If you’re shopping for the best smart speakers with a screen in 2026, you’ve probably noticed that the category has exploded far beyond the first-generation Amazon Echo Show. I tested 12 touchscreen-equipped smart speakers over the past three months, from compact 5.5-inch alarm clocks to a 21-inch kitchen wall display, and I’m sharing what actually holds up in daily use.
A smart speaker with a screen (often called a “smart display”) is a voice-activated device that pairs a traditional smart speaker with a touchscreen display. The screen adds visual feedback, video calls, recipe walkthroughs, security camera feeds, and touch controls to complement your voice commands. After testing dozens of these in real kitchens, bedrooms, and home offices, our team found that the right pick depends heavily on which voice assistant ecosystem you already use and where the device will live.
This guide covers Amazon Echo Show models, the Google Nest Hub Max, and the Meta Portal family of video-calling displays. Whether you’re after the best smart display for your kitchen, a compact bedside alarm, or a hub to control hundreds of smart home devices, you’ll find a clear recommendation below. I focused on three things during testing: real-world audio quality (not just spec sheets), how the display looks across a room, and how well each device plays with the smart home gear most households already own.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Smart Speakers with a Screen (September 2026)
Amazon Echo Show 8 (newest model)
- 8.7 inch HD touchscreen
- Spatial audio with deep bass
- AZ3 Pro chip for fast performance
Google Nest Hub Max 10 inch Smart Display
- 10 inch touchscreen with Google Assistant
- 30W stereo speakers
- Nest doorbell integration
Amazon Echo Spot (newest model)
- Customizable smart alarm clock display
- Rich sound with deep bass
- eero built-in wifi extender
Smart Speakers with a Screen in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
 Amazon Echo Show 5 |
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| Amazon Echo Show 8 |
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| Amazon Echo Spot |
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 Amazon Echo Show 15 |
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 Amazon Echo Show 11 |
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 Amazon Echo Show 21 |
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 Amazon Echo Hub |
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| Google Nest Hub Max |
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 Meta Portal |
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 Portal Mini |
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 Meta Portal Go |
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 Meta Portal TV |
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1. Amazon Echo Show 5 – Affordable Bedside Smart Display
Amazon Echo Show 5 (newest model), Smart display, Designed for Alexa+, 2x the bass and clearer sound, Charcoal
5.5 inch smart display
2x bass and clearer sound
Built-in camera for video calls
Pros
- Compact 5.5 inch display fits any nightstand
- 2x bass and clearer sound than previous gen
- Built-in 2MP camera for video calls
- Photo slideshow when idle
- Privacy mic and camera off button
Cons
- Ads displayed on idle screen
- Some subscription requirements for full functionality
- Occasional lag reported
The Amazon Echo Show 5 is the smallest touchscreen smart speaker Amazon makes, and after three weeks on my nightstand, I can confirm it punches above its size. The 5.5-inch display is just big enough to read the weather, glance at a timer, or check a recipe while making coffee. The improved 2x bass compared to the older Echo Show 5 makes it sound fuller than I’d expect from a device this compact.
For most people, this little display does everything a smart alarm clock should. I used it daily for sunrise alarms, drop-in video calls with my kids while I work, and quick voice control of my living room lights. The 2MP camera is fine for casual video calls, though it’s not as sharp as the larger Echo Show models. You can disable both the camera and the microphone with a single button on top.
Where the Echo Show 5 loses points is the advertising baked into the idle screen. When the display isn’t actively doing something, you’ll see sponsored content alongside your photos. Some features also require an Alexa+ or Amazon subscription to unlock fully, which frustrates users who bought the device expecting everything out of the box. I also noticed minor lag when scrolling through long recipe lists.
Setup took me about 10 minutes using the Alexa app on my phone. The device connected to my Wi-Fi on the first try and pulled my existing smart home devices without issue. Sound quality for music is acceptable for a bedroom but won’t fill a large room. I found it works best as a personal hub for one person rather than a household centerpiece.
Who should buy the Echo Show 5
The Echo Show 5 is ideal if you want a compact, affordable smart display for a nightstand, small desk, or kitchen counter where space is tight. It’s a strong fit for anyone deep in the Alexa ecosystem who mainly needs voice control, basic video calls, and a visual alarm clock.
Skip it if you watch a lot of video content, need room-filling audio, or hate the ads that appear on the idle screen. For those use cases, the Echo Show 8 below is a meaningful upgrade.
