Our decide
Nice sound, a crisp display, entry to video companies, handy smart-home management, and a 13-megapixel digicam make the Present 8 (2nd Gen) particularly well-rounded.
The Amazon Echo Present 8 (2nd Gen) is straightforward to work together with, whether or not by voice or contact, because of its glorious on-screen menus and Alexa’s always-impressive conversational chops. Alexa-enabled Abilities (Amazon’s time period for the apps you management utilizing voice) make the Present 8 appropriate with the widest vary of music companies, smart-home gadgets, video games, and entertaining options (like Jeopardy! trivia) of any smart-display ecosystem. It’s particularly suited to participating in video calls utilizing Alexa’s built-in system—and now additionally Zoom—because of a 13-megapixel digicam and particular software program that retains you focused within the display even while you transfer round. The Present 8 (2nd Gen)’s speaker produces clear audio and is highly effective sufficient to fill a room. And its 8-inch contact show is large enough for comfortably viewing video from streaming companies together with Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and even YouTube (by way of Alexa’s built-in net browser, Amazon Silk).
Our decide
Cooks and heavy Google app customers who need to entry Google Assistant by way of a display will love this show, which is properly built-in with Google Calendar and Pictures.
The Google Assistant–enabled Google Nest Hub Max is a helpful digital assistant for streaming audio and video. And because of its integration with Google, the Nest Hub Max seamlessly reminds you of upcoming Google Calendar appointments and transforms into a sexy, 10-inch digital picture body of photographs (streamed immediately out of your Google Pictures account). In our checks the Nest Hub Max excelled at verbally strolling us by recipes, with out forcing us to smudge its giant, crisp display with our ingredients-sullied palms. It additionally performs music and permits management of smart-home gadgets, although not as comprehensively because the Echo Present 8.
Additionally nice
This pint-size model of the Echo Present is ideal for catching a climate report and enjoying tunes when you prepare within the morning.
The Amazon Echo Present 5 (2nd Gen) does all the pieces the bigger Echo Exhibits can do. But it surely has a smaller, 5½-inch display, which makes it match properly on a nightstand or a toilet counter. The Present 5’s display adjusts to the room’s lighting, so it doesn’t maintain you up at evening.
Additionally nice
This mini good show has the identical talents as bigger Google Assistant–enabled fashions, minus a built-in digicam (which can be a consolation for privateness seekers).
We advocate the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) (previously the Google Residence Hub) if you’d like a wise show however don’t want or desire a built-in digicam. At 7 inches, it’s a bit bigger than the Echo Present 5, but it surely’s nonetheless the suitable measurement for a bed room or different area the place a small display feels much less intrusive. The newest mannequin contains sensors to trace your sleep, which can be helpful for individuals who have bother catching z’s.
