As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
In this article, I compare the Amazon Echo Show 2 vs Facebook Portal Plus vs Nest Hub Max. Read on to find out which one of these displays should sit atop your kitchen counter or home office desk.
So which smart display is best overall?
Facebook Portal Plus is the best overall smart display. It has the largest [15.6-inch] screen with the highest resolution [1920 x 1080] and can rotate from landscape to portrait mode. During video calls, the camera “frames” and follows subjects around the room, plus the microphone volume adjusts depending on a caller’s proximity to the device.
For these reasons, even with the slightly higher price tag, the Facebook Portal Plus gets my pick for the best smart display so far in 2022. I’m in good company apparently as it currently has stellar ratings on Amazon. But let’s take a closer look at all four options before you hit that buy button just yet.
Comparison Chart: Echo Show 2 vs Facebook Portal Plus vs Hub Max
The following chart compares key features of the Echo Show vs Portal vs Portal Plus vs Hub Max. For a more detailed features comparison, check out the table near the end of this post.
Last update on 11/19/2024 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What is a Smart Display?
Smart displays are all the rage right now, and in the past year, we have seen some amazing new larger displays including the 2nd Gen Amazon Echo Show and Google’s new Nest Hub Max. More recently, Facebook has gotten in on the act, introducing its new Portal and Portal Plus displays. However, with all the options you can now to choose from, it can be confusing to figure out the best one for you.A smart display is a digital assistant with a screen. They include features like the ability to:
- Initiate and receive video calls
- View guided step-by-step recipes in the kitchen
- Controls thousands of smart home devices
- Display song lyrics to accompany music that plays from the device
- Display weather, news, live sports, and stock quotes
- Act as a very fancy clock/alarm clock
- Display YouTube, Hulu, Prime and videos from other services right on the screen
You can also hook the screen up to one of these Echo Show compatible security cameras and use it as a security monitor for your front door, baby’s room, nanny cam, pet cam, or whatever.
📚 Related: Echo Show 10 vs Echo Show 15: Is Bigger, Better?
Amazon Echo Show
My Rating (Out of 100)
While the original Echo Show had a few mistakes that made it difficult to use, Amazon stepped up their game with the Echo Show 2nd Generation. This second-generation smart display is an incredible option for anyone who wants clear and bright sound, as it boasts two huge speakers in the back that are powerful. These rear-facing speakers also mean that the Echo Show 2 takes up a lot less space than some other smart displays, which is ideal for a minimalist home.
This is Tech Today does a nice job with this video over of the Echo Show 2nd Generation.
Pros
Cons
Facebook Portal Standard [with Alexa]
My Rating (Out of 100)
This powerful smart display allows users to connect to Facebook so that they can easily connect with each other, control apps, and even use third-party services. It’s a practical option due to its smaller size, and really is a great choice for any Facebook fan. It features great Facebook connectivity and allows users to interact with their account without frustration. I do think the Echo Show is a better choice for owners of other Amazon devices and it looks more elegant in general, but this device costs less though.
CNET has a nice review comparing the Portal with the Portal plus. I’ll embed it below.
Pros
Cons
Facebook Portal Plus [with Alexa]
My Rating (Out of 100)
While I love my Echo Show and have recently tested and compared it to the Nest Hub, the Facebook Portal Plus is tempting me big time to hit that buy button after seeing an in-depth demo at my local Best Buy. Why?
Bigger is better, and the Portal Plus proves it. Not only does it boast Facebook connectivity, but it features an impressive 1920 x 1080 resolution, great speakers, and powerful Bluetooth 4.2 It’s the Facebook Portal, but improved, and does an exceptional job allowing users to access third-party services, such as Spotify, Food Network, Alexa, and even Pandora. Best of all, it’s smart crisp 12MP camera follows video call subjects around the room and its fisheye wide-angle lens shows even a large room of people.
When comparing the Echo Show 2 vs Facebook Portal Plus vs Nest Hub Max, this is my favorite choice.
