Hey there! If you‘re trying to determine whether the Facebook Portal or Amazon Echo Show is the better smart display for your needs, you‘ve come to the right place. I‘ve tested out models from both lineups hands-on and have been covering consumer tech products for over a decade.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore everything from hardware specs to special features to recent company moves so you can make an informed decision between these two powerhouse options. Time to see if Portal‘s video chat abilities can dethrone the Alexa-powered Echo Show!
The Rapid Rise of Smart Displays
Remember when a phone was just…a phone? And watches simply told time rather than track your sleep patterns? We now live in an age where virtually every appliance and accessory is getting a smart upgrade.
Refrigerators can create shopping lists and robotic vacuums map your home – all connected WiFi-enabled products fall under the "smart home" umbrella. The next evolution of this interconected environment is the smart display.
So what exactly makes a display "smart"? At the most basic level, smart displays turn a screen into an interactive virtual assistant. Leading options have features like:
- Touchscreens with intuitive menu navigation
- Voice command functionality using artificial intelligence
- Integrated cameras for video calling and home monitoring
- Speakers to play music, set timers, hear notifications and more without viewing the screen
- Connectivity to other smart devices like lighting, thermostats, locks and other IoT products
- Access to streaming entertainment apps and special skills
Smart displays consolidate many capabilities into a single device. And the two dominant players in the nascent market are Meta‘s Portal and Amazon‘s Echo Show lineups. Let‘s examine how these products came to be rivals.
Facebook Enters the Fray with Portal
When you think of Meta (formerly Facebook), you likely picture their social media apps rather than physical products. But CEO Mark Zuckerberg has broader ambitions to become an AI-driven computing platform.
Their first hardware product release? The video calling-focused Facebook Portal in October 2018.
| Specs | Facebook Portal |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 2018 |
| Manufacturer | Meta (formerly Facebook) |
| Display | 10.1" Touchscreen |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 pixels |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.8 GHz |
| Camera | 13MP, 114° FOV |
| Speakers | Dual 5W |
| Smart Assistant | Alexa Built-In |
| Colors | Black or White |
| Starting Price (MSRP) | $249.99 ($174 current sale price) |
The Portal smart display connects with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp to enable hands-free video calling thanks to AI camera tracking. Users can call others with a Portal device or through the Messenger mobile app.
At launch, Facebook was clearly positioning Portal as a video chat-first platform with a focus on personal communication. But the company soon added third-party streaming apps and Alexa smart home functionality to expand appeal beyond chatting.
Unfortunately, many were hesitant to buy a Facebook-produced hardware camera for their home given ongoing privacy scandals. But Portal displays do have solid mic/camera controls and encryption to ease concerns.
And video quality truly shines thanks to Smart Camera AI enhancing clarity while keeping you centered without adjustment. Let‘s see how early Echo Show models compare.
Amazon Establishes an Early Lead in 2017
Amazon rules the smart speaker market in the United States with Alexa-powered Echo devices making up over 65% of sales. But they didn‘t have a smart display option until the Echo Show first generation launched in 2017 sporting these specs:
| Specs | Echo Show Original |
|---|---|
| Release Date | June 2017 |
| Manufacturer | Amazon |
| Display | 7" Touchscreen |
| Resolution | 1,024 × 600 pixels |
| Processor | N/A |
| Camera | 5MP |
| Speakers | Two 2-inch 10W drivers |
| Smart Assistant | Alexa Built-In |
| Colors | Black or White |
| Starting Price (MSRP) | $229.99 |
As an Alexa-powered device, the Echo Show focused more on smart home controls and access to skills rather than just video chat. Streaming capabilities were also front-and-center with support for YouTube, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video along with Spotify, Pandora and other audio apps.
However, early limitations included no browser, lack of YouTube support for months due to a feud with Google/YouTube, and no real customization options or app store access. Audio and video quality were also somewhat lacking compared to the Portal.
But over successive generations, Amazon rapidly improved the Echo Show lineup‘s capabilities while Facebook iterative slowly. And recent strategic shifts signal Echo Show‘s firm market lead.
Meta Pivots Portal to Businesses
Fast forward to 2022 and Meta is making major changes to their Portal smart display strategy according to reporting by The Verge:
"The company has slashed the team working on its Portal video calling devices from over a thousand people to less than 50 as it shifts focus to pitching Portal to businesses instead of consumers."
Rather than building hype in the consumer market, Meta is now focused on integrating Portal into its remote work and business offerings. This leaves Amazon Echo Show as the undisputed leader in home smart displays.
And Portal may have trouble gaining traction even in video conferencing against incumbents like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet built into laptops, tablets and mobile devices.
For buyers searching for an Alexa-powered smart hub to control home appliances, stream shows or make video calls, Portal simply doesn‘t bring the same versatility especially with Meta leaving average customers behind. Let‘s compare the two more closely.
Head-to-Head Portal and Echo Show Comparison
Now that you understand the trajectory of both the Portal and Echo Show product lines, how exactly do they match up spec for spec? Let‘s run through key categories:
Display and Audio Quality
As you‘d assume, screen size and visual fidelity are core aspects of any smart display experience:
| Facebook Portal | Echo Show | |
|---|---|---|
| Displays Offered | 10", 14" mobile | 5.5", 8", 10", 13.3", 15.6" |
| Maximum Resolution | 1280 x 800 (10"), 2160 x 1440 (14") | 960 x 480 (Echo Show 5 up to 1920 x 1080) |
| Screen Types | LED-backlit LCD with IPS | LED-backlit LCD (AMOLED Echo Show 15) |
| Touchscreen | Yes, Multi-touch 10-pt | Yes, capacitive |
| Adjustable Stand | Portal Tilts | Echo Show 10 Rotates to Follow User |
In terms of audio, Portal Plus has the strongest sound with dual 5W tweeters and 20W woofer. Other Portals only include single speakers. Echo Show 15 has the best support among Amazon devices with two 3" woofers and two 1" tweeters. But all models should suffice for casual listening.
