Connected screens, also called smart displays or connected speakers with screen, are increasingly popular in French households. Relatively recent, this technological innovation is attracting more and more French people. New models are offered with very different characteristics. How do I find the most suitable device for my uses? Here is our selection of the best models in 2022 to help you make your choice.
Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen
78.9€
Our selection of the best connected screens
Connected screens are increasingly rich technological solutions. With the screen, voice assistants take on their full meaning and there are many possible uses: connected home, cooking assistant, communication tool, multimedia screen, etc.
Amazon Echo Show 15
Amazon Echo Show 15 at the best price
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Baker
219.99€
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Rakuten
219.99€
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Amazon
224€
With its sober and successful design, the Echo Show 15 looks like a photo frame with its black frame and white borders. You can also use it as Digital Photo Frame. It’s just the largest screen on the market with a size of 15.6 inches. It is therefore pleasant to watch series and films on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix or Molotov.
It can be used in both portrait and landscape mode. It is in the kitchen that it will find its place perfectly as aculinary assistant with access to thousands of recipes on Marmiton, Jow and Current Cuisine. It is possible to hang the frame on the wall or place it on a tilting table stand (sold for an additional 30 euros).
Its 5 MP camera allows you to make videoconference calls (via Skype or the Alexa app) and monitor the interior of your home remotely. It just lacks an infrared sensor to be able to use it also at night. Significant point, the camera automatically recognizes faces and this makes it possible to set up custom profiles which activate automatically.
For more privacy, it is possible to mute the microphones and hide the camera. If a big effort has been made for the screen, it’s a pity that this is done to the detriment of the speaker, the quality of which is down compared to a traditional connected speaker.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| The biggest screen | Only compatible with Skype and Alexa for video conferencing |
| Sober all-purpose design | Mediocre sound |
| Perfect for cooking or watching videos | Brightness too low |
| Automatic personalized profiles with facial recognition | High price (especially with the optional stand) |
Google Nest Hub 2nd generation (2021)
Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen at the best price
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Fnac
78.9€
As of 2019, Google was one of the pioneers in the connected screen market with the first generation of Nest Hub. In 2021, the second generation arrives and choices have been made that clearly show the purpose of this model: to land on your bedside table. Therefore, no camera much too intrusive in a bedroom but rather a motion detector and microphones to analyze your sleep.
Nice surprise, the price has been lowered with 30 euros less than the first generation. At this price, you won’t miss any features: photo frame, alarm clock with dawn simulator, Google assistant, control panel to control your connected home from your bed, multimedia functions… The only negative point, the sleep monitoring is made to become paid. It’s too bad !
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Attractive price | No camera so no video conferencing function |
| Access to YouTube, Netflix, Disney+… | Few notable changes compared to the first generation |
| Efficient Google Assistant | Useless gesture controls |
| Motion, temperature, light sensors |
Google Nest Hub Max
Google Nest Hub Max at the best price
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Fnac
206.99€
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Cdiscount
228€
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Rakuten
228€
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Darty
229.99€
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Baker
229.99€
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Shopping street
237.93€
More offers
The Nest Hub has a big brother called the Nest Hub Max. The big difference that is obvious is obviously its larger size. With a 10” screen instead of the 7” screen, it’s a much more imposing device but which won’t make a mark in your interior thanks to a sober and elegant design. The other major difference of this model is the presence of a deactivatable photo sensor.
This camera has three main uses: video conferencing with Google Duo (unfortunately the only supported video conferencing tool), the ability to monitor your home remotely and finally the face recognition function for personalize the user experience depending on each person.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Large screen more comfortable in multimedia use | Few differences compared to the smaller model |
| Addition of the camera for videoconferencing and video surveillance | Much too limited videoconferencing function |
| Face recognition | No physical camera shutter |
| Better sound than the Nest Hub |
Amazon Echo Show 10
Amazon Echo Show 10 at the best price
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Baker
189.99€
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Amazon
189.99€
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Cdiscount
249.99€
The originality of the Amazon Echo Show 10 is astonishing and quite quickly visible. The screen is able to rotate 350° around its base. If the function may seem gimmicky at first, it actually has interesting uses such as follow the interlocutors during a videoconference (no longer need to sit quietly in front of your screen) or remotely monitor every corner of a room rotating the camera.
For the rest, the functions of this model are fairly standard. It should be noted that, for once, the addition of the screen was not done at the expense of the speaker which delivers a quality sound more than honorable. You can of course talk to Alexa, control your connected objects, watch movies and series…
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Able to rotate screen (and camera) 350° | Huge bezels all around the screen |
| Very effective in video conferencing | too much reflection |
| Quality sound | As expensive as the 15” version |
Lenovo Smart Clock 2
Lenovo Smart Clock 2 at the best price
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Fnac
27.99€
His name could hardly be clearer. With its Smart Clock 2, Lenovo wants revolutionize the alarm clock. It is therefore unsurprisingly the smallest device in this comparison with a screen of only 4 inches. To prevent this screen from disturbing you while you sleep, it is equipped with a light sensor to remain discreet in the dark and very visible in direct sunlight.
Of course, this device is much more than a simple alarm clock that tells the time. You’ll have access to your entire music library with support for Spotify, Deezer, Youtube and TuneIn. Thanks to Google Assistant, you can also set your alarm clocks by voice or control your connected objects.
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Attractive price | Fewer features than other devices |
| Simple and efficient | |
| Light sensor | |
| Use Google Assistant |
Meta Portal Go 2021
Meta Portal Go 2021 at the best price
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Amazon
104.54€
Meta, formerly Facebook, has the most powerful social networks in the world. Mark Zuckerberg’s company has therefore understood the interest of creating communication tools that use its messaging services such as Messenger and WhatsApp.
After an interesting but too limited first model in 2019, Meta has reviewed its copy and offers this portable battery operated model. It’s really valuable when you want to keep access to your smart screen from any room in your house without having to buy several fixed models. The smart camera has been kept to track, zoom in and out of people talking during a videoconference.
The design of this smart screen is very successful and qualitative. The screen reveals pretty colorsthe speaker delivers a nice sound and it is easy to make oneself understood by the voice assistant.
On the other hand, there is a real lack on this model concerning the services available. With Facebook Portal Go, impossible to access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Molotov, Youtube, Skype… Even more incomprehensible, there is no Instagram application even though it is a social network owned by Meta .
| The + | The – |
|---|---|
| Screen portable from room to room | Unable to access video streaming services |
| Quality hardware: screen, speaker, microphone, camera… | Poorly thought out interface |
| Modern look | High price for a small screen |
| Pleasant to use with Messenger, WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams… |
Why buy a connected screen rather than a simple connected speaker?
The market for connected speakers has experienced strong growth for several years. More and more households are equipped to control their smart home or just listen to music and have access to voice assistants. To pass a new stage and increase the functionalities, it was obvious thatI had to add a screen. In this way, voice assistants can display information but it is especially for multimedia capabilities and the possibilities of videoconference facilitated that these screens are unanimous.
There are more and more models and manufacturers have had the intelligence to make products that are quite different from each other to suit everyone’s needs. Some screens will be big enough to comfortably watch his series. Others will be intended for the kitchen to follow recipes online. Finally, smaller models will simply replace your old clock radio. It is even possible to buy different types of models adapted specifically for each room of your house.
Google Assistant or Alexa, which is the best voice assistant?
At the moment, Google Assistant and Alexa are the most popular voice assistants. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses. However, the choice will not depend so much on their strengths and weaknesses but rather on the connected equipment you already have. Indeed, to have a connected home that is easy to use, it is essential to make a choice and stick to it. In this way, each of your devices will be able to communicate with each other thanks to your unique voice assistant.
