Google Meet is one of the most used platforms to make voice calls, and video calls, over the Internet. Google offers us a fast, very easy to use and configure, and secure platform to carry out both those calls with friends and to deal with the most sensitive issues of the company. However, since its launch this platform has been dragging a handicap: the resolution of the webcams. Handicap that, on the other hand, has just been eradicated on the platform.
Until now, the maximum resolution of video calls made with Meet was 720p, an HD resolution, sufficient for most cases, but which could sometimes leave something to be desired. After users have been asking for it for a long time, Google has updated the platform to add support for FullHD resolutions. Thanks to this, we will be able to make our video calls with a 1080p resolution, making the other participants see us much better.
To be able to use the new Full HD video calls, we only need to meet two conditions. The first one is to have a webcam that supports that resolution (since not all reach 1080p and stay at 720p). And the second, having a computer powerful enough to be able to move freely in video calls with two or more participants.
Of course, this functionality is not free, and will only be available to users who, in one way or another, go through the checkout at Google.
More quality in Meet for subscribers
Unfortunately (and, somewhat, unsurprisingly), Google isn’t turning this feature on for all users for free, instead it’s an exclusive feature for those who pay for their subscription model, Google One, or some similar. Specifically, the company has stated that 1080p video calls will only be available for those who pay for the Google One 2TB subscription (or any higher modality), as well as for the following business plans:
- Google Workspace
- business standard
- Business Plus
- Enterprise Starter
- Enterprise Standard
- EnterprisePlus,
- Teaching and Learning Upgrade
- EducationPlus
- Enterprise Essentials
- front line
If we are one of the chosen users, and we have a camera with Full HD resolution, when we make a video call with co-workers we will be able to see a notice that will indicate that we can enable this quality improvement so that others can see us at 1080p. That does not mean that we will see others in this resolution, unless they also meet the requirements and activate it manually like us.
Little by little, Google Meet is introducing interesting functions and features for everyone. For example, the possibility of recording meetings and saving them in the cloud, real-time subtitles, AI backgrounds and the possibility of reacting, live, with emojis. With all this, Google continues trying (although they are successful) to be ahead of other alternatives, such as Skype, Teams or Slack, when it comes to holding meetings or personal video calls.
