Smart Home Pick Pro

Best Smart Displays

By the Smart Home Pick Pro Editorial Team · How we test & rank

As an Amazon Associate, Smart Home Pick Pro earns from qualifying purchases.

Smart displays are most useful in rooms where a screen adds real value: kitchens (recipes, timers, video calls) and bedrooms (alarms, photo frames, quick camera checks). We picked models across a range of sizes for those different jobs.

All of these also double as a full smart speaker, so you're not giving up any voice-assistant functionality by choosing a display instead.

New to this category? Start with our smart display buying guide before diving into the picks below.

How we picked: We picked displays with a strong reputation for responsiveness and screen quality, and made sure to represent both major smart-display ecosystems (Amazon's Echo Show line and Google's Nest Hub line) rather than picking only one.

At a glance

#PickWhy it stands outPrice
Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)Top Pickcompact nightstand display - Small enough to sit comfortably on a nightstandCheck Amazon
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)Runner-upall-around size for a kitchen counter - Screen is large enough to read recipes from across the roomCheck Amazon
Amazon Echo Show 10Best Valuedisplay that follows you around the room - Motorized base rotates to keep you in frame during calls or recipesCheck Amazon
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)Also greatGoogle Assistant households - Compact design with a genuinely useful sleep-tracking featureCheck Amazon
Google Nest Hub MaxAlso greatlarger Google display - Bigger screen and noticeably better speakers than the standard Nest HubCheck Amazon
Amazon Echo Show 15Also greatwall-mounted family hub - Large 15.6-inch screen designed for wall mountingCheck Amazon

The picks in detail

Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)

Top Pick

9.6/10Editor’s score

Best compact nightstand display

  • Small enough to sit comfortably on a nightstand
  • Doubles as a functional alarm clock and photo frame
  • Budget-friendly compared to larger Echo Show models

Watch out Small speaker means weaker sound than the larger Echo Show models.

Check price on Amazon

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)

Runner-up

9.3/10Editor’s score

Best all-around size for a kitchen counter

  • Screen is large enough to read recipes from across the room
  • Better speakers than the Show 5, good for casual music
  • Camera works well for video calls with a wide field of view

Watch out Takes up more counter space than the Show 5, so measure before buying.

Check price on Amazon

Amazon Echo Show 10

Best Value

9.0/10Editor’s score

Best display that follows you around the room

  • Motorized base rotates to keep you in frame during calls or recipes
  • Strong speaker output for a smart display
  • Doubles as a solid camera feed viewer for compatible security cameras

Watch out Significantly pricier and bulkier than the Show 8.

Check price on Amazon

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)

Also great

8.7/10Editor’s score

Best for Google Assistant households

  • Compact design with a genuinely useful sleep-tracking feature
  • Clean, ad-free interface with strong Google Photos integration
  • No camera, which some buyers prefer for bedroom privacy

Watch out No camera means no video calling on the device itself.

Check price on Amazon

Google Nest Hub Max

Also great

8.4/10Editor’s score

Best larger Google display

  • Bigger screen and noticeably better speakers than the standard Nest Hub
  • Built-in camera enables video calls and Nest camera integration
  • Face Match personalizes calendar and reminders for different household members

Watch out Larger footprint needs real counter or shelf space.

Check price on Amazon

Amazon Echo Show 15

Also great

8.3/10Editor’s score

Best wall-mounted family hub

  • Large 15.6-inch screen designed for wall mounting
  • Widgets show calendars, lists, and camera feeds at a glance
  • Works well as a shared family command center in a kitchen or hallway

Watch out Not designed to be picked up and moved — it's built around being mounted in one spot.

Check price on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Do smart displays need Wi-Fi to work?
Yes, like smart speakers they rely on a cloud-connected voice assistant, so they need a stable Wi-Fi connection for voice commands, video calls, and streaming.
Can I view my security camera on any smart display?
Only if the camera brand supports the display's ecosystem. Ring and many other brands support Echo Show devices; Nest cameras integrate most seamlessly with Google's Nest Hub line.
Is a camera on a bedroom smart display a privacy concern?
It can be, which is why models like the Echo Show and Nest Hub Max include physical camera shutters, and the standard Nest Hub skips a camera entirely for buyers who'd rather not have one in a bedroom.

Keep reading

Category

Smart Displays Buying Advice

Guide

Smart Display Buying Guide