Everything You Need to Know about Smart Screens

Offering voice-assisted connectivity with an attached touchscreen, smart displays bring a new level of convenience to your home by pairing all digital assistants together. This creates a stationary command center where you can control all of your smart home tech. Display screens also boast many additional features, like allowing video calls or serving as a digital photo album. Learn everything you need to know about smart displays below.

What is a smart display?

A smart home display is the next step in the evolution of the smart speaker. Also commonly referred to as a smart screen, these devices mimic the same basic functionalities as a smart speaker. However, the addition of a touchscreen opens up even more possibilities. A smart display is able to:

Control smart home devices, such as lights, alarms, cameras and thermostats

Answer phone calls and video calls
Set reminders, timers and alarms
Search the web by touch or voice command
Control smart TVs and choose what to watch on synced up streaming services
Check the weather and road conditions

Unlike a smart speaker, a smart display’s touchscreen lets you refine your command and gives you better results faster. Plus, perks like following recipes, acting as a photo frame or even using the device as a clock when other features aren’t being utilized, are all exclusive to the smart screen. Basically, a smart display is a digital assistant that is there to provide basic accommodations to save time and make life easier.

What is the point of having a smart display?

If you’ve already learned how to set up your smart home, you’ll know how convenient smart technology is. Moreso, it is here to stay and is only going to get more advanced and popular as time goes on. Many smart home products can be controlled by apps on your phone or tablet, but logging into various apps for all of your home’s different smart features isn’t the best experience. Instead, having all of your smart home technology contained to one central device gets the most out of your home’s tech. Plus, you can have relevant information that is often commonly referred to, like the time and weather, right there in front of you at all times.

Smart display vs. tablet

Tablets can tell you the weather while completing numerous other tasks, so why would you also need a smart display? Tablets are capable of many different things, but they aren’t specifically designed to act as a video control center like a smart screen. Smart displays act as digital assistants that specialize in keeping your smart home connected while a tablet is essentially a small computer.

How do you choose the right smart display?

If you already have a lot of smart devices in your home or want to take the functionality of your smart speakers to the next level, then getting a smart screen is a logical next step. Or, perhaps you are just beginning to outfit your home with smart technology and need a central control hub to assist with common tasks. Regardless, many people prefer just sticking with a brand that they are most familiar with.

Google Nest Hub. If your world is already connected through Google, smart displays with Google Assistant are extremely convenient and also feature many decent apps exclusive to Google.
Amazon Echo Show. Building off the original Amazon Echo smart speaker and evolving into a smart display with Alexa, Amazon’s smart screens take voice and visual commands to another level with their high definition touchscreens.

Both Google and Amazon smart displays feature various models, but one brand isn’t necessarily better than the other. Both the Nest display and Echo Show can connect to your smart home tech and provide the same features. If you don’t have a preferred brand, choosing the best smart display for you depends on what you will be using the digital assistant for the most.

How is a smart display most used?

Smart displays are mostly used as a control center for all of your smart home devices, serving as a digital assistant to make general undertakings easier. Common smart display uses include:

Monitoring security measures. Smart door locks and alarms, motion sensors and security cameras and surveillance can all be controlled and monitored with a smart display, ensuring your home is always kept safe.
Staying connected. Keeping connected with family and friends through a smart display helps stay in touch and maintain relationships, especially considering how video calls feel a lot more personal and human than a regular phone call with just audio.
Adding a visual element to a smart speaker. Smart speakers connect to an abundance of streaming apps to play your favorite music throughout the entire home. Adding a smart display to the mix elevates the entire experience by having a visual aspect that provides information on the song and artist.

Where is the best place to put a smart display in your home?

The kitchen of a home is typically one of the most common places to put a smart display. Since the smart display acts as a central hub that commands various devices throughout the house, keeping it centralized in the kitchen is a great option. Other beneficial locations where a smart device can be placed include:

Home office. Keeping a smart display on your desk lets you listen to music or podcasts while still staying focused on your work. The picture frame feature is also a nice touch for a home office setting.
Bathroom. Checking the weather and commute times when you are getting ready in the morning has never been so convenient. Plus, you can set up timers for brushing your teeth and taking a shower to ensure your teeth are clean while also helping conserve water.
Foyer or entryway. Placing a smart display in the entrance of your home is a great way to utilize a smart doorbell as well as welcoming guests with music if you are having a get together.

No matter where you keep your smart screen, it will constantly keep you connected to all of your devices. Additionally, the touchscreen opens up a whole new world of visual features that a smart speaker isn’t capable of. If you are still building up your smart home tech assortment, check out the ten best smart home devices and get the most out of your smart home technology. Then, sit back and enjoy the convenience of a digital assistant with a smart display.