Facebook Portal Plus - Smart Video Calling 15.6” Touch Screen Display with Alexa - White

update:1/22/2021: It is now 1.5 years and the portal+ is still going strong. My original comments still apply. The video call is it's main purpose and best use case. It's still loud and the camera is awesome as it pans to where there is motion or voice. It does work from 25-30 feet away. We have it on continuously so the portal updates itself occasionally. We have had to do a couple reboots in this 1.5 years but in general it works. They did add one capability which I like: I can now create a 'superframe' folder in my facebook account and direct portal to display only those photos in round robin fashion. So now I have control of what gets seen and when. I put a small number of photos into that folder and change the photos periodically. I am still hopeful the other 2 capabilities will show up in the near future (remote administration, auto answer). I got portal plus about 9 months ago. It is great as a video chat device. The main benefit I saw is that display is large and the speakers are loud and voice control is available. This is used for the grandparents who are computer illiterate and somewhat hard of hearing. The speakers are loud so they can really hear me . It's volume is adjustable too for those not so deaf. This loudness was definitely required. When they video chat with me I can hear them fine too so the microphone is sensitive. This means whether they stand up close of talk from the kitchen (30 ft away). The display is larger that a tablet and we put it in landscape mode (can be portrait too) . Our goal is it is a device that just sits there and needs no attention like a landline telephone. It will take multiple calls at once ie video conference so the most we've had is 3 people call at once. All 3 were displayed simultaneously. The other thing that helps illiteracy is they can just answer by saying " hey portal answer". We did not want them to touch the device or initiate call. 'superframe' is what they call the display of pictures when not in a call. So we load it with tons of pictures and somehow it cycles and displays pictures. Not just what I load up but what I also put in their facebook account. I'm unclear as to when and what pictures get displayed. Easy to answer if you have just a few photos but if you have hundreds+ then I don't know which ones get chosen over time. So every week or so I add photos to their facebook account and hope newer ones show up. Lots of other capabilities but it accomplished our main objectives. Some features that I hope will come in future: 1) remote administration - so I can program /adjust as needed 2) auto answer - so I can check up on them and they don't have to do anything to answer 3) superframe - better control of what and when pictures show up. Click HELPFUL if you find this of benefit .

This Portal+ replaced our Echo Show on the kitchen counter. It’s automatically zooming in and out and following camera is its best feature. It even has Alexa built-in so we can still say “Alexa, show me the front door”. All our family video or voice calls us from any of their mobile phones and tablets. The apps allows us browsing, streaming music, streaming movies, etc. It even have a Story Time feature for your viewers. The sound from its good sized speakers is excellent. The beautiful screen can easily switch from portrait to landscape and back. It also replaced our digital picture frame. Our favorite time is breakfast at the dining nook by the kitchen and saying “Hey Portal, call <name>“, add <call> other family members, and enjoy a morning group video call. Then after our morning call, say “Alexa, play <iHeart radio>”. This is the best gadget in our house.

I use video conferencing apps pretty often for work...Zoom, Google Meet, etc. They work ok, but I don't feel like I'm really there with the other people. Since I live out-of-'town from my family, and travel is not an option during the pandemic, I wanted a way to feel close and stay in contact. I've tried video calls on iPhone, IPad pro (12.9"), computers, and the smaller Portal. They work, but all have their problems. Most issues for me relate to sound quality. Either I can't hear the other people due to my speakers not reproducing voices clearly (or I have to put on headphones but then no one else in the room can hear the conversation), they can't hear me due to my mic or my position to the mic, or the software cuts people off while it negotiates audio input and output at the same time. The smaller screens of phones and tablets are also unpleasant for a call more than a few minutes long. This thing solves those problems. I've also tried the smaller Portal and it was ok, but really not much better than a tablet. The camera tracking was nice, but the audio quality wasn't great and I felt like the screen was too small...which detracts from the experience of mimicking a real visit. The only downside to me is you're locked into the Facebook ecosystem, so as far as I know you can't use it with other services. I'm kind of surprised no competitors have produces something comparable yet. But if you can't visit friends or family and want to keep in contact with them, it's worth it for both parties to get one of these. Two of these would be about the same price as one plane ticket, that you can use it over and over, without catching Covid.

Love this item. It’s so much more than a video calling device, although it’s brilliant for that. It’s very well made. It was packaged really well and was easy to set up. The only extra I would have liked was a booklet telling me about all the things it does as how to get the best from it. I’m finding out gradually but it could be so much easier.

Device is awesome! Large screen and big icons help parents & older users video chat with their loved ones through various apps available for Portal. Just note when using that these devices have multiple mics all around, so the other side can even pickup on background chatter..😁 Seller has been extremely attentive to customer service. Excellent purchase overall!👍🏽

Both my Dad and I have portals and we facetime a lot since we got them.

Tres beau hardware, J'aime beaucoup l'utiliser pour appeler en video ma famille quand je suis dans la cuisine. J'aime beaucoup le suivis de camera quand j'ai les mains occupes ainsi que la qualite du son et de l'image qui est superbe. Dommage que les apps sont limiter. Mes utilisations principales avec sont messenger video (le seul disponible avec Duo) et Spotify (demande de changer de musique ou de changer le volume a la voix, ce qui est tres pratique). Je recommande mais a un public avertis qui sait ou s'en aller avec (beau hardware mais software limiter). Personnellement je ne regrete pas mon achat pour mon utilisation quotidienne.