A very interesting gadget with which to give a different touch at home can be a digital photo frame. But forget about those archaic low-contrast frames that read your photos from an SD card. The models now are smarter, they are called Smart Display (original name where they exist) and in addition to showing you the photos of the family, they will serve to know the weather, see what restaurants are open and, ultimately, have a virtual assistant to serve as a butler at home.
Which Smart Display to choose?
If you are looking for one of these devices, the first thing you should take into account is which assistant is the one you are going to use. This does not mean that you can only use one assistant at home, but it is normal to focus on one so as not to fragment the ecosystem that you are going to mount at home too much. When choosing a Smart Display, you will have two options, either choose Alexa, or choose Google Assistant .
Apple does not currently have any product of this type that integrates Siri, so the options are simply those. Once you choose your virtual butler, that’s when you will have to decide between one model or another. And if by now you hadn’t adopted either of them at home, now is a good time to choose, and a Smart Display is perfect to start taking the first steps.
Advantages of Smart Display
These smart frames have a very clear advantage over the most basic assistants based on a simple speaker. By having a screen, the answers and information offered allows you to obtain additional content in the form of graphics, texts and photos, so that in addition to obtaining more complete information, the operation is also more intuitive.
Knowing all this, we are going to show you the most interesting options that you can find on the market:
Echo Show
Screen: 8 inches | Assistant: Alexa | Speakers: 2 x 10W and bass radiator | Front camera: 5 megapixels | Resolution: 1,280 x 800 pixels | Price: 229.99 euros
One of the proposals of Amazon with its assistant Alexa are the Shows. The original model is this 10.1-inch version that offers excellent sound thanks to two powerful speakers and a passive bass radiator with Dolby technology. It is the most expensive Amazon model, but also the most complete.
The best
- Amazon’s own device
- Seamless Alexa integration
- Great sound
- Ability to disable microphones and camera
Worst
- High price
Echo Show 8
Screen: 8 inches | Assistant: Alexa | Speakers: 2 x 10W | Front camera: 2 megapixels | Resolution: 1,280 x 800 pixels | Price: 79.99 euros
The intermediate model from Amazon is the 8-inch version of the Echo Show, a quite practical size that has the advantage of a much more interesting price. It cuts some things like the sound power or the resolution of the webcam, but in general terms it is a very successful model.
The best
- Amazon’s own device
- Very good resolution
- Price
- Ability to disable microphones and camera
Worst
- It may be a little small to show photos
Echo Show 5
Screen: 5 inches | Assistant: Alexa | Speakers: 2 x 10W | Front camera: 2 megapixels | Resolution: 960 x 800 pixels | Price: 49.99 euros
If what you want is something more compact and without too many complications, Amazon has the Echo Show 5, a 5-inch model that you can almost carry in your pocket. It offers the same characteristics of the Echo Show 8, so it is also a good option to consider, although it will not be the best for displaying photos.
The best
- Amazon’s own device
- Seamless Alexa integration
- Very good price
- Ability to disable microphones and camera
Worst
- Very small screen to show photos
Lenovo Smart Tab M10
Screen: 10.1 inch | Assistant: Alexa | Speakers: 2 x 3W (dock); 2 front with Dolby Atmos on the Tablet | Front camera: 2 megapixels | Resolution: FullHD | Price: 189 euros
This is a rather interesting product, since it is a Tablet that can do the Smart Display functions thanks to the dock it includes. The advantage of this device is that we can take it wherever we want and use it on a Tablet, and we will only have to get home and place it in its stand so that its battery begins to charge and begins to function as an intelligent assistant.
The best
- 2-in-1 hybrid device
- Take it wherever you want
Worst
- Normal speakers
- Camera without too much resolution
Google Nest Hub
Screen: 7 inches | Assistant: Google Assistant | Speakers: Stereo | Front camera : No | Resolution: Not available | Price: 79 euros
One of the options with Google Assistant obviously goes through Google, and this is where we find the Nest Hub, a screen with an intelligent assistant that offers a fairly cool and interesting design that closely resembles that of a table placed in a magnetic dock. The screen, even though it may seem, cannot be detached from the body, so forget about using it as a tablet.
The best
- Chromecast built-in
- Automatic brightness adjustment
Worst
- Slightly high price
- Single speaker
- It has no webcam
Lenovo Smart Display 7
Screen: 7 inches | Assistant: Alexa | Speakers: 2 x 5W and a passive radiator | Front camera: 2 megapixels | Resolution: 1,024 x 600 | Price: 119 euros
Another option with Google Assistant is this option from Lenovo. It is a 7-inch Smart Display with webcam, capable of receiving content through Chromecast, with a very interesting design that places the speakers in the front and presents a very elegant fabric finish that will serve to place it in any corner of the house.
The best
- Front speaker with fabric finish
- Good sound
- Chromecast built-in
Worst
- High price compared to other options
- Slightly small screen