release of the Amazon Echo Show, which included Alexa’s smart speaker with a touchscreen for online searches, TV catch-up, recipe searches, and video conversations, smart displays have advanced significantly. Along with smart displays from Google Nest, Lenovo, and an alleged Apple model on the horizon, there are now several Echo Shows in a variety of sizes available.
When it comes time to choose a particular model, those options cause some uncertainty. You can choose the best smart display with the aid of our advice.
See also: 7 Ways You Should Be Using Your Smart Display But Aren’t
Decide what you want and where you want it.
On a wooden desk next to a container of writing instruments, an Echo Show 5 children’s model displays the moon on its screen.
For children, the Echo Show 5 is a great choice for video communication.
Amazon
What makes purchasing a smart display appealing to you? As AI is added to voice assistants, their capabilities continue to expand. Let’s begin with a list of things you would want to do with one:
Make use of a voice assistant at home like Siri, Google Gemini, or Alexa.
Video chat
Connect and manage smart home devices that are compatible.
Watch live video feeds from smart cameras that are linked.
For visual instructions, search for recipes, movies, and images.
To watch TV series or sports, sign up for streaming services like Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix.
Engage in interactive games.
Go over visual education classes in detail.
Look up charts, walkthroughs, or visual instructions.
Watch game playthroughs on YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms.
Purchase online
Play some music.
Show images as if they were in a digital picture frame.
Once you know what you need from a smart display, you’ll also know where you want it—as a bedroom alarm display, a fast method to talk to a kid or pet, a gaming companion, a kitchen assistant, or a controller for the whole home.
Remember that smart displays need an outlet to be plugged in, so you’ll need one close by.
Selecting a screen size
10-3 Amazon Echo Show
The Echo Show 10 from Amazon has one of the biggest display panels.
The variety of screen sizes available on smart screens is almost dizzying. Standard rectangular panels, both small and big, as well as tiny smart display dial-like screens, such as the Echo Spot ($80), have come and gone. Let’s simplify this procedure by giving you three options.
First, a larger screen is necessary if you want to view any kind of video, such as a culinary tutorial or the most recent Hulu episode. With 10-inch touchscreens, the Google Nest Hub Max ($230) and the Echo Show 10 ($250) are the best choices. If you like swiping and tapping the touchscreen to navigate through photos and search results, these screen sizes are also ideal.
Second, go for a tiny screen if you want a quieter, more background-friendly assistant for a smart display. Both the previously mentioned Echo Spot and the Echo Show 5 ($90) with its 8-inch screen may be used as entertaining small alarm clocks.
Both the 7-inch Google Nest Hub 2nd-Gen ($100) and the Echo Show 8 ($150) make excellent desktop companions or obedient smart home control centers that do tasks without requiring as much room as the larger counterparts. They also function well as picture displays.
Your home platforms and voice assistant
While some smart displays work better with smart homes than others, you need consider the platform you choose.
Which voice assistant is your favorite? Your display options will be significantly impacted by it. For instance, Echo Shows can only manage smart home devices that have Alexa connections and are compatible with Alexa. Only Google Assistant/Gemini and Google Home smart home devices are compatible with Google Nest Hubs. It’s also definitely worth waiting to see whether Apple produces a smart display in 2025 if you like Siri.
What is the finest home platform, then? Since voice assistants are undergoing several AI modifications and we are unsure of how things will ultimately turn out, there is no simple solution here. The best course of action is to check whether voice assistants are compatible with any smart home gadgets you presently own. Though it’s still a work in progress, matter is making this simpler.
Last but not least, the Amazon Echo Show 15 is devoted to providing you with an extra-large display that is only focused on your smart home.
The Google-Nest-Hub-Max-Back music sound
For its size, the Nest Hub Max has a noteworthy subwoofer.
What if you want to spend a lot of time using your smart display’s smart speaker features? A model that can fill a room with sound is what you’ll desire. The rounded Amazon Echo Show 10 is now the finest model for sound and music, and it has produced the greatest results while playing music. You can often stream the platform you already use since it can link to services like Spotify. The Google Nest Hub Max, with its 30W subwoofer, is a strong competitor, however.
Moveable smart screens
One of the few models that moves is the Echo Show 10.
As long as they have enough room, we’ve also seen smart displays that can move, particularly swivel and tilt. This function allows the display to rest at different angles and locations, which is helpful if you walk about a lot but still want to check the screen (for example, when cooking in the kitchen). It was originally marketed as a tool to monitor individuals during voice conversations.
Some moving smart displays, such as the briefly available Facebook Portal Plus (ahh, the heydays before Meta), have been discontinued. The Amazon Echo Show 10 is now your best bet, despite the fact that it may take up a lot more room than other screens and has a rather uncomfortable swiveling design.
How about the cost?
A view of a backyard cam is seen while a hand approaches to a Nest Hub on a counter.
Keeping an eye on loved ones is made simple with smart displays, but be sure the investment is worthwhile.
Nest by Google
As you may have observed, the smallest and most affordable smart display devices usually cost between $80 and $100. The most expensive variants may reach $250. We advise spending at least $100 on a display, and if you decide on a bigger display, be sure you’ll receive value for your money. To determine the final worth of a stand-alone device, you could wish to place a computer tablet in the area where you are thinking about installing a smart display and see how often you use it for related activities.
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Concluding remarks
Your house may benefit greatly from the installation of a smart display. By providing voice-activated assistants that can handle a range of activities for you, they increase convenience. For your first summer BBQ, do you need a recipe for the greatest barbecue rub? Asking a query is all that is required when using a smart display. Along with video conversations, games, and the ability to visualize whatever you want to know, some smart displays also improve home security by linking to smart doorbells and smart cameras.
The size of the screen, the voice assistant you like, and the location of the smart display are all important considerations when selecting a smart display. You’re prepared to make a decision now that you have the facts. See our comprehensive guide to the top smart home appliances and some significant privacy adjustments for Alexa for further details.