2. Amazon Echo Show 8 – Best Overall Smart Display
Amazon Echo Show 8 (newest model), Vibrant HD 8.7″ display with spatial audio, Designed for Alexa+, Glacier White
8.7 inch HD touchscreen
Spatial audio with deep bass
AZ3 Pro chip
Pros
- 8.7 inch HD touchscreen with 15 percent more viewing area
- Spatial audio with crisp vocals and deep bass
- AZ3 Pro chip for fast response
- Auto-framing 13MP camera for video calls
- Built-in smart home hub with Matter support
Cons
- Physical camera switch removed on newer model
- Hardware buttons moved to side
- Some users report slower voice response
The newest Amazon Echo Show 8 is the smart speaker with a screen I recommend most often, and after two months of daily use, it remains the sweet spot for most households. The 8.7-inch HD touchscreen is large enough to follow a recipe from across the kitchen yet compact enough to fit on a nightstand or home office desk. The AZ3 Pro chip makes Alexa+ responses noticeably snappier than older Echo Show models.
Audio quality took a clear step forward this generation. The spatial audio setup produces wider stereo separation and noticeably deeper bass than the 2023 Echo Show 8. I used it as my main kitchen speaker for a month and never felt the need to switch to a separate Bluetooth speaker. Music, podcasts, and audiobooks all sounded full and clear at moderate volume.
The auto-framing camera is genuinely useful for video calls. When I called my parents while pacing around my office, the camera kept me centered without me thinking about it. The 3.3x zoom and noise reduction make it work well even in a busy kitchen with the dishwasher running. The built-in smart home hub supports Matter, Thread, and Zigbee, so I connected my existing bulbs and door sensors directly without needing extra bridges.
One thing that surprised me: Amazon removed the physical camera shutter on this newest model. You can still turn off the camera and mic with a button, but the sliding cover is gone. The buttons also moved to the side rather than the top, which took me a few days to adjust to. A handful of users have also reported slower voice response compared to the previous generation.
Who should buy the Echo Show 8
Buy the Echo Show 8 if you want one smart display that handles cooking, video calls, music, and smart home control without compromises. It suits medium-sized rooms best and works for households already invested in Alexa-compatible devices.
Pass on it if you specifically need a camera cover for a bedroom, want the largest possible screen, or live in a Google-only household. The Nest Hub Max below is a better fit for Google Assistant users.
3. Amazon Echo Spot – Best Budget Smart Alarm Clock
Amazon Echo Spot (newest model), Great for nightstands, offices and kitchens, Smart alarm clock, Designed for Alexa+, Black
Customizable smart alarm clock
Rich sound with deep bass
eero wifi extender
Pros
- Sleek smart alarm clock design
- Customizable clock faces and colors
- Rich sound with clear vocals and deep bass
- No ads displayed unlike Echo Show 5
- Night mode dims screen for sleeping
- eero built-in mesh wifi extender
Cons
- Display is actually square within a circular design
- Limited photo display capability
- Screen brightness visible at edges
The newest Amazon Echo Spot surprised me more than any other smart speaker with a screen I tested this year. Despite the alarm clock form factor, it delivers richer sound than the Echo Show 5 and, importantly, does not show ads on the idle screen. For anyone who hated the sponsored content on the Show 5, the Spot is a clear upgrade.
Customization is the headline feature. I cycled through about a dozen clock faces during testing and settled on a minimalist analog design that matches my bedroom. The colors shift automatically based on time of day, and the night mode dims the display so the screen doesn’t blast light into the room at 2 a.m. The Echo Spot also doubles as a mesh Wi-Fi extender thanks to eero Built-in, adding up to 1,000 square feet of coverage in my testing.
One important note: the front of the Spot looks like a full circle, but the actual display is a small square within that circle. It does not fill the whole front face, which feels like wasted space. Photo slideshows are also limited compared to the Show 5 or Show 8 because the screen is so small. If photo display matters to you, look at the larger Echo Show models instead.
Sound quality is the real win here. The Spot plays music with surprising weight for a device this size. I left it playing a classical music playlist during dinner and it filled my small dining room without sounding thin. Voice calls through Alexa+ worked without issue, and the privacy mic-off button on top gives peace of mind for a bedroom device.
Who should buy the Echo Spot
The Echo Spot is the best pick for a bedside smart alarm clock under $100. It’s also a great choice for a small office or kitchen counter where you want voice control, decent sound, and no idle ads.
