We tested the Facebook Portal Go against the Facebook Portal to find out which really is the brand’s best smart display.
Facebook has been in the video calling game for a few years now, but its Portal displays have struggled to gain the traction that other brands have found during the pandemic. However, it’s not giving up and has come back with another round of refined video calling devices – the Portal Go and Portal Plus. But can it battle Google or Amazon at the top of the best smart displays game? The Facebook Portal is the brand’s 10-inch smart display that was launched in 2019, and now this has been joined by a new battery-powered version, known as the Facebook Portal Go. The brand also has a larger 14-inch version called the Facebook Portal Plus, but for most people, the 10-inch display will be enough. Both are ideal if you want a device primarily for video calling, as they are the only smart displays that let you make WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger video calls, and they are likely to be heavily discounted on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But aside from the way they’re powered, you’re probably wondering exactly what the differences are and whether they’re both worth investing in. Read on to find out just how these smart displays compare – or, if you know which Facebook Portal you want, check out the best prices right now for both products below: The Facebook Portal Go will set you back $199 / £199 / AU$279 while the Facebook Portal costs $169 / £169 / $279, which means in the UK and US it’s slightly more affordable than the Portal Go. However, we’re not surprised at the price difference as adding a rechargeable battery to a device will understandably push the cost up. As smart displays go, both the Facebook Portal Go and the Facebook Portal are slightly more affordable than other similar-sized devices on the market. The Amazon Echo Show 10, costs $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$ 399.99 while the Google Nest Hub Max is priced at $229 / £219 / $349. While the Facebook Portal Go and the Facebook Portal both have 10in displays, you can easily differentiate between them due to their slightly different looks.
