More and more households are discovering the joys of smart home systems and the smart displays to use with them. Simply put, a smart display connects to your system and lets you control it remotely and hands-free, too, thanks to its accompanying voice assistant. It's similar to a smart speaker, except that it comes with a touchscreen that lets you do more than simple voice commands.
Most smart displays offer video chat, touch control, streaming, and a lot more. As of writing, there are several brands available in the market with two voice assistant platforms. To help you save time and resources, we've come up with a buying guide and a list of our recommended products that could take your smart homes to the next level.
Quick List - Top Smart Displays
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Table of Contents
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Voice recognition is currently the new input medium when it comes to the computing paradigm. An AI's ability to understand words eliminates the need for an extra step to execute a command like tapping or pushing a button. Both Alexa and Google Assistant are activated by "wake words" to activate, while the actual back-and-forth conversation is seamless.
Choosing an actual voice assistant depends on a consumer's preference. Google Assistant is the best choice to get information from because of its wider knowledge stockpile. It's also more practical for users of other Google services, as well as for Android users. Meanwhile, Alexa has more features, has better smart home control, and provides a direct line to Amazon's store.
Choosing a smart display depends on your purposes. For example, most consumers love the ability to turn their smart displays into a home hub where they could have a central station to control all their smart home devices in a single location. It should be able to support various protocols that connect and command several home devices such as lights, door locks, sound systems, or alarms.
This function is beneficial if you have several smart devices from different manufacturers and want to consolidate all controls. But if you have only a few items with smart capabilities, you might not need a smart hub; a basic smart display would probably be enough.
A smart display is not meant to replace your tablet. It is a stationary device that has an ample display screen that allows you to use it for reading, cooking, or streaming videos. If you're aiming to take control of several apps and smart devices, a larger screen size of 7 to 10 inches is preferable. This could provide more space for a clearer resolution and better visual presentation.
Just take note that some smart display manufacturers only support their proprietary video apps. For example, Amazon only supports the Prime Video app. Meanwhile, Google Assistant will always provide YouTube as the go-to app for streaming. However, you can still access other streaming services via an internet browser. Of course,
To make the most of your smart display, check out other features that can make your life so much easier and give you more value for your money. Below are some considerations to think about.
A high-resolution camera with a built-in microphone on a smart display device would be a big plus. With this, you can send video messages or call anybody via the device. One of the most important purposes of having a camera and microphone is to use the smart display as a security device.
You can check up on your kids, the events happening inside your house, or monitor your pets while you're away or at work. A wireless doorbell with a camera that could be connected to the smart display also allows you to see who's at the door, and vice versa if your doorbell has a video screen, too.
It is a given fact that most smart displays come in a compact form and are equipped with less impressive speakers—this is a huge compromise for some audiophiles that seek H-iFi stereo sound inside their living spaces.
However, if you're not too particular about how your device might sound, and if you're not planning on using the device as the main source of music in your home, a smart display with a decent speaker will suffice. Also, having a separate high-quality speaker for music will prolong the lifespan of your smart display.
Smart displays work like a normal communicating devices that can transmit videos or messages wirelessly via Bluetooth or over the internet. Thus, we should be wary of the security and privacy involved during these data exchanges. This is why manufacturers include security features and privacy protocols in their products to keep their consumer's minds at ease.
An example of a basic privacy feature, among others, is the ability to turn off the camera and microphone when not in use. Also, users can set a password to have access to the device, so pesky guests can't tinker with it while you're not looking. Some brands also offer message encryption to keep your conversations secure.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nest Hub 2nd Gen|GAO 1892 | ![]() | The Best Smart Display for Google Fans | |
2 | Amazon Echo Show 10 3rd Gen|ECHS 10 | ![]() | The Latest All-Around Smart Display for Busy Homes | |
3 | Nest Hub Max | ![]() | An Upgraded Nest Hub With a Built-In Camera and Better Speakers | |
4 | Amazon Echo Show 8 | ![]() | The Overall Top Choice for Value for Money | |
5 | Amazon Echo Show 5 | ![]() | A Smaller and More Affordable Echo Device | |
6 | Portal|FBP200 | ![]() | A Smart Video Call Device for Households | |
7 | Nest Hub 1st Gen|GGH100 | ![]() | A Basic yet Reliable Device for Controlling Smart Home Systems | |
8 | Portal Mini |FBP150 | ![]() | Perfect for Bedtime Storytelling |
The Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen tops this list for being a practical and affordable solution for any smart household. The responsive touchscreen and intuitive Google Assistant work like a breeze. It does not have a camera, which can be a deal breaker for some, but a major plus for those who want more privacy and to avoid video call intrusions.
The ambient light sensor auto-adjusts the screen brightness and warmth to match the room's illumination level. There's also a control panel to conveniently organize and control most of your smart home devices. However, while the sound quality is quite decent for background music, it's not too great as the main entertainment source.
