As a bonus, the screen can follow you around a room for optimal audio and video.

Echo Show 10 (about $250): The Echo Show 10 doesn't hold up as well to Google as other Amazon Echo smart displays but is a solid option thanks to built-in Zigbee device compatibility.

It's great for offices and kitchens because it doesn't take up much space.

Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) (about $130): This device competes directly with the Google Nest Hub but narrowly wins because it has a built-in camera.

Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) (about $85): The smallest Amazon Echo Show targets a lower price than Google's cheapest smart display, and the minuscule 5-inch screen makes a better alarm clock.

But they do have one advantage over Google smart displays: every model includes a camera for video calls. While Alexa has competent devices, we ultimately preferred Google's approach (and more massive video service selection) as an easier product to use. The large size is perfect for recipes in the kitchen but works just as well for watching TV shows in the background of most medium and large rooms.ĭuring our research, it was surprising that Alexa's dominance with music services didn't translate into similar performance for video services on smart displays. It also has bigger speakers and a built-in Nest security camera, making it great for video calls over Google Duo.

Google Nest Hub Max (about $230): The Google Nest Hub Max has a large 10-inch screen-about the size of an iPad.

We think it works great as an alarm clock for adults or a tiny TV alternative for the kids' playroom.

Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) (about $100): This smart display is Google's more affordable model due to a smaller 7-inch screen and no built-in camera.

This is in addition to drawing from your Google Photos collection. It's not a perfect feature but is more capable than what we experienced with Alexa.Īnother feature we like is the option to show curated photos from Google Earth and artwork when the screen's not in use.

Google's smart displays are pleasant to use, particularly with how many video streaming services they support.

Youtube music on alexa