Windows PC users have the option to mirror their Android phone to the big screen using the Phone Link tool which lets you access messages and even notify about calls. But soon, Android users could have Apple’s Continuity-like feature on Windows thanks to the same tool which already links an Android phone with a PC.
What this means is your high-def camera phone could double up as a webcam for PCs letting you take meetings and video calls with extra clarity. This useful feature isn’t available yet but reports suggest that Android 14 users could get it with the December 2023 feature drop which could mean that Pixel users could make use of the camera’s versatility.
The hints of this feature have been spotted in the Phone Link Windows app which also suggests the phone’s camera can support filters, HDR effects and even improve the stabilisation if you’re on the move. Continuity for Apple devices works seamlessly and wirelessly, going by the codes of the Windows app, it is not clear which way Android 14 users will be making use of this webcam feature.
Smartphones have become powerful enough these days to run as a full-fledged PC. If Android users do get the chance to optimise their PCs webcam quality to 1080p without investing in a new model, most people would happily jump ship. It is vital that Android doesn’t limit the access to the camera’s features and Windows allows full compatibility to upgrade people’s webcam quality. We have seen Apple show its real value with Continuity that lets you use iPhones as a high-res webcam for Macs, and the new developments will excite Windows users for all these reasons.
While the phone-to-webcam tool might be rolling out in December, the official hardware support might not happen until early 2024 when the likes of the OnePlus 12 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 series will be announced. We’re hoping that Microsoft allows older Android 14-supported phones to get the extended support which could bring millions of devices to the Phone Link app.
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