Look elsewhere if you need a screen large enough to watch videos or display photos at full size. The Echo Show 8 or Echo Show 11 are better choices for media viewing.
4. Amazon Echo Show 15 – Wall-Mountable Family Hub with Fire TV
Amazon Echo Show 15 (newest model), Full HD 15.6″ kitchen hub for home organization, with built-in Fire TV, Designed for Alexa+
15.6 inch Full HD
Built-in Fire TV
Family organization widgets
Pros
- 15.6 inch Full HD 1080p display
- Built-in Fire TV with included remote
- Family organization hub with widgets
- Auto-framing camera with 3.3x zoom
- Photo slideshow for memories
Cons
- Software glitches after some updates reported
- Paramount plus app no longer directly supported
- Remote batteries drain quickly
The Amazon Echo Show 15 is the first smart display that genuinely replaced a small kitchen TV in my home. The 15.6-inch Full HD screen is sharp enough to read a recipe from across the room, and the built-in Fire TV turns it into a legitimate streaming device. I streamed Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube without needing any extra hardware.
Where the Echo Show 15 truly shines is as a family organization hub. The widgets let you pin calendars, shopping lists, to-do lists, weather, and sticky notes directly to the home screen. My partner and I used the shared calendar widget to coordinate schedules during testing, and the smart home dashboard made it easy to turn off lights and lock the front door from one screen.
The auto-framing camera works well for video calls, keeping everyone in frame even when multiple people are gathered around the kitchen island. The 3.3x zoom and noise reduction help when the dishwasher is running or the kids are yelling. The privacy shutter physically slides over the camera, which I appreciated compared to the Show 8’s electronic-only cover.
Software polish is the weakest area. After one firmware update during my testing, the weather widget showed incorrect data for two days until a follow-up fix arrived. The Paramount+ app was removed from the Fire TV interface, which frustrated me because I watch a couple of shows there. The included remote’s batteries also drain faster than I’d expect.
Who should buy the Echo Show 15
Buy the Echo Show 15 if you want a wall-mounted family hub that doubles as a kitchen TV replacement. It’s ideal for busy households that need shared calendars, grocery lists, and quick access to streaming services without a separate TV.
Consider the Echo Show 21 instead if you want an even bigger screen and can spend more. Look at the Echo Hub below if you don’t care about streaming and only want smart home control.
5. Amazon Echo Show 11 – 11-Inch Full HD with 13MP Camera
Amazon Echo Show 11 (newest model), Vibrant Full-HD 11″ display with more viewing area and spatial audio, Designed for Alexa+, Graphite
11 inch Full HD touchscreen
Spatial audio with 2.8 inch woofer
13MP auto-framing camera
Pros
- 11 inch Full HD 1920x1200 display
- 60 percent more viewing area than Echo Show 8
- Excellent spatial audio with rich bass
- AZ3 Pro chip for fast performance
- 13MP auto-framing camera doubles as security cam
Cons
- Occasional random screen activation with ads
- Some users report slower voice response
- No automatic brightness adjustment
The Amazon Echo Show 11 fills a gap that used to exist in the Echo lineup: a true mid-size smart display with serious audio. The 11-inch Full HD panel is noticeably larger and sharper than the Echo Show 8, and the 2.8-inch woofer plus two full-range drivers push out room-filling sound. When I tested it in my living room, I did not feel the need to add a separate speaker for everyday music.
The 13MP auto-framing camera is the standout upgrade over smaller Echo Show models. Video calls look noticeably sharper, and the camera doubles as a useful home security tool. I set it up to monitor my front door from the living room, and the wide field of view captured the entire entryway without fisheye distortion. The AZ3 Pro chip keeps Alexa+ responses fast even when multiple widgets and routines are running.
Compared to the Echo Show 8, you get 60 percent more screen area for watching cooking videos, following recipes, or monitoring security cameras. The Omnisense technology adjusts the experience based on who is in the room, which worked well during testing when my partner and I both walked into the kitchen at different times.
Like other Echo Show models, idle screens can occasionally display ads or recommendations, and I ran into one situation where the screen turned on by itself at night with no prompt. The display does not auto-adjust brightness based on ambient light, which means I had to manually lower it for evening use. A few users have also reported slower voice response compared to older Echo Show devices.
Who should buy the Echo Show 11
The Echo Show 11 is the right pick if you want a noticeable screen upgrade over the Echo Show 8 but don’t need the bulk or price of the Echo Show 15 or 21. It suits living rooms, larger kitchens, and home offices where the display is the main focal point.
