In the final few years of the last decade, digital assistants penetrated
our homes in the form of smart speakers and smart displays. A smart
speaker allows you to manage connected devices hands-free and listen to
your favorite tunes while also getting help organizing your day. With a
smart display, you get the same functionality with the inbuilt bonus of a
color touchscreen. From flashing up your photos when the device is idle
to allowing you to watch movie clips, music videos and place video
calls, smart displays are highly versatile. Primarily voice-controlled,
your smart display is a command center and entertainment device rolled
into one so which ones are worth your time? We’ll help you out today in
our brief guide aimed at beginners unsure of which smart display to
choose. We’ll kick off with Amazon’s bench of models before checking out
offerings from Google and Lenovo. Buckle up and see which one makes the
best fit for your connected home…
Amazon
First to market with smart speakers and smart displays, the Echo Show range is a vehicle for Alexa and the go-to choice.
Echo Show
Launched in mid-2017, the original iteration of Echo Show had a 7-inch
screen to garnish search with a visual layer. Now into its second
generation and boasting an inflated 10-inch display, this iconic smart
display remains a valid purchase in 2020. Smart displays are not
intended to be fully-featured tablets. As such, Echo Show acts to bring
out the best in Alexa. You’ll also benefit from watching your favorite
music videos and other content in full HD. As with all smart displays,
Echo Show comes into its own when it comes to home automation. You won’t
need a third-party hub to take charge of compatible Zigbee devices
hands-free. The speaker is much more robust than you’ll find on Echo so
you can listen to your playlists with more purpose. Hands-free messaging
is convenient. The large screen renders video calls a cinch with Skype.
The main drawbacks with Alexa are a heavy bias toward Amazon services,
no physical shutter to block the camera and underwhelming screen skills.
Overall, Echo Show is a wise addition to any smart home and functions
as an entertainment and control hub.
Echo Show 5
If you like the idea of a smart display but you’ve got limited space to
accommodate another new device, why not consider the scaled-down Echo Show 5?
You’ll get a 5.5-inch screen with overall dimensions a slight 5.8 x 3.4
x 2.9 inches. Whether you want Echo Show in the bedroom or on a crowded
living room shelf, you won’t need much space. Audio is boisterous
considering the compact footprint. The full-range speaker gives you
lively sound across all frequencies. You can crank up the volume without
too much impact on sound quality. The camera comes with a physical
shutter to address privacy concerns. You can use this to enjoy
hands-free calls between Echo devices or to anyone with the Alexa app.
As a further nod to your privacy, your voice is only streamed to the
cloud when Echo Show 5 recognizes the wake word. For a compact and
highly affordable entry-point to digital assistants and smart displays, Echo Show 5 is one of our personal favorites.
Echo Show 8
Falling in between these pair of smart displays, Echo Show 8 has an
8-inch HD screen and a pair of powerful speakers. In many ways, this is
the best all-rounder giving you ample screen real estate in a compact
unit. Measuring up at 8 x 5.4 x 3.9 inches, Echo Show manages to pack in
4 mics along with those 2 neodymium speakers to deliver a robust
package. Expect the same performance as you’ll get across the Echo range
with the screen acting as a nice counterpoint to Alexa. You can also
get timers on screen, useful when you’re cooking. When you call up
recipes, you’ll benefit from video tutorials along with detailed
walkthroughs. You can even see what you need to pop on your shopping
list on-screen. Grab video feeds from your security cameras or video
doorbell on Echo Show 8’s screen and or make video calls hands-free.
There’s no support for Netflix and you’ll find YouTube a very awkward
experience. You’re forced to use the inbuilt browser. Things are clunky
to say the least. So, if you’re looking for a screen large enough to
enjoy music videos, a serviceable speaker, and a method of smart home
control in one, check out Echo Show 8.
Echo Spot
Echo Spot is a rare beast… A discontinued product we still think makes
perfect sense if you act quickly while stocks remain. The smallest smart
display on the market, the 2.5-inch screen is not fit for watching a
movie but serves a turn when you need a visual prompt. The key selling
point of Echo Spot is the fact such a tiny unit puts you in hands-free
control of your connected home. This model is ideal for bedroom use as
it won’t dominate your dresser. While the soundscape is lacking, you can
hook Echo Spot up to third-party speakers if you’re looking for
superior audio. If you’re looking for a low-key smart display with a
diminutive footprint, buy Echo Spot while you’ve still got the chance.
Google Nest
If you prefer using Google Assistant, the mighty G has a couple of proprietary smart displays well worth your consideration.
Google Nest Hub
If you prefer Google Assistant to Alexa, you can pick up a couple of
Google smart displays bringing your favorite AI-fueled virtual butler
home. Previously called Google Home Hub, the original name was poorly
conceived. This device has none of the features you’d expect from a
smart home hub. What you get instead is a rebranded smart display called
Google Nest Hub. If you’re already heavily invested into Google’s
ecosystem, this device makes perfect sense. While Echo Show can flash up
appointments Google Calendar or a video feed from your Nest camera,
integration is not as strong. Slightly smaller than Echo Show 8 with a
7-inch screen, Nest Hub is small enough to fit on a nightstand or
dresser. Marketed as a digital art frame, you can display all your
latest and favorite Google Photos. The screen self-optimizes to lighting
conditions bringing out the very best in picture quality. The lack of a
camera prevents you from placing video calls. On the plus side, no
camera means no concerns about privacy either. Where Nest Hub falls down
is in terms of sound quality. The driver simply can’t compete with the
dual-speakers on Echo Show 8. If music is your first love, consider
shifting allegiance to Amazon. For a capable all-rounder giving you
complete control of your connected home with Google Assistant, Nest Hub
is a solid choice.