Engadget also does a nice job with this video overview of the Portal and Portal Plus [although I could certainly get used to the design with that huge screen!]:
Pros
Cons
Google Nest Hub Max vs Echo Show 2 vs Facebook Portal Plus
My Rating (Out of 100)
Debuting in September, Google Nest Hub Max is Google’s answer to the Amazon Echo Show. And Google’s answer to the Facebook portal to a point The screen size is 10” about the size of the Show and regular-sized Facebook Portal screen. Unlike the previous, smaller version of the Nest Hub, the Max adds a camera to address what was probably the biggest complaint about its standard Nest Hub device.
The Verge gives us a sneak peak at the Google Nest Hub Max before it comes out in September.
Pros
Cons
Echo Show 2 vs FaceBook Portal Plus vs Nest Hub Max: Tech Specifications
Here are the full technical specifications for each display side by side.
![[1-Pack] WRJ Screen Protector for Google Nest Hub Max 2019 10 Inch, HD No Bubble High Defitnition 9H Tempered Glass for Google Nest Hub Max 2019 10 Inch10](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/4146+FBuPUL._SL160_.jpg)
Last update on 11/19/2024 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Bottom Line
With the premium smart display market just a little over a year old it will be exciting to see where this technology takes us.
Final Word on a Portal Plus
Facebook Portal Plus is the closest thing that we have come to the Jetsons version of video calling yet. However, the premium video calling features and the larger rotatable screen come at a higher price tag.
Maybe one of these companies will invent the “morning mask” next!
Final Word on the Echo Show
I absolutely love my Echo Show. It is my favorite Echo device and possibly my favorite smart home device. Amazon’s upgrade to the Echo Show last September turned the previous version from an “expensive plastic toy” to an elegant smart screen that fits in nicely on your kitchen counter with all of the benefits of Alexa.
You can read my review of the Echo Show 2nd Generation vs 1st Gen here.
I think this remains a great choice for anyone looking for a high-end smart screen to integrate with Amazon’s ecosystem or who does not want to pay Facebook’s price tag.
Final Word on the Google Nest Hub Max
Full disclosure, I’m not really a fan of the Google ecosystem at all [just a strong personal preference for Amazon] and for that reason, I’m going to withhold my opinion about Google’s newly re-branded Nest Hub here. There are many other bloggers and vloggers who have already gone there, so if you want a 2nd option it won’t be hard to find.
So What Smart Screen Should You Buy?
While I am also not really a fan of Facebook [at all], I’m super-impressed by the Facebook Portal Plus. Its immersive experience for video calling makes it a step up from the Amazon Echo Show for that feature. If you are looking for the best video calling experience, this is it bar none. I also like the larger sized screen and how you can rotate it. You can see the latest Facebook Portal Plus pricing on Amazon here.
It will be interesting to see if the next version of the Echo Show matches Facebook Portal Plus’s functionality. Regardless, the battle between Echo Show vs Facebook Portal vs Nest Home Hub will be an interesting one to watch in the coming months for sure. I look forward to being with you every step of the way.
Related Posts
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like some of our other posts about smart screens. Here are some recent ones.
- Echo Show 10 vs 2nd Generation [Review & Comparison]
- Echo Show 5 vs Echo Spot: Which Alexa Smart Display Is Better?
- Show 2nd Generation vs 1st Gen: Review & Comparison Guide
- Echo Show vs. Google Nest Hub: Which Screen Is Smarter?
- What Are the Best Amazon Echo Show Compatible Cameras?
If you were able to get some value from this post comparing Echo Show vs Facebook Portal vs Portal Plus vs Nest Hub Max, would you do us a huge favor and share it via social media. It just takes a few seconds to use the colorful social media buttons along the top and bottom of this page.
It really helps us spread the word about our blog and gives us a little boost in Google too.
Thanks for your support!
Tim Brennan, a tech blogger and host of the @TecTimmy YouTube channel, writes about smart homes at oneSmartcrib, home theaters at UniversalRemoteReviews, and AI in writing at Writeinteractive. He holds a Journalism degree from Northeastern University and has covered technology for three decades. He lives on the ocean in Nahant, Massachusetts.
Please subscribe to my YouTube channel for a fun take on all things tech.