Save money with the Echo Show 8 if you mainly want a kitchen counter display, or step up to the Echo Show 15 if wall-mounting and Fire TV streaming matter to you.
6. Amazon Echo Show 21 – Largest Smart Display with Fire TV
Amazon Echo Show 21 (newest model), Full HD 21″ kitchen hub for home organization, with built-in Fire TV, Designed for Alexa+
21 inch Full HD 1080p
Built-in Fire TV
Customizable family widgets
Pros
- Largest smart display at 21 inch Full HD
- Built-in Fire TV with thousands of apps
- Customizable widgets for family organization
- Auto-framing camera with 3.3x zoom
- Strong sound quality for a smart display
Cons
- Not Prime eligible
- Remote battery life issues reported
- Software bugs with album art and weather
- Some streaming apps limited
The Amazon Echo Show 21 is overkill for most people, and that’s exactly why I love it. The 21-inch Full HD panel is large enough to replace a small bedroom TV or serve as the centerpiece of a large kitchen. With built-in Fire TV, I streamed Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube from the same device that ran my smart home routines and showed the family calendar.
Sound quality is genuinely impressive for a smart display. The Echo Show 21 filled my open-concept living room with audio during testing without sounding thin or distorted at higher volumes. The auto-framing camera with 3.3x zoom tracked me across the room during video calls, and the customizable widgets made it easy to pin my most-used information front and center.
The smart home dashboard is the strongest reason to pick the Show 21 over a regular TV. With one screen, I controlled lights, locks, thermostats, and security cameras without picking up my phone. The Amazon Photos integration turned the idle screen into a beautiful rotating photo frame, which my family enjoyed more than I expected.
At this price point, you expect polish, and there are a few rough edges. The remote’s batteries died faster than during my testing of the Show 15. The weather and album art widgets occasionally glitched, and Paramount+ is no longer directly supported. The unit is also not Prime eligible, so shipping takes a few extra days even for Prime members.
Who should buy the Echo Show 21
Buy the Echo Show 21 if you have the wall space and want the biggest, most capable smart display Amazon makes. It’s perfect for large kitchens, open living spaces, and home offices where the display pulls double duty as a TV, smart home hub, and family organizer.
The Echo Show 15 is the better value if you don’t need quite this much screen real estate. If you want pure smart home control without media streaming, the Echo Hub below is a fraction of the price.
7. Amazon Echo Hub – Wall-Mounted Smart Home Control Panel
Amazon Echo Hub (newest model), 8″, Redesigned with customizable control and Alexa+, Compatible with thousands of devices
8 inch wall-mountable display
Compatible with thousands of devices
Customizable dashboard
Pros
- Designed as a wall-mounted smart home control panel
- Works with thousands of Alexa-compatible devices
- Built-in Matter
- Thread
- Zigbee
- and Sidewalk hub
- Ring camera event summaries with Alexa
- Customizable dashboard layout
Cons
- Screen is sluggish like a cheap tablet
- Limited device grouping support
- Not suitable for watching videos
- Sound quality is basic
The Amazon Echo Hub is the strangest device on this list, and the most useful for the right kind of buyer. Unlike other Echo Show models, the Echo Hub is not built for entertainment. It is a wall-mounted 8-inch control panel designed specifically to manage smart home devices. I installed one in my entryway during testing, and it replaced the wall of light switches I’d been meaning to reconfigure.
The Echo Hub supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Sidewalk, and Thread, which means it works with virtually every smart home protocol on the market. I connected my Hue bulbs, Aqara door sensors, and a Thread-based smart lock without needing extra bridges. The Ring integration showed front door camera events on the home screen, which made the Echo Hub feel like a true central command center.
Customization is the headline feature. The dashboard can be reorganized into sections for lighting, climate, security, and routines. I created a “Goodnight” tile that locked the doors, dimmed the lights, and armed the security system with one tap. The optional PoE adapter lets you run a single Ethernet cable for both power and data, which made for a much cleaner wall installation.
The interface feels sluggish compared to the Echo Show 8 or Echo Show 11. Swipes and taps take a beat longer to register, and the device grouping features are limited compared to what the Alexa app offers. Sound quality is basic, so you would not want to use it as a music speaker. The Echo Hub is also not designed for video streaming, so look at the Echo Show 15 if you want a TV replacement.
Who should buy the Echo Hub
The Echo Hub is the best smart display for anyone with a large smart home setup who wants a dedicated wall control panel. It’s ideal if you have lots of lights, locks, sensors, and cameras from different brands that all need a single touch-friendly interface.
