Facebook’s Portal is a smart display with an emphasis on video chat. Unlike its bigger brother, the Portal+, the $199 Portal is not only cheaper, but also more compact and stylish. It uses algorithms to track your movements, which is great for staying in the conversation, but that does give off some creepy vibes. Two voice assistants can get a little confusing, and functionality is limited compared to competing smart displays. It’s a compelling proposition for avid Messenger users, but others should probably pass.
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Facebook’s Portal is a smart display with an emphasis on video chat. Unlike its bigger brother, the Portal+, the $199 Portal is not only cheaper, but also more compact and stylish. It uses algorithms to track your movements, which is great for staying in the conversation, but that does give off some creepy vibes. Two voice assistants can get a little confusing, and functionality is limited compared to competing smart displays. It’s a compelling proposition for avid Messenger users, but others should probably pass.
Beyond making calls, I’m excited to see if working with third-party developers can improve Portal over time and stitch together an ecosystem of in-call experiences. At launch, the Portal+ has some noteworthy elements, but it will likely be a lot more interesting six months to a year from now when more third-party apps and in-call experiences are made available.
Facebook has consistently shown that it's incapable of keeping its user's private data safe. Several breaches have exposed personal information on millions of its users, and now it's asking its customers to pay money and bring a Facebook product with microphones and cameras into our homes.