Best Smart Display (2026): 7 Picks for Every Room

The Echo Show 8 is the display most people should start with. Amazon lists an 8.7-inch touchscreen, a 13 MP camera with auto-framing, Wi-Fi 6E, and a hub that handles Zigbee, Matter and Thread devices, so it can control lights, locks and sensors without a separate bridge. Reviewers do not agree on the screen resolution (1340 x 800 versus 1280 x 800), so check the listing.

Amazon says bass is up to twice that of the 2023 model, and the display supports spatial audio. TechRadar and Expert Reviews praise the screen and audio, and criticize a cluttered interface and the price increase over the third generation.

Privacy needs a note. The camera has no shutter. Amazon provides a mic/camera button that cuts power and a setting that disables the camera, but a sliding cover would be easier to trust.

Skip it if you want a physical camera cover; the Echo Show 5 has one, and the Echo Hub and Nest Hub have no camera at all.

The Echo Show 11 is the Show 8 with a bigger Full HD panel. Amazon lists 10.95 inches at 1920 x 1200, a 13 MP camera, Wi-Fi 6E and the same Zigbee, Matter and Thread hub. The sound comes from dual full-range speakers plus a 2.8-inch woofer.

TechRadar's review is titled as a bigger screen but less for the privacy-conscious, because the camera has no shutter. Amazon owners report praise for the screen and sound, with some complaints about lag and Wi-Fi.

The stand (40-degree tilt and 360-degree swivel) is a separate purchase. The Show 11 is about space on the counter and sharper recipes and video.

Skip it if you have a small counter; the Show 8 saves space and does nearly everything the same.

The Echo Show 5 is the bedside option. Amazon lists a 5.5-inch touchscreen, a 2 MP camera with a built-in shutter and a 1.75-inch speaker. We did not find Zigbee or Thread hub features on its listing, so do not count on it as a smart-home hub.

Expert Reviews and SlashGear describe it as a good alarm clock and bedside controller, with complaints about price at launch, a grainy camera and occasional touchscreen lag. Auto-dim can be inconsistent.

Its shutter is a point in its favor, though the Show 15 and Show 21 also have one.

Skip it if you want to cook from it or watch video; the Show 8 is a better all-rounder.

The Echo Hub is for controlling devices, not for calls. Amazon lists an 8-inch, 1280 x 800 display, a built-in hub for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Thread and Sidewalk, and a wall bracket in the box. Amazon says some devices can still be controlled locally if the internet is down.

Tom's Guide and Expert Reviews find it easy to use once set up. They also list the limits: no Z-Wave, an interface that can lag, little customization and a speaker that is better for alerts than music.

It has no camera, which will appeal to anyone uneasy about one in the kitchen. It also needs to stay plugged in.

Skip it if you want calls, video or a good speaker; the Show 8 does more.

The Echo Show 15 is the one to hang by the fridge. Amazon lists a 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 display, a 13 MP camera, Fire TV built in, a remote and four speakers. The tilt stand is sold separately.

TechRadar's review praises the wall mounting and notes that widgets cannot be resized and the daily schedule widget is small. Reviewers also criticize the speakers and the amount of clutter on the home screen.

Amazon and reviewers describe a built-in camera shutter and a mic/camera off button.

Skip it if you do not have a spare wall; the Show 8 is cheaper and takes less room.

The Nest Hub (2nd gen) launched in March 2021 and is still sold in Google's US store. Google lists a 7-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen, three microphones with a mic-off switch, a Soli radar chip, and no camera at all.

Soli powers Motion Sense and Sleep Sensing. Google's store page says Sleep Sensing is a preview offered at no extra charge, and Google says it may fold the feature into a paid health plan in future, so check the current terms. Tom's Guide and PCWorld recommend it as the bedside display for sleep tracking.

The Gemini for Home upgrade is one-way. Gemini Live needs Google Home Premium, per Google's support page. We found no announced successor, and a Google Home Display has so far only turned up in app code, according to 9to5Google.

Skip it if you want video calls or a bigger screen; Google offers neither here.

The Echo Show 21 is for homes where the display is closer to a small TV. Amazon lists a 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 screen, Fire TV, a remote, a 13 MP camera with a shutter, a Zigbee, Matter and Thread hub, and a weight of 10.7 lb. The stand is a separate purchase.

Smart Home Compared notes that speaker quality is a common complaint at this size, so plan on a soundbar if you watch a lot. Ads and suggestions apply here too.

Skip it if you do not have wall space; the Show 15 is half the size.