Comparison: What are the best mobile video chat apps?
Alyssa Waller, Staff Writer
With video chatting becoming such an important method of communication in COVID-19 times, there are various video chat apps with different features allowing you to choose the best platform for your needs.
Here are some of the most common ones in use. It doesn’t matter if you have an Andriod, an iPhone or even a Windows phone, there is a video chat application for you.
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Snapchat
On Snapchat, the connection can be a little spotty, or it will cut in and out. When leaving the app, the video pauses, but the other person can still be heard. At the bottom of the screen, there’s a mute button, a camera toggle and another button to turn off video. In between this button and the mute button is a small video of the user.
For Instagram, there is a split-screen as opposed to Snapchat where the user’s image is smaller and in the bottom middle. One can add more people to the video call on Instagram with the add button on the bottom right corner. The video, microphone and switch camera buttons are on the top instead of the bottom. Also, someone has to send a message first before calling. If one leave the app, the video disappears, but it still sends and receives the users’ voices. Certain features are slightly different depending on the phone; some versions have a special effects button.
Duo
Duo is owned by Google and is similar to FaceTime. iPhone users can also download Duo. With Duo, if a user leaves the app, they can still see the person as well as hear them. As with the others, there’s a mute toggle, and camera toggle. Duo also features a screenshare mode and lowlight mode.
Zoom
Zoom requires one user to set up a meeting and for the other to accept, though sometimes it automatically accepts depending on the settings. The camera does not show if the app has been closed, but you can still hear the other person. Zoom users get to enjoy the virtual background on both desktop and mobile.
