Smart displays are a category that, to me, have always felt like they’re on the cusp of being the next big thing for the smart home. I was excited when I first got my Nest Hub. The idea that I could control connected devices with a tap, without having to shout commands at a speaker or pull out my phone, was incredibly appealing. Want to turn off the lights? Just tap a button. Simple, practical.
Fast forward to today, and it’s hard not to feel like the category has gone nowhere. Google’s Nest Hub displays are getting long in the tooth, while Amazon’s Echo Show lineup has become increasingly difficult to recommend when so much of the screen real estate is effectively used as a digital billboard. For something that’s supposed to make your home more convenient, that’s a pretty disappointing state of affairs.