Phone call vs. Video call: Which is better?

Dae Alston (Video Call)

In a world where technology connects us faster than ever, video calling has taken center stage as the superior communication tool, surpassing traditional phone calls on multiple fronts. The key advantage of video calls lies in their ability to convey more than just words. Participants can see each other's facial expressions and body language, adding a new layer of communication that phone calls lack. These non-verbal cues foster better understanding, empathy, and engagement, resulting in more effective conversations.

Video calls offer a comprehensive view of the other person's surroundings and context. This becomes particularly valuable in remote work meetings, online presentations, or virtual interviews, where understanding the environment can help build rapport and enhance collaboration. Video calls, likewise, bridge the gap of physical distance, strengthening personal connections like never before. Whether it's staying in touch with loved ones, catching up with friends, or collaborating with colleagues, being able to see each other face-to-face, even through a screen, nurtures relationships and diminishes feelings of isolation. This is especially invaluable in long-distance relationships and remote work setups.

Video calls come equipped with features like screen sharing, a game-changer for collaborative work, troubleshooting, and training sessions—the ability to share documents, presentations, or software interfaces in real time boosts productivity and streamlines communication.

While phone calls remain relevant for quick interactions, video calling elevates communication to a whole new level. By capturing facial expressions, providing visual context, deepening personal connections, and supporting seamless collaboration, video calling has rightfully earned its place as the preferred mode of communication in today's tech-savvy world.

Elisa (Phone Call)

While phone calls may seem outdated to some, classic calls are still better than video calls, as a humble, spoken voice can be just as emotive or even more so on a regular phone call. The first problem with video calls is the endless technology issues. Video calls take more bandwidth and have more connection issues. One of the most frustrating aspects of a video call is the amount of time spent fixing video, microphone, and connectivity issues. By the time they are fixed, people are already fatigued.

Believe it or not, video calling can reduce collective intelligence, as it leads to ‘unequal contribution to conversation and disrupts vocal synchrony.’ Further, it’s easy to ‘zone out’ during video calls, and what’s going on in the background can often distract from the primary message of the call. However, a spontaneous phone call requires much less preparation than a video call. From technology issues to ensuring background is presentable to having to “schedule” a call, video calls are a lot of work and can be exhausting. Ultimately, research shows that video calls can drain energy and decrease overall productivity. 

This explains the ‘Zoom Fatigue’ many felt both during and after the pandemic, with an overreliance on video calls leading to stress, anxiety, and even depression. In fact, most workers prefer phone calls over video calls because of the flexibility. Thankfully, a phone call can be done nearly anywhere, any place, anytime, especially if you have time to kill at the airport or bus stop—whenever you need a time killer. Besides, in our already busy lives, phone calls are less burdensome and are making a comeback.