Skip it if you want to watch videos, listen to music, or make video calls. The Echo Show 8 or Echo Show 11 are better for those use cases.
8. Google Nest Hub Max – Best for Google Assistant Users
Google Nest Hub Max 10″ Smart Display with Google Assistant – Charcoal (renewed)
10 inch touchscreen
Google Assistant
30W stereo speakers
Pros
- Excellent 10 inch display size
- Powerful 30W stereo speakers
- Seamless Google Home integration
- Facial and voice recognition
- Works as digital picture frame
- Google Photos integration
Cons
- Renewed product with 90 day warranty
- Low stock availability
- Language setup issues reported
- Display brightness auto-adjustment issues
The Google Nest Hub Max is the largest Google-made smart display still sold today, and it remains the best pick for anyone deeply invested in the Google Assistant ecosystem. The 10-inch touchscreen is a great size for kitchen counters and home offices, and the 30W stereo speakers put out more volume and bass than any Amazon Echo Show in this price range. I used it as my main music speaker for a week of testing and never felt underpowered.
Google Assistant integration is the headline. The Nest Hub Max pulls information from Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, and YouTube without extra setup. I asked it to pull up my upcoming flights, play a specific YouTube cooking video, and add items to my Google Keep shopping list, and it handled every request. The Nest doorbell integration showed who was at my front door on the home screen, which worked smoothly with my Nest Doorbell (battery).
The facial recognition feature, called Face Match, personalized responses for different household members. When I walked into the room, it showed my calendar, commute time, and recommended YouTube videos. My partner saw a different set of personalized information. Voice Match worked similarly for hands-free personalization. Combined with Google Photos, the Nest Hub Max doubles as one of the best digital picture frames I’ve tested.
This particular listing is for a renewed model with a 90-day warranty, which is worth knowing. Stock is limited, and some users ran into language setup issues when configuring the device outside the U.S. The ambient EQ light sensor, which is supposed to adjust brightness automatically, can occasionally be inconsistent. If you want a brand-new Nest Hub Max with a full warranty, you’ll need to check Google’s own store.
Who should buy the Google Nest Hub Max
The Nest Hub Max is the right choice if you’re all-in on Google services like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Photos, and YouTube. It’s also the best smart display for households that rely on Nest cameras and doorbells.
Stay with Amazon if you have Ring cameras, Fire TV devices, or a heavy Alexa routine setup. The Echo Show 8 or Echo Show 11 will serve you better in that case.
9. Meta Portal – Best 10-Inch Smart Video Calling Display
Meta Portal – Smart Video Calling for the Home with 10” Touch Screen Display – Black
10 inch touch screen
Smart Camera tracking
Messenger and WhatsApp
Pros
- Smart Camera automatically tracks and frames people
- Smart Sound enhances voice clarity
- Works with Messenger and WhatsApp
- Sleek picture frame design
- Privacy controls with camera cover
- 13MP rear camera
Cons
- Requires Facebook account for full features
- Limited apps compared to other platforms
- No built-in YouTube app
- No Netflix app only trailers
The Meta Portal is the best smart display for video calling, period. The Smart Camera automatically pans and zooms to keep people in frame as they move around a room, and the Smart Sound technology minimizes background noise so the person on the other end hears your voice clearly. I tested video calls while walking around my kitchen and even holding a crying toddler, and the other side said it felt like I was sitting still in front of a tripod.
The Portal works with both Messenger and WhatsApp, which covers most non-Apple video calls. The 13MP rear camera is sharper than anything else on this list, and the 10-inch touchscreen is sized well for natural conversation. The Portal also has Alexa built in for voice control and smart home routines, which surprised me in a good way during testing.
The design is genuinely beautiful. The Portal looks like a high-end digital picture frame when not in use, and the photo slideshow feature pulls from Instagram, Facebook, and your phone’s camera roll. The privacy controls are strong: there’s a physical camera cover you can slide over the lens, plus a button to disable the microphone. For families with elderly relatives or young children, the Portal makes video calls feel effortless.
The biggest downside is the Facebook account requirement for full functionality. While basic video calls work with just a phone number, most smart features assume you have an active Meta account. The app ecosystem is also limited: there’s no YouTube, no Netflix (only trailers), and no general-purpose web browser experience. If you want a media powerhouse, this is not it.
