Customer Ratings & Reviews

Had issues finding remote, replaced batteries 3 times for 2 weeks I kept the unit, used it 3 times and had to go trough set up each time I tried to use it, returned it store due to needing portal tv for elderly parents, too much trouble to set up.

I’ve been using video conferencing for many years for my job, most recently they have been through 4K video cams and large televisions and high res smart boards. Those types of setups are top notch – clear, crisp and just work great. However, they are very expensive and require proprietary software. As such, I did not have a lot of faith in the capabilities in home video calls through your TV. Here is what I found out – Installation - Very easy. Plug in the HDMI and the power . Sign in and it will run some updates. In less than 15 minutes you are up and running. AS you may have guesses, you must have a Facebook or WhatsApp id. You can place the video cam below or above the television. I first placed it below the TV ( about 24 inches above the ground) and the angle was all wrong and it did not follow me well. When I placed it above the TV it worked much better with a greater field of vision. Pros – Instantly communicate with everyone in your FB contacts whether they are on their phone, tablet or another Porta device. The mic does a great job of picking up your voice with minimal “tin can” sound. There was no discernable echoing so I would hazard a guess there is some type of noise or echo cancellation built in. I experienced no drop off in vocals nor did the person I was talking to. The camera tracks you as you speak. It’s not perfect but it does an overall decent job and is impressive for $150 piece of hardware. Very expansive field of vision. Built in Alexa. Although the speaker in the Portal is not as powerful as I would like, it is adequate. It did seem to have some trouble with commands such as “where’s my order,” but perhaps that was a network issue. Built in apps. Though it does not have a lot of choices right now, it does have Amazon Prime Video SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, Starz, Pluto TV and a few more. AR filters. You can do all types of funny things with changing your voice, appearance, cartoons. For adults, it will wear off pretty fast but kids are going to love it. Low light performance is fantastic. With all the lights turned off, the light from the TV was more than enough to provide a bright image. Bluetooth to pair headphones. I did not get to try this and I am unsure whether a mic in a headset works. The device build quality is top notch and feels high end. Great potential for enterprise applications for conferencing. Cons Face-tracking can be a bit imprecise. It tends to lose your face when in a shifting or darker background and when you at more of a distance from the camera . It’s entirely software based so it can get “confused.” You can see what it is tracking through an option controlled by the remote. This probably will improved in time with software updates. Camera quality could be better. It states the camera is 12.5 megapixels but when scaled up to a large TV, there is a noticeable degradation in images received. You will notice this in contrast to the self view in the upper corner of the television that looks good but because it is in a much smaller box. I have a LG 77 inch C9 so it is not an issue with the quality of the television, it is because of the Portal TV’s camera quality. Also, I did notice some blurry motion or artifacts at a distance. Does not come with an HDMI cable. No SD slot for memory for future upgrades. There is a USB type C connector but it does not serve any function yet. Proprietary power connector. C’mon Facebook, there is more than enough power from USB C these days. Missed opportunity to make this a fully functional streaming device. Maybe there is more to come but there is very limited streaming options here. I would have made the device compatible with all streaming services out there. The remote’s build quality is lacking. It is about as cheap as it gets. Take a cue from Apple, LG and Samsung – if you have a nice product; make sure the remote reflects that. Conclusion – It’s a nice first try but it can definitely use some refinement in some of the software and options. I think if they made it more of a streaming device in addition to a communication device it would be a home run. In fact , if Facebook integrated a speech to MMS text option , it would be a home run. I have mixed feeling in recommending really any Facebook product. I just do not trust them with any of my data, whether anonymous metadata or not. If you have already embraced the Facebook ecosystem, the personal data ship sailed a long time ago. Facebook has been trying to shake that bad press of what and how they use data for but I always will not trust them in that regard. This is a well thought out device at a good price point and I think there is more to come for it. You really get a lot of technology for your money. For most people, they will enjoy using the Portal TV and I would recommend it to anyone who understands the potential use of your personal data .

Low functioning device. Low video quality even with super fast WiFi

No customer support to help with an issue,not happy about that.

After 6 months, I still haven't been able to get this thing to work... Since I bought X2 of these so I could communicate with my grandchildren in Atlanta, I am not a happy camper.

The Portal TV is the only Portal Device that does not YET support Zoom. Recommend not purchasing if this is the reason to purchase.

First thing’s first - there are a lot of people out there who would say their greatest hesitation for buying this product is rