Smart displays combine the handy features of a smart speaker with the flexibility of a screen, so you can see and hear the information you’re asking for, whether that's the news, a recipe or even just what the weather is like.
Both Amazon and Google offer several smart displays with varying screen sizes, but now Google has added the Nest Hub 2 to the mix. This 7-inch smart display, which is available to pre-order now, is priced at $99.99 / £89 / AU$149. Going on sale on March 31, it’s the first smart display that can track your sleep as well as everything you’d expect such as acting as a digital photo frame, displaying recipes, and letting you watch streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+.
If you’re considering investing in a smart display, but are wondering which one will suit you best, then we’re comparing the Google Nest Hub 2 and the popular Amazon Echo Show 8 – a similarly priced rival – to help you decide which model is right for you.
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FAQ
What is a smart display?
A smart display is effectively a smart speaker with a screen attached to it, so you have a visual way of accessing the information the built-in voice assistant provides, rather than just listening to it.
What can they do?
Smart displays have a voice assistant built in; that’s Google Assistant on Google’s Nest Hub range, and Alexa on Amazon’s Echo Show range. These assistants can do everything from providing a weather report and an overview of your appointments for the day, to playing music and videos for you and answering your burning questions by finding information from the web.
They can even be used to make audio and video calls, as well as controlling your smart home gadgets, such as home security cameras, smart lights or smart plugs if you have them in your home. Smart displays can also be used as digital photo frames or alarm clocks.
How do you use it?
Like smart speakers, smart displays have microphones built in that are listening for you to utter the wake word (the phrase that sees them spring into life). With the Google Nest Hub range this is ‘Hey Google’ or ‘OK, Google’ while for Amazon Echo Show devices, the default wake word is “Alexa” but you can change it to ‘Echo’ or ‘Computer’ using the Alexa app.
Once you’ve said the wake word, you can then ask your question or say your command. You can also use the touchscreen to access some functions and apps.
Where can you use smart displays?
You can use smart displays anywhere in your home where there’s a power socket - these are mains-powered devices. They can be handy when used in the kitchen, as the screens can show recipes for you to follow, while many people use them as bedside alarms clocks.
Design
Both the Google Nest Hub 2 and the Amazon Echo Show 8 are relatively compact smart displays. The Google Nest Hub 2 measures 12 x 17.74 x 6.96cm while the Amazon Echo Show 8 has an overall footprint of 20 x 13.59 x 9.91cm - making it slightly larger than the Google Nest Hub 2.
In terms of display size, the Google Nest Hub 2 has a 7-inch screen with a 1024 x 600 resolution, where the Echo Show 8 has an 8-inch display, with a 1200 x 800 resolution.
The Google Nest Hub has a ‘floating screen’ design that almost looks as though the display is suspended in the air, with the rounded base housing the full-range speaker with a 1.7-inch driver. It’s available in four colours; chalk, charcoal, sand, and mist - a soft pastel blue.
Meanwhile, the Amazon Echo Show 8 has a wedge-shaped design that can also be found on the Echo Show 5, it’s smaller sibling, and comes in a choice of charcoal or sandstone. Once again the fabric covered section houses the two-inch speaker with passive bass radiator. Both smart displays come with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections too.
Microphone and camera
Both smart displays use microphones to listen for their relevant wake word and when they’re being used to make calls. The Google Nest Hub 2 has three microphones, while the Amazon Echo Show 8 has four.
The Amazon Echo Show 8 also has a front-facing 2MP camera which can be used to make video calls to other Echo Show smart displays. Just like Google’s original Nest Hub, which was initially called the Google Home Hub, there’s no camera built-in to the smart display so it can’t be used for video calling.
Handy features
As we’ve already mentioned, there are several uses for smart displays, and the Google Nest Hub 2 and Amazon Echo Show 8 are pretty equal here. They can both play music and videos, with the Google Nest Hub 2 supporting Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube and the Amazon Echo Show 8 supporting Netflix and Prime Video. The built-in voice assistants can control the playback of music, find information on the web and automate your smart home gadgets.
However, the Google Nest Hub 2 trumps the Amazon Echo Show 8 as it can track your sleep, if you use it in your bedroom. It has Soli radar technology built-in, which can already be found in the Google Pixel 4 smartphone and Google’s newest Nest smart thermostat, to analyze your movement through the night and create a report that can details how much sleep you had, and any interruptions caused by coughing, snoring or temperature or light changes in the room. This isn’t something the Amazon Echo Show 8 can do.
Privacy
Both Google and Amazon have taken privacy seriously with these smart displays. You can ask the built-in voice assistant to stop listening for the wake word at any point, and it’s possible to ask for recording the devices make, when you say the wake word, to be deleted. Alternatively you can erase them from their companion apps too. There’s also a physical switch that cuts the power to the microphones to prevent them listening. The Amazon Echo Show 8 includes a shutter for the smart display’s camera too.
Price
The Google Nest Hub 2 is priced at $99.99 / £89 / AU$149 are available to pre-order now. It will go on sale on March 31. The Amazon Echo Show 8 is available now and is slightly more expensive costing $129 / £119 / AU$229, but it’s frequently discounted and likely to be on sale during Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday later in the year.
Verdict
The Google Nest Hub 2 and Amazon Echo Show 8 are evenly matched when it comes to design, the big difference lies in the lack of camera on the Google Nest Hub and the fact the Amazon Echo Show 8 can’t track your sleep.
If you already have a smart speaker or smart display from either brand in your home, then it makes sense to opt for the same manufacturer as they’ll work together, for example creating a multi-room music system.
If this is your first smart speaker or display, then it comes to what you value most; a device that can make video calls on, then plump for the Amazon Echo Show 8, while if sleep tracking without the use of a wearable appeals, then the Google Nest Hub 2 is your best bet.
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