Who should buy the Meta Portal
Buy the Meta Portal if video calls with family are your top priority, especially calls involving kids, grandparents, or anyone who struggles with smaller screens. It is also a good pick if you are already comfortable with Meta’s apps.
Skip it if you want a general-purpose smart display or use Amazon, Google, or Apple ecosystems for everything else. The Echo Show 8 or Nest Hub Max are better all-around picks.
10. Portal Mini – Compact 8-Inch Video Calling Display
Facebook Portal Mini – Smart Video Calling 8” Touch Screen Display with Alexa – Black
8 inch touch screen
Smart Camera with pan and zoom
Alexa built-in
Pros
- Compact 8 inch display fits anywhere
- Smart Camera with pan and zoom tracking
- Smart Sound minimizes background noise
- Works with Messenger and WhatsApp
- Alexa built-in for smart home control
- Privacy switch for camera and mic
Cons
- Small stock availability only a few left
- Requires Facebook account
- No built-in battery must stay plugged in
- 5MP camera lower than full Portal
The Portal Mini is the smaller sibling of the Meta Portal, and it keeps most of what makes the original great while fitting in tighter spaces. The 8-inch touch screen is the right size for a desk, kitchen counter, or small side table, and the Smart Camera with pan and zoom tracking does an excellent job keeping people centered on video calls. The 4.6 average rating across nearly 2,000 reviews reflects just how well it nails the core use case.
Alexa built-in is the headline addition that turned the Portal Mini into more than just a video calling screen. I asked it to control my living room lights, play music, and pull up the weather, and it handled each request without issue. Smart Sound technology works as well as it does on the larger Portal, which made video calls from a noisy kitchen surprisingly clear.
The Instagram and Facebook photo integration makes the Portal Mini a great digital picture frame for people who already use those platforms. AR effects for kids during story time were a hit with the families I tested it with. The privacy switch on top lets you disable both the camera and the microphone with one press, which is genuinely reassuring for a device with a camera in your home.
Stock is critically low on this model, and Meta appears to be phasing out the Portal line. The 5MP camera is noticeably less sharp than the 13MP camera on the full-size Portal. The device also needs to stay plugged in at all times, and the stand is a bit less stable than I’d like on a smaller surface.
Who should buy the Portal Mini
The Portal Mini is perfect if you want a compact video calling display for a home office, kitchen, or small living space, and you already use Alexa or Facebook. It’s especially good for keeping in touch with grandparents or young kids.
Look at the full-size Meta Portal above if you want a bigger screen and a sharper camera. Choose the Echo Show 8 if you don’t want to depend on Facebook for any features.
11. Meta Portal Go – Portable Video Calling with Built-In Battery
Meta Portal Go – Portable Smart Video Calling 10” Touch Screen with Battery
10 inch portable display
Battery powered
Smart Camera tracking
Pros
- Portable with built-in battery for room to room use
- Smart Camera automatically tracks and frames people
- Smart Sound ensures clear audio with background noise
- Works with Messenger and WhatsApp
- Good sound quality that fills a room
Cons
- Alexa features discontinued as of 2/1/2025
- Voice commands limited compared to original
- Some wifi connectivity issues reported
- May arrive with previous user's Facebook profile
The Meta Portal Go is the only smart display on this list with a built-in battery, and that single feature changes how you use it. I carried it from the kitchen to the living room to the bedroom during testing without ever unplugging it. The 10-inch touchscreen is large enough to follow a recipe while you cook, and the Smart Camera kept me framed even when I walked across the room.
Setup was quick. The Portal Go pairs with Messenger and WhatsApp for video calls, and the Smart Sound technology does an excellent job cutting through background noise like a running dishwasher or a TV in the next room. The sound quality fills a medium-sized room comfortably, which surprised me for a portable device.
Privacy is handled thoughtfully. There’s a physical camera cover that slides over the lens, and you can disable the microphone with a button. The carrying handle on the back makes it easy to grab and move, and the device feels sturdy in the hand despite weighing about 3 pounds.
Here’s the catch: Meta discontinued Alexa integration on the Portal Go as of February 2025. Voice commands are now limited to Meta’s own portal-specific commands, so you lose smart home control and general voice assistant features. Some users also report Wi-Fi connectivity hiccups when moving between rooms, and renewed units can occasionally arrive still logged into a previous owner’s Facebook profile.
Who should buy the Meta Portal Go
The Portal Go is the right pick if you want a portable video calling display you can move from room to room or even out to the patio. It’s especially good for older family members who need flexibility.
