Love it or loathe it, Facebook (sorry Meta for using the brand's new moniker) just won't stop creating smart displays.
Facebook's portal line of video calling devices is ravaging a rather tough market with the popularity of Amazon's Echo Spectacle and Google's Nest line of smart speakers with built-in screens, all while bringing to time the rather difficult history of Facebook regarding privacy. topics.
That still hasn't deterred the brand from launching even more video calling devices; At the end of last year came Facebook Portal Go and Facebook Portal Plus.
Facebook Portal Go is a battery-powered version of the brand's original XNUMX-inch smart display, while Facebook Portal Plus is a new version of its larger XNUMX-inch device.
The new Portal Plus is more robust than the original, but doesn't have many other updates and, in contrast to the Portal Go, still runs on mains power.
As in the previous portals, the 2 smart screens stand out when it comes to video calls: they are the only ones on the market that allow WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger video calls.
But aside from the screen sizes and the way they work, you're probably wondering what exactly are the differences between these 2 new Facebook portal devices and if both are worth the investment, or if only one is going to be enough. So we pitted the Facebook Go portal against the Facebook Plus portal to help you decide.
Best offers Facebook Portal Go and Facebook Portal Plus
Read on to find out how these smart displays stack up, or if you know which Facebook portal you want, check out the best costs now for the two products below:
The best offers of the Facebook portal of the day
Award
The Facebook Go portal will take you back €279/€XNUMX/AU$XNUMX while the Facebook Plus portal is significantly more expensive in €519 / €XNUMX / AU$XNUMX. However, a larger screen naturally increases the cost, so we're not surprised by the difference in cost.
Facebook Portal Go is somewhat more accessible than its similarly sized contenders: the Amazon Echo Show ten costs € two hundred and forty-nine.99 / € twenty-three thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine / € three hundred and ninety-nine.99 while the Google Nest Hub Max costs € two hundred and twenty-nine / € two hundred and nineteen / € 349.
While Google doesn't offer a smart display with a screen larger than ten inches, Amazon's closest competitor is the Echo Spectacle fifteen, which unsurprisingly has a fifteen-inch screen. The Fifteenth Show is also somewhat more accessible and costs € two hundred and forty nine / € twenty three thousand nine hundred and ninety nine / AU € 399
You might think these two are similar due to screen size, but in reality the Echo Espectáculo quince is initially designed to be a wall-mounted device, although it can be used on its own if you purchase the additional stand. para €49.99 / €XNUMX / AU$XNUMX - although in short it is still cheaper than Portal Plus. Portal Plus, on the other hand, is not wall-mountable in the slightest.
Integrated
Facebook Portal Go and Facebook Portal Plus do differ when it comes to their appearance. The wedge-shaped Facebook Portal Go has a 1200-inch 800x2160 HD display on the front of the device, while the Portal Plus has a 1440-inch XNUMXxXNUMX XNUMX-inch display that appears to float on a shaped base. elliptical.
Portal Plus's screen can also be tilted to ensure it's at the perfect viewing angle.
The 2 smart screens are wrapped in a judicious gray mesh canvas that will complement any home decor. Bearing in mind the larger screen, it's no surprise that Facebook Portal Plus is a bit larger in size than Portal Go, measuring 31 x 1 x XNUMX inches compared to the heavier size. ten.XNUMX x six and eighty-four x three and one inches GB.
The Portal Plus runs on mains power and, apart from the power outlet, it also has a USB-C port on the back designed to charge your smartphone. However, the Portal Go runs on battery power: there is a slot for the charging station at the base, so the smart display remains stable when charged, although nothing prevents you from leaving it on this station all the time, with which that always and at all times is absolutely charged. loaded when you want to move it. There's also a built-in handle on the back, making it easy to move between rooms.
Both smart displays have the exact same 2MP camera for video calling, although Portal Plus has a slightly larger field of view of 4 degrees, compared to Portal Go's XNUMX degree field of view. Both smart displays also feature exactly the same audio setup, with XNUMX full-range XNUMXW speakers and a XNUMXW woofer, as well as an array of XNUMX microphones to ensure your voice is clearly picked up when you're on a call.
Features
When it comes to the most basic tasks that you would use a smart display for, the 2 Portal devices are ideal. Each of them lets you make video calls using Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, as well as conferencing apps like Zoom, WebEx, and GoTo Meeting.
The cameras are identical and both have the ability to pan and zoom automatically to ensure you are always in the center of the frame throughout a video call, even if you get up and move around the room .
In testing, we found this feature to be exaggeratedly smooth when panning and zooming, and we were impressed that for small movements, like shifting in our seat, the camera didn't try to reposition the frame.
As expected, both Portal devices come with access to voice assistants; you have Amazon Alexa and "Hey Portal" - Facebook's own offering.
While Alexa can set timers, adjust music playback, and monitor your smart family devices, like giving out the latest titles or sports scores, "Hey Portal" is more limited. We found that you could only start video calls, adjust screen brightness, and set timers.
If you are concerned about privacy, the fact that Facebook records and transcribes everything you hear behind the slogan "Hey Portal" by storing it on its servers for 3 years may not be convenient for you. Amazon, on the other hand, offers the possibility of suppressing these recordings for an instant from the Alexa application.
To locate information on the web page, there is also a built-in internet browser on the 2 smart displays which also allows you to view certain video streaming services such as Prime Video and YouTube on the smart display.
However, it is not possible to watch Netflix on either of the 2 portals. We asked Facebook why, but it hasn't been resolved yet.
Essentially, the only real difference is in screen size and resolution, with Portal Plus being cleaner than Portal Go, and Portal Go's ability to transport itself from room to room, without needing to be plugged into an outlet. current, which makes moving the unit along on a video call a possibility. This battery will also last up to 5 hours between charges.
The Portal Go seems a bit more elegant than the Portal Plus, in that the camera is integrated into the screen, creating a flush design. On the Portal plus, the camera unit sits on top of the thin and fragile display, somewhat spoiling the minimalist style.
Verdict
When it comes to choosing between Facebook Portal Go and Facebook Portal Plus, how you plan to use the smart display will affect which model you choose.
If you plan to regularly move the device between rooms, even during video calls, or want a more elegant and stylish device, you should go for Facebook Portal Go. It is also a better option on a budget, due to the fact that it is also more affordable. .
However, for those who plan to use the smart display only for video calls and want the screen to be as large as possible, the Facebook Plus portal is going to be a better option. This smart display is also ideal if you plan to watch a lot of YouTube videos or make a lot of video calls with multiple participants. It would be, for example, very convenient as a second screen only for calls for those who work from home.