Google, Amazon, and JBL are offering new smart displays for video calls, smart home management, watching shows, and more. See which ones are the best.
If you’re looking for a central command center for your smart home, look no further than a smart display. A smart display packs all the fundamentals of a smart home device on top of an easy-to-use interactive touchscreen with speakers. Many displays appear similar to tablets, smaller laptops, and other miniature mobile devices.
With a smart display, you can stream from your favorite music services, automate your lights and blinds, view security camera live feeds, call friends and family, ask for recipe ideas, play games, and so much more. From Amazon’s Echo lineup to Google’s Nest products, we’ve rounded up all the best smart displays you can buy right now.
Why we picked the Echo Show 15:
Many smart displays are a little on the small side – and that can make them difficult to watch from across the room, limiting their range. The Echo Show 15 removes this concern with the largest smart display yet, a 15.6-inch touchscreen that you can mount on the wall like a picture frame or use with a countertop base, getting it right where you want. That also solves the problem of the Echo Show 10’s swiveling design that felt awkward or needed too much space in many setups.
Of course, you also get all the Alexa benefits here, including the ability to stream video (Alexa supports streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu), control your smart home, video chat with friends, or look through devices like the Ring Doorbell. It’s one of the most user-friendly models we’ve seen.
Who’s it for: Anyone who wants the best smart display and is willing to pay for it, especially those who like watching shows and videos on a smart display that’s part of a kitchen or office setup. Willingness to use Alexa is also important, but with the Matter platform starting to roll out, compatibility with smart devices isn’t as crucial as it used to be.
Why we picked the Google Nest Hub Max:
Sure, the Nest Hub Max has a larger screen than the original Nest Hub, but it also offers a lot more features and functionality in addition to its brilliant HD screen. It has a 6.5-inch megapixel camera with auto-framing so you can make video calls, and the camera will even follow you as you move around the room.
Face-match technology allows for a more personalized experience. When the Hub recognizes your face, it can show you content specific to you (video messages, reminders, upcoming calendar events, etc.