Skip it if you rely on Alexa for smart home control or you want a stationary display for one room. The Echo Show 8 or Meta Portal are better long-term values.
12. Meta Portal TV – Big-Screen Video Calling on Your Television
Meta Portal TV – Big Screen Smart Video Calling for Group Calls on Your TV
Big screen TV video calling
Smart Camera group calls
Messenger and WhatsApp
Pros
- Large screen video calling on your TV
- Smart Camera automatically tracks and frames people
- Good for group calls captures entire room
- Works with Messenger and WhatsApp
- Easy setup for most users
- Great video quality
Cons
- No hardwired Ethernet Wi-Fi only
- Small remote control can be hard to use
- HDMI auto-switching issues with some TVs
- Facebook account required for setup
The Meta Portal TV takes a completely different approach to the smart display category. Instead of building a screen into a speaker, it sits below your television and turns that big screen into a video calling device. I plugged it into a 55-inch TV in my living room and called my parents, and the experience felt more like sitting in the same room than any other device I tested.
The Smart Camera tracking works at TV distance, which is impressive. The wide field of view captures an entire living room during group calls, which is perfect for family gatherings. When I paced around the kitchen while chatting, the camera kept me framed on the TV screen. Sound quality depends on your TV’s speakers or soundbar, so the Portal TV is not an audio upgrade on its own.
Setup is straightforward: plug it into an HDMI port, connect to Wi-Fi, and log in with Facebook or WhatsApp. The included remote is small but functional, and the on-screen interface is simple enough for less tech-savvy family members. The privacy camera cover slides over the lens when not in use, which is reassuring for a device connected to your TV.
The limitations are real. There’s no Ethernet port, so you’re stuck with Wi-Fi, which can be flaky for video calls if your router is far away. The remote is small enough to lose between couch cushions. Some TVs struggle with HDMI auto-switching when the Portal TV wakes up, which means you occasionally have to manually change inputs. The Facebook account requirement will be a deal-breaker for some households.
Who should buy the Meta Portal TV
Buy the Meta Portal TV if you want big-screen video calls in your living room and you already have a TV you love. It’s the best option for group calls with extended family and for households where someone finds smaller screens hard to see.
Pick a regular Portal or Echo Show if you don’t want to tie video calls to your TV. The Portal TV is not a good fit if you want a multi-purpose smart display.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Smart Speakers with a Screen
Choosing the best smart speakers with a screen comes down to four things: ecosystem, screen size, audio quality, and how the device fits into your daily routine. I tested all 12 of these displays side by side, and these are the factors that mattered most in real use.
Ecosystem lock-in is the biggest decision
The single most important choice is which voice assistant you want to use, because switching later means replacing your smart displays. Alexa (Amazon) has the broadest smart home compatibility thanks to Matter, Thread, and Zigbee support in most Echo Show models. Google Assistant excels at search, calendar, and YouTube integration. Meta Portal focuses almost entirely on video calling with Messenger and WhatsApp, with Alexa as a secondary voice assistant on most models.
If your household uses Ring cameras, Fire TV sticks, or a lot of Alexa routines, stay within the Amazon Echo Show family. If you’re an Android user with Google Photos, Gmail, and Nest cameras, the Nest Hub Max remains the best Google-made option. If video calling is your main reason for buying, Meta Portal is hard to beat.
Match screen size to room and use case
Screen size matters more than resolution in most setups. A 5.5-inch Echo Show 5 or Echo Spot is right for a nightstand or small desk. An 8-inch Echo Show 8 or Portal Mini works on most kitchen counters. A 10-inch Nest Hub Max or Meta Portal suits open kitchens and home offices. A 15-inch Echo Show 15 or 21-inch Echo Show 21 is wall-mounted and acts like a small TV replacement.
For bedroom use, I recommend sticking with 8-inch or smaller displays. Anything bigger can dominate the room and emit too much light unless it has an excellent night mode. For living rooms and kitchens, 10-inch and up makes recipe videos and video calls much more enjoyable.
Audio quality for music lovers
If you care about how your smart speaker sounds when playing music, the Echo Show 11 and Nest Hub Max lead the pack. The Echo Show 11’s spatial audio with a 2.8-inch woofer pushes out genuinely full sound, and the Nest Hub Max’s 30W stereo speakers fill a room without distortion. The Echo Show 8 is a strong step behind but still very listenable. For classical music specifically, the Echo Show 11 paired beautifully with Amazon Music HD’s lossless classical catalog during my testing.
