Which video call app uses less battery
Technology has made the world even smaller using video calling applications like Whatsapp, Zoom, Skype, and many more. It has made communication a lot easier and cheaper. You can have group meetings with a presentation just like you would in an office.
This has led to the rise of remote working that has seen employers and employees saving on costs including office space and transportation costs, increased output, and made socializing easier with anyone around the world. However, these apps also come at a cost of draining your battery. All of them consume power, but which one has the least consumption rate?
FaceTime from Apple uses the least amount of battery when you make a video call. However, it’s only limited to iOS devices. For cross-platform video calling Google Duo from Google has the least battery consumption. This varies based on other activities running on the phone.
| A list of video call apps that use less battery |
| FaceTime |
| Google Duo |
Video calling applications like Facebook Messenger and Skype use more battery due to the requirements like logging in. You can however choose to use these apps on your desktop to save your mobile phone battery from rapidly draining.
Table of Contents
How a video calling app uses your phone’s battery
Video Call apps need quality video and sound which uses the battery to function properly. These apps require your phone’s camera and microphone. When you grant these apps permissions to access these resources, it uses your CPU, and eventually, your battery gets drained. You need a camera for videos and a microphone for voice which will use your battery during a call. So when you are actively and continuously using a data connection to make a call, it’s very power-sensitive.
The camera and microphone are continuously running while the phone’s processor is doing a video compression and decompression for playback. The internet on the phone ensures that the conversion does not have a lag or doesn’t pause between the time that you say something and when the other person hears it.
Other factors that determine how much battery your phone uses when using video call apps is their activities in the background. When you have other applications running in the background, it will drain your battery quickly. Another reason for battery consumption is the phone settings that you use while video calling. Settings such as your phone’s brightness contribute to your battery draining faster.
How to lower video call app’s battery consumption
There are different ways of reducing a video calling app’s battery consumption with the key one being a reduction in video quality. Most video apps allow you to adjust the quality of the video for example from 1080p to 720p which will half the battery usage. Another key consumer of your battery are notifications like chat messages on these video apps. You can adjust the settings to only allow important notifications. This will go a long way in boosting your battery retention.
Screen brightness is also another cause of battery charge drainage. It consumes a lot of power when higher. Cut it down by using a high brightness level only when outside during the daytime. When indoors or in bed, lower it. Most apps nowadays have a dark mode that you can activate. From most user reviews, using dark mode has reduced their battery consumption.
Final Thoughts
Video calling applications have changed the communication landscape, giving rise to habit changes like working from home or remotely, and keeping in touch with loved ones over the phone. However, your phone’s battery is also a matter of concern, and finding a balance between the two factors is vital.
FAQs
Why is my battery draining power even when I’m not using it?
A phone has apps installed on it. These apps use power and based on the permissions you’ve granted them during installation, they can still run in the background and do things like updates, sending notifications, and so on. Also, settings like Bluetooth, geographical location, and Wi-Fi being on means power is consumed.
Between WhatsApp and FaceTime, which app should I choose?
Both apps are brilliant in performance. However, FaceTime is only available on iOS while WhatsApp is available on both iOS and Android. Despite this, the choice comes down to your preference and whom you want to communicate with.
