Facebook Portal Adds Battery-Powered Smart Screen

Facebook's Portal Line Evolves with New Models

The Portal series has consistently occupied a unique niche within the smart display market. Facebook's most notable innovation in this area is undoubtedly the Smart Camera, leveraging artificial intelligence to automatically track and frame subjects during video calls. While initially pioneering this feature, competitors like Google, Amazon, and Apple have subsequently introduced similar capabilities.

A key differentiator for Portal, compared to devices such as Nest or Echo, lies in its seamless integration with Facebook’s communication platforms, including Messenger and WhatsApp. However, the line has faced challenges in establishing a strong position against the established presence of Amazon and Google in the connected home and smart assistant sectors.

Introducing the Portal Go: A Portable Smart Display

The introduction of the Portal Go marks a significant development, bringing a battery-powered option to the Portal lineup. This 10-inch device features an integrated handle for easy portability and a battery offering five hours of typical use. Furthermore, it provides up to 14 hours of audio playback when the screen is deactivated, though a dedicated battery-saving mode is not currently available.

This addition is a strategically clever move. The desire to relocate a smart display, such as a Nest Hub, to different rooms is a common experience, and the Portal Go directly addresses this need. Individual user experiences may, of course, differ.

Design and Features of the Portal Go

Although a hands-on evaluation is pending, the design appears appealing. The device incorporates rounded edges, substantial black bezels, and a fabric-covered rear panel – a popular aesthetic in the smart home device category. It stands on a wedged base, incorporating dual front-facing speakers and a rear-mounted woofer.

The Portal Go is equipped with a 12-megapixel ultrawide front-facing camera, enabling the aforementioned intelligent panning and zooming functionality. A physical lens cover is included for enhanced privacy. The screen’s tilt can be adjusted to optimize the viewing angle. Currently, the system does not support far-field voice recognition for multi-speaker configurations, which could present challenges when moving the device around a home.

Updated Portal+ and Business Solutions

A new iteration of the Portal+ has also been released, featuring the same camera technology as the Portal Go, paired with a slim, 14-inch tiltable display capable of accommodating up to 25 participants in a Zoom call. The Portal Go is priced at $199, while the new Portal+ costs $349. Both models are available for pre-order today, with shipping commencing on October 19.

Alongside these hardware announcements, Facebook is launching Portal for Business, aiming to position these smart screens as solutions for teleconferencing. According to a press release:

IT departments can utilize Portal Device Manager to configure and remotely wipe devices assigned to employees. This system is currently available as a closed beta program.