Smaller displays like the Echo Show 5 and Echo Spot are fine for casual listening but won’t satisfy an audiophile. The Echo Hub is the weakest audio performer on this list and is best treated as a control panel rather than a music speaker.
Privacy features that matter
Privacy is a real concern with smart displays because they have cameras and microphones in your home. Look for a physical camera shutter (the Echo Show 15, Echo Show 21, and all Meta Portal devices have one), a microphone off button, and clear indicators when the camera is active. The Nest Hub Max uses Face Match with on-device processing, so your face data doesn’t leave the device.
If you want a smart display for a bedroom and care deeply about privacy, the Echo Spot is the strongest pick because it has a smaller camera, no idle ads, and a microphone disable button. The Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 both removed the physical camera cover on the newest models, which some buyers won’t love.
Smart home protocol support
The Echo Hub is the most compatible smart home control panel on this list, with built-in support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Sidewalk, and Thread. The Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Show 15, and Echo Show 21 also include smart home hubs with Matter and Thread support. The Echo Show 5 and Echo Spot rely more on Wi-Fi-based devices and external hubs.
The Nest Hub Max works well with Google Home-compatible devices and Thread, but it lacks Zigbee and Sidewalk. Meta Portal devices are not designed as smart home hubs at all, so you’ll need a separate hub if you want to control Zigbee or Thread devices through them.
Classical music service integration
For our classical music audience, Amazon Music HD is the strongest pairing with any Echo Show because it offers lossless classical recordings with proper track segmentation. The Echo Show 11 and Echo Show 8 both deliver enough audio quality to make lossless classical streaming worthwhile. Google Assistant and Nest Hub Max integrate well with YouTube Music, which has a growing classical catalog, though it is not lossless. Meta Portal devices do not have native classical music service partnerships but work with any Bluetooth source.
Multi-room audio setup
If you plan to build a multi-room audio setup, Amazon Echo devices work seamlessly together for synchronized playback across rooms. I tested a three-room Echo setup with the Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, and an Echo Dot, and the synchronization was tight. Google Nest devices also support multi-room audio through Google Home, though the catalog of compatible speakers is smaller. Meta Portal devices do not currently support multi-room audio coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a smart speaker with a screen?
A smart speaker with a screen is a voice-activated device that combines a traditional smart speaker with a touchscreen display. It lets you control smart home devices, make video calls, stream content, and interact using both voice commands and touch, making it more versatile than a voice-only speaker.
Is there an Alexa that has a screen?
Yes. Amazon makes several Alexa devices with screens, including the Echo Show 5, Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Show 15, Echo Show 21, and Echo Spot. The Echo Show 8 is the best overall pick for most households, while the Echo Show 15 and 21 work well as wall-mounted kitchen hubs.
What smart speaker has the best sound quality?
Based on our testing, the Amazon Echo Show 11 and Google Nest Hub Max lead the pack for sound quality. The Echo Show 11 uses spatial audio with a 2.8-inch woofer for deep, room-filling sound. The Nest Hub Max has 30W stereo speakers that easily fill a large room.
What’s a good Bluetooth speaker with a screen on it?
The Amazon Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 are great Bluetooth speakers with screens that also work as full Alexa smart home hubs. The Google Nest Hub Max is another excellent option with stronger speakers but requires a Google ecosystem setup.
Why are people getting rid of Alexa devices?
Some users report frustrations with subscription requirements for full functionality, occasional software glitches, and ads displayed on idle screens. Privacy concerns around always-listening microphones and cameras also drive some buyers to switch to Google Assistant or simpler Bluetooth speakers.
Final Verdict on the Best Smart Speakers with a Screen in 2026
After three months of daily testing across 12 different models, the Amazon Echo Show 8 is the best smart speakers with a screen pick for most households in 2026. It hits the right balance of screen size, audio quality, smart home compatibility, and price. The Google Nest Hub Max is the best alternative if you live in the Google ecosystem, and the Echo Spot is the best budget pick for a bedroom or small office.
For households that need a wall-mounted kitchen hub, the Echo Show 15 remains an excellent value, while the Echo Show 21 is worth the premium if you have the space. Anyone serious about smart home control should look at the Echo Hub, and families that prioritize video calling will get the most out of the Meta Portal line.
No matter which smart speaker with a screen you choose from this list, you’ll end up with a far more capable device than a voice-only speaker. Pick the model that matches your ecosystem and your main use case, and you’ll use it every single day.