Google Nest Hub Max
Supersize things with Nest Hub Max stepping up to a 10-inch screen
comparable with that of Echo Show. If you’re looking to display your
pictures and you’re a Google Photos user, Hub Max renders them
exquisitely. Unlike Alexa-enabled devices, Nest Hub Max returns a
personalized experience based on who is looking at the screen. Smart
home control is robust and Nest Hub Max has a camera you can use for
either video calling or home security. As you’d expect considering the
screen size, overall dimensions make this smart display a solid choice
for the living room or the kitchen. If you’re looking for a bedroom
device, you might consider Nest Hub. It doesn’t have a camera so you
won’t have any security concerns. It’s also much more suited to use on a
nightstand. OK… How about if you fancy a break from the big two and
none of these displays fit your needs? Well, you should give due
consideration to Lenovo who make some highly capable smart displays
packing Google Assistant.
The Best of the Rest
Also packing Google Assistant onboard, Lenovo has multiple smart
displays that merit further investigation when you’re on the buying
trail.
Lenovo Smart Display 7
The first of a trio of smart displays from Lenovo that play nice with Google Nest kit is Smart Display 7.
The sleekest of the Lenovo displays, design nevertheless polarizes
opinion. Many feel this is not such a looker as Nest Hub but design is
subjective. If you’re sold on the looks, what’s so good about Smart
Display 7? Running on Android Things, you can kickstart your day using
Google Assistant for help with your commute, the weather report, and the
news. The 5-watt speaker is punchy enough to bring your playlists to
life. What’s even better is navigating your media without lifting a
finger or getting up off the couch. A physical shutter to cover the
camera and a button to mute the microphone keeps your privacy uppermost.
Lenovo Smart Display 8
The raking asymmetric design of Smart Display 8 is not to everyone’s
taste. The same could be said for the unwavering wake words, “Hey, Google”
but what about the benefits? The slightly more substantial screen real
estate might not be intended for watching full-length movies but ensures
music videos are more than watchable. Unlike Smart Display 7, the
display is HD for added crispness and clarity. The display comes in
especially handy in the kitchen. Multiple use cases from timers to
guided recipes to help with your shopping list make Smart Display 8 a
neat kitchen companion. Smart home device management couldn’t be much
easier. Use Google Assistant to control all compatible devices with a
series of voice commands. The dual mics mean you shouldn’t have too much
problem making your virtual butler understood even if the room is
crowded and busy.
Lenovo Smart Display 10
The beefiest Lenovo, Smart Display 10 goes head-to-head with Echo Show
and Google Nest Hub Max in the battle of the big boys. Watching your
streamed media is a more pleasurable experience when viewed on this
10-inch screen. These benefits also extend to video calling. If you
spend a lot of time chatting with friends and family online, the calling
experience is first-rate. Unfortunately, the size doesn’t translate to
show-stopping audio. Sound is decent but hardly room-filling. Smart
Display 10 certainly won’t be replacing your primary listening device
any time soon. As you’d expect, this smart display delivers roundly when
it comes to smart home control. Ditch the remote and stop fiddling
around with apps. Just bark, “Hey, Google” followed by whatever
you want your virtual butler to do. What can you do if all these Lenovo
smart displays seem a bit too large for your liking? Well, why not road
test Lenovo Smart Clock?
Lenovo Smart Clock
Measuring just 4.5 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches, Smart Clock will slot just about
anywhere. Despite such a small footprint, you can easily read the clock
across the room thanks to a 4-inch screen. You’ll get the trademark
raked Lenovo design that you’ll either love or hate. We’re fans here at Smart-home but we know plenty of people who dislike that skewed
aesthetic. It’s what inside that counts, though. Google Assistant comes
onboard so you’ll get a solid control center for your smart home if
you’re a fan of voice control. Sound quality is unlikely to blow you
away. That said, you’re probably not going to be using Smart Clock as
primary listening device. For the occasional burst of song, the speaker
is fit for purpose but that’s about as far as we’ll go. You won’t get
the same self-optimizing display you get on Nest Hub and there’s pretty
limited interaction available on-screen. For a small bedroom device for
the purposes of basic smart home control, Smart Clock is well worth a
look. For most other use cases, it comes up short.
Final Word
If you’re looking to mix things up for 2020, you might be tempted by one
of the Lenovo displays we looked at today. If you’re content to stick
with the usual suspects, you can now easily determine which Echo Show or
Google Nest Hub would make the neatest fit for you. Don’t forget to
bookmark our blog for reviews of the best tech along with plenty of
how-to guides and, of course, all the latest smart home news.
If you’re tempted by any of the smart displays on our list today, why
not sign up for our email newsletter first? Not only will you get more
great content direct to your inbox, we’ll give you 20% off your first
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