Winner: Draw -Preference comes down to desired screen size. Echo Show wins on audio flexibility.
Camera and Video Call Quality
Given their video chat focus, Portal smart displays place heavy emphasis on camera quality:
| Facebook Portal | Echo Show | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Options | 12MP or 13MP | 2MP, 5MP or 13MP |
| Max Video Resolution | 1080p at 30fps | 720p at 60fps |
| Field of View | 114°-131° | 110°-120° |
| AI Tracking | ✅ | ❌ |
| AR Features | ❌ | Some models |
Meta ensures Portal camera sensors track motion smoothly while keeping faces clearly in frame. Echo Show cameras have solid quality but require manual adjustment during calls. And no Echo includes Portal‘s fun masks and effects leveraging AR.
For the best frictionless video chat experience, Portal still shines over Echo Show if that‘s your priority. But Echo gives greater flexibility to customize the camera‘s field of view and manage streaming settings.
Winner: Portal for pure video calling quality. Customization advantage goes to Echo Show.
Smart Assistant and Voice Control
Amazon Alexa obviously provides the brains behind Echo Show functionality. And Portal devices prominently support Alexa now too after launching with their own virtual assistant simply dubbed "Hey Portal."
So both product families offer strong voice command features and hands-free access to calling contacts, controlling media playback, getting weather updates or queries and managing smart home devices.
But only Echo Show provides access to over 100,000 Alexa smart skills spanning first and third-party platforms. These special apps that augment built-in functionality range from fitness trackers to meal planners and educational games to DIY project guides.
And Echo Show allows for multimedia responses from Alexa versus just verbal replies. That means you can view visual accompaniments to queries rather than only listening.
Winner: Echo Show – Significantly more robust Alexa integration and skills ecosystem.
Smart Home and Entertainment Integration
A major benefit of smart displays is consolidating management of other connected devices beyond streaming content or placing calls. Home automation integration is essential.
Support among both product lines includes:
- Smart lights from Philips Hue, GE, TP Link and more
- Thermostats like Ecobee and Honeywell
- Doorbells and security cameras from Ring, Nest, Arlo and other brands
- Meta/FacebookPortal only supports 100 skills while Echo taps into over 100,000
And in terms of accessing streaming entertainment apps natively on the devices:
| Facebook Portal | Echo Show | |
|---|---|---|
| Music Streaming | Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Deezer | Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music |
| Movie/TV Apps | Prime Video + mobile casting | Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu natively + mobile casting for other apps |
| Web Browsing | ❌ | Silk Browser on Show 15 + Fire TV Cube functionality |
| Gaming | ❌ | Select games natively + Luna cloud gaming integration |
So Echo Show certainly carries advantages in broader smart home ecosystems beyond just popular standards. And accessing entertainment directly on the Show versus phone mirroring grants a much cleaner experience.
Winner: Echo Show for vastly wider smart device compatibility and native streaming app access.
Privacy and Security
As internet-connected cameras inside the home, smart displays naturally raise privacy considerations. But having confidence around how your data is managed, stored and accessed is key.
- All Portal calls utilize end-to-end encryption – no eavesdropping risk
- Camera, mic and physical lens covers available on both devices
- Amazon and Meta pledge not to collect or store camera feeds
- However many still distrust Facebook reputation regarding privacy policies
Amazon certainly holds better public perception around privacy commitments. And both gadgets offer solid controls to ease concerns around snooping.
Winner: Draw – Amazon likely seen as more trusted but actual device protections are similar.
Bottom Line: Echo Show Brings More to the Table
So examining the specs, features and company strategies in detail shows Echo Show holding critical advantages:
- Superior Alexa Integration – From exponentially more skills to multimedia responses, Alexa makes Echo Show far smarter.
- Entertainment Content Access – Streaming apps like Netflix directly on the device provide major upside Portal lacks.
- Leading Smart Home Ecosystem – With over 100,000 compatible IoT devices versus Portal‘s 100, Echo Show connects way more appliances and electronics.
- Wider Range of Display Sizes – 5" options for nightstands up to wall-mounted 15" screens enable flexible placement.
- Facebook Retreat from Consumer Market – Portal refocus on businesses cedes the home smart display category firmly to Amazon.
Look, Portal still offers very solid video calling and assistant capabilities. If chatting over Messenger or WhatsApp is truly your main goal, the largest Portals deserve consideration. Their AI camera tracking and AR masks deliver a delightful social experience.
But for most smart home needs pulling in home control, entertainment access, voice commands and visual response feedback, Echo Show products like the Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) simply provide far more utility.
The only folks I‘d steer towards Portal would be grandparents primarily video calling grandkids or households exclusively using FB Messenger and WhatsApp for communication. For everyone else, Echo Show is the more versatile pick.
Hope this guide helps break down key considerations in choosing the best smart display to meet your needs and home ecosystem! Let me know if any other questions come up around Amazon and Meta‘s compelling devices.
