12b2 100644
--- a/telegram/files/file.py
+++ b/telegram/files/file.py
@@ -74,32 +74,34 @@ class File(TelegramObject):
         that object using the ``out.write`` method.
 
         Note:
-            `custom_path` and `out` are mutually exclusive.
+            :attr:`custom_path` and :attr:`out` are mutually exclusive.
 
         Args:
             custom_path (:obj:`str`, optional): Custom path.
-            out (:obj:`object`, optional): A file-like object. Must be opened in binary mode, if
-                applicable.
+            out (:obj:`io.BufferedWriter`, optional): A file-like object. Must be opened for
+                writing in binary mode, if applicable.
             timeout (:obj:`int` | :obj:`float`, optional): If this value is specified, use it as
                 the read timeout from the server (instead of the one specified during creation of
                 the connection pool).
 
+        Returns:
+            :obj:`str` | :obj:`io.BufferedWriter`: The same object as :attr:`out` if specified.
+            Otherwise, returns the filename downloaded to.
+
         Raises:
-            ValueError: If both ``custom_path`` and ``out`` are passed.
+            ValueError: If both :attr:`custom_path` and :attr:`out` are passed.
 
         """
         if custom_path is not None and out is not None:
             raise ValueError('custom_path and out are mutually exclusive')
 
         # Convert any UTF-8 char into a url encoded ASCII string.
-        sres = urllib_parse.urlsplit(self.file_path)
-        url = urllib_parse.urlunsplit(urllib_parse.SplitResult(
-            sres.scheme, sres.netloc, urllib_parse.quote(sres.path), sres.query, sres.fragment))
+        url = self._get_encoded_url()
 
         if out:
             buf = self.bot.request.retrieve(url)
             out.write(buf)
-
+            return out
         else:
             if custom_path:
                 filename = custom_path
@@ -107,3 +109,27 @@ class File(TelegramObject):
                 filename = basename(self.file_path)
 
             self.bot.request.download(url, filename, timeout=timeout)
+            return filename
+
+    def _get_encoded_url(self):
+        """Convert any UTF-8 char in :obj:`File.file_path` into a url encoded ASCII string."""
+        sres = urllib_parse.urlsplit(self.file_path)
+        return urllib_parse.urlunsplit(urllib_parse.SplitResult(
+            sres.scheme, sres.netloc, urllib_parse.quote(sres.path), sres.query, sres.fragment))
+
+    def download_as_bytearray(self, buf=None):
+        """Download this file and return it as a bytearray.
+
+        Args:
+            buf (:obj:`bytearray`, optional): Extend the given bytearray with the downloaded data.
+
+        Returns:
+            :obj:`bytearray`: The same object as :attr:`buf` if it was specified. Otherwise a newly
+            allocated :obj:`bytearray`.
+
+        """
+        if buf is None:
+            buf = bytearray()
+
+        buf.extend(self.bot.request.retrieve(self._get_encoded_url()))
+        return buf
diff --git a/tests/test_file.py b/tests/test_file.py
index a01b03e72..6028139b8 100644
--- a/tests/test_file.py
+++ b/tests/test_file.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # A library that provides a Python interface to the Telegram Bot API
 # Copyright (C) 2015-2018
@@ -16,6 +17,8 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
+import os
+from tempfile import TemporaryFile, mkstemp
 
 import pytest
 from flaky import flaky
@@ -36,6 +39,7 @@ class TestFile(object):
     file_path = (
         u'https://api.org/file/bot133505823:AAHZFMHno3mzVLErU5b5jJvaeG--qUyLyG0/document/file_3')
     file_size = 28232
+    file_content = u'Saint-Saëns'.encode('utf-8')  # Intentionally contains unicode chars.
 
     def test_de_json(self, bot):
         json_dict = {
@@ -65,11 +69,61 @@ class TestFile(object):
 
     def test_download(self, monkeypatch, file):
         def test(*args, **kwargs):
-            raise TelegramError('test worked')
+            return self.file_content
 
-        monkeypatch.setattr('telegram.utils.request.Request.download', test)
-        with pytest.raises(TelegramError, match='test worked'):
-            file.download()
+        monkeypatch.setattr('telegram.utils.request.Request.retrieve', test)
+        out_file = file.download()
+
+        try:
+            with open(out_file, 'rb') as fobj:
+                assert fobj.read() == self.file_content
+        finally:
+            os.unlink(out_file)
+
+    def test_download_custom_path(self, monkeypatch, file):
+        def test(*args, **kwargs):
+            return self.file_content
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr('telegram.utils.request.Request.retrieve', test)
+        file_handle, custom_path = mkstemp()
+        try:
+            out_file = file.download(custom_path)
+            assert out_file == custom_path
+
+            with open(out_file, 'rb') as fobj:
+                assert fobj.read() == self.file_content
+        finally:
+            os.close(file_handle)
+            os.unlink(custom_path)
+
+    def test_download_file_obj(self, monkeypatch, file):
+        def test(*args, **kwargs):
+            return self.file_content
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr('telegram.utils.request.Request.retrieve', test)
+        with TemporaryFile() as custom_fobj:
+            out_fobj = file.download(out=custom_fobj)
+            assert out_fobj is custom_fobj
+
+            out_fobj.seek(0)
+            assert out_fobj.read() == self.file_content
+
+    def test_download_bytearray(self, monkeypatch, file):
+        def test(*args, **kwargs):
+            return self.file_content
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr('telegram.utils.request.Request.retrieve', test)
+
+        # Check that a download to a newly allocated bytearray works.
+        buf = file.download_as_bytearray()
+        assert buf == bytearray(self.file_content)
+
+        # Check that a download to a given bytearray works (extends the bytearray).
+        buf2 = buf[:]
+        buf3 = file.download_as_bytearray(buf=buf2)
+        assert buf3 is buf2
+        assert buf2[len(buf):] == buf
+        assert buf2[:len(buf)] == buf
 
     def test_equality(self, bot):
         a = File(self.file_id, bot)