Google brings 1080p resolution to Meet. But read the fine print first.

Google brings 1080p resolution to Meet. But read the fine print first.

In an official post, Google announced that it is bringing 1080p resolution to Google Meet video calls to allow users to experience HD video calls. This brings it in line with Microsoft Teams and Zoom which allowed the functionality earlier.

However, this upgrade from 720p to 1080p is only available to paid account users. Basically Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Plus, Enterprise Essentials, and Frontline customers. Google One subscribers can also access the higher resolution if they have at least 2TB of storage on their device.

Note that this feature is OFF by default and has to be enabled by the user.

It is also currently only available on the web version of Google Meet, requires a user to have a webcam with 1080p capabilities, and is limited to two-person meetings. Google also says that additional bandwidth is required to be able to send 1080p video with Meet automatically adjusting the resolution your device is bandwidth constrained.

Google will the rolling out the increased resolution to customers in rapid-release domains after 25 April and for those in scheduled-release domains after 4 May.

For 1080p video resolution in Zoom, you need to be on a Business, Education, or Enterprise account with the setting enabled by Zoom Support. But it also only supports two participants, with any more than two kicking the resolution back down to 720p.

With Microsoft Teams on the other hand, 1,000 is the maximum number of people a Teams call supports at the highest quality of 1080p. But this is also dependent on several factors. Where bandwidth isn't limited, Teams optimises media quality, including high-fidelity audio, up to 1080p video resolution, and up to 30fps (frames per second) for video and content.