Smart Displays

Smart displays are basically smart speakers with a screen, and that screen turns out to be way more useful than you'd expect. Seeing your front door camera feed when someone rings the bell, following a recipe with step-by-step visuals, or using the display as a digital photo frame when it's idle - these are the things that make the upgrade from a regular smart speaker worth it.

Screen size matters more than you'd think. The smaller 5-inch displays (like the Echo Show 5) work fine as bedside clocks with smart features, but they're cramped for video calls or watching anything. The 8-inch models hit a sweet spot for kitchen counters - big enough to follow a recipe, small enough to not dominate the space. The 10-inch and larger displays (Echo Show 15, Nest Hub Max) are great if you want a proper smart home dashboard or a screen the whole family can see.

Key things to compare:

• Camera quality - If you plan to make video calls, the camera matters. The Nest Hub Max and Echo Show 10 have the best cameras. The standard Nest Hub (2nd gen) actually has no camera at all, which is a plus if you want one in the bedroom for privacy reasons.
• Ambient mode - Google's Nest Hub displays are excellent as photo frames, pulling from Google Photos automatically. The Echo Show does this too with Amazon Photos, but it's not quite as polished.
• Smart home control - All smart displays let you control devices by voice, but the touchscreen dashboard experience varies. Look for ones that let you set up quick-access device controls on the home screen so you can tap to adjust lights without having to ask out loud.
• Sound quality - Smart displays generally sound better than same-priced smart speakers because they have more room inside for bigger drivers. The Nest Hub Max and Echo Show 10 can genuinely fill a room.
• Sleep tracking - The Nest Hub 2nd gen has radar-based sleep tracking built in, which is a unique feature if you want a bedside display that monitors your sleep without a wearable.

The ecosystem lock-in applies here too - Echo Shows work with Alexa, Nest Hubs work with Google Assistant. Pick the one that matches your other devices. One tip: put your best display in the kitchen. That's where the screen adds the most value with timers, recipes, and quick camera checks while your hands are busy.