The Echo Show 10 takes everything that’s great in the previous models and ramps it up with a 10.1-inch HD screen. It might be more expensive than the others on the list, but the wide screen makes the price worth it. On top of that, you get crisp audio with subtle bass notesーa great deal for audiophiles!
Another plus is that this device is designed to move with you, thanks to its built-in feature that allows the screen to rotate from side to side. That way, you can go on with your video calls even as you move around the room or view your recipes while you work in the kitchen. You can also turn the screen into a digital frame if you want to share your photos with family and friends.
The Google Nest Hub Max has the same design as the original Google Nest Hub, but it comes with a wider 10-inch HD touchscreen. This difference makes it a better choice for viewing movies and video calls.
Since the size is bigger, it has more real estate for an improved 2.1 speaker arrangement. This means you enjoy bigger and better sound quality. It also has a camera, so it’s good for those who want a smart display that can double as a security camera. However, if you’d prefer some privacy, there’s a switch for disabling the camera and microphones.
Amazon's Echo Show 8 has an 8-inch HD screen with stereo sound for pure entertainment pleasure. You can ask the voice assistant Alexa to show you some movie trailers, TV shows, the news, or a full-length movie. You can also listen to radio shows, podcasts, or audiobooks. This is the ideal smart display for those who love a variety of entertainment options.
This device is capable of helping you manage your work or household tasks and every smart device via voice control or screen display. Alexa can show you the security camera, thermostat settings, or turn off the lights in other rooms. You can also video call or message any family or friend that has an Alexa app or Echo device for instant connection
This Amazon smart display is designed for those who want a more compact and affordable alternative to the larger Echo devices. With a small 5.5-inch screen, this one lets you get everything done just the same while occupying a smaller space. You can plan your day and get the news, weather, and traffic updates, as well as control your smart home, all hands-free with voice assistant Alexa.
However, its small size does have some drawbacks. For one, it can only accommodate a 1.65-inch built-in speaker, so the sound quality isn’t anything special. The LCD is, of course, of a lower resolution than those of the bigger HD screens in higher-end models. Despite these limitations, though, this device remains the best choice for a compact smart display.
Built in with Alexa, Portal by Facebook is a smart display device that allows you to start or join calls up to 50 people in Messenger Rooms via Messenger or WhatsApp, even if they don't have Portal. The Smart Camera zooms and pans on every action and automatically adjusts to keep everyone in view.
Its Smart Sound enhances the voice of the talker while canceling background noise. And because it has Alexa, you can ask a question, add items to your shopping list, or control some aspects of your smart home. It also has a privacy and security feature that encrypts all calls and disables the camera and microphone when not in use.
If all you’re after is a smart display that does the basics and a bit more, then the original Google Nest Hub should suffice. This is a smart display that does a lot for a more affordable price. It’s an especially great buy for smart homes since it can help you view and control your appliances and smart installations effortlessly via Google Assistant.
It also has an ambient light sensor, which is helpful for producing crisp images and adjusting the screen brightness in relation to the brightness of the room. Its design is also really user-friendly! For instance, features like the intuitive voice commands and seamless touch controls make it easy to operate even for the less tech-savvy members of the family.
The Facebook Portal Mini is a smaller version of the original Portal. This one has an 8-inch screen, so it’s perfect for displaying your Facebook, Instagram, and camera roll photos and insta-framing them on a counter. It can also do much more than that; just like the larger Portal, this one is equipped with a built-in Alexa to help you manage your smart home devices.
One of its best features, though, is the Story Time app, which has music, animation, and immersive AR effects to bring kids’ stories to life. This makes bedtime so much more fun! It also has a number of security features to keep your data safe, some of which are encrypted WhatsApp and Messenger calls.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
A smart display is an evolution that stemmed from innovating a smart speaker. It works with a smart assistant, like Alexa or Google Assistant, to answer your questions or perform your commands. The device functions the same as smart speakers, but with the addition of a display, you can control your smart devices, surf the web, make a video call, check your calendar, and more.
The best smart display depends on specific preferences, of course, but it’s usually a toss-up between the Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen and the Amazon Echo Show 10.
Depending on your usage, you can put your smart display on your desk, bedside table, living room table, or on the kitchen counter if you use it for recipes. You can put it anywhere that’s convenient for you!
Be smart and get the right devices to keep your homes safe and secured today. Here are some articles to broaden your search.
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Author: Chafi Lacson
Re-editor: R. Umlas
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Google|Nest Hub 2nd Gen|GAO 1892
No. 2: Amazon|Echo Show 10 3rd Gen|ECHS 10
No. 3: Google |Nest Hub Max
No. 4: Amazon|Echo Show 8
No. 5: Amazon |Echo Show 5
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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