Google Meet Introduces New Mobile Portrait Touch-Up to Rival Zoom

Highlights

• Google Meet launches portrait touch-up feature for mobile users with Google Workspace accounts.
• Phased rollout begins on mobile platforms with plans to extend to web interface by year’s end.
• Feature offers two modes for appearance enhancement: “subtle” and “smoothing.”

Google Meet is stepping up its game by launching a new portrait touch-up feature for its mobile app, aimed at Google Workspace users.

This much-anticipated upgrade offers users the ability to enhance their appearance subtly during video calls, bringing it at par with Zoom, which has offered a similar function for quite some time.

According to an official post on the Workspace Updates blog, Google is set to initiate a phased rollout of this feature for mobile devices, with plans to extend it to the web interface by year’s end.

This feature aims to give users the capability to modify their appearance modestly from the so-called “green room” before or during a meeting.

For those interested in using the portrait touch-up feature, it can be activated via the meeting settings in the Google Meet app on either Android or iOS platforms.

Once a video call is underway, you would tap on the three-dot menu at the bottom right of the screen, navigate to “Settings,” and then switch on the “Portrait touch-up” option under the “Video” segment.

Starting October 28, Google Workspace account holders will have the option to fine-tune their appearance in two different modes while using the mobile app.

The “subtle” touch-up will offer minimal improvements like lightening the skin under the eyes and whitening the eyes.

On the other hand, the “smoothing” mode will offer these enhancements but with a more noticeable effect.

However, it’s worth mentioning that this feature will not be activated by default and is slated to become available on the desktop version by the close of the year.

Sadly, Google has made it clear that this functionality will not extend to personal account holders in the foreseeable future.

As a point of reference, Zoom has already offered a similar feature for years, allowing users to alter their appearance in real time with settings to smooth out skin imperfections.

FAQs

Who can access Google Meet’s new portrait touch-up feature?

The feature is currently only available to Google Workspace account holders using the mobile app.

When will the portrait touch-up feature be available on the web interface?

The web interface will include this feature by the end of the year.

Are there different modes for the touch-up feature?

Yes, there are two modes: a subtle touch-up for minimal enhancements and a smoothing mode for more noticeable effects.

Will this feature be available for personal Google Account holders?

No, Google has no current plans to extend this feature to users with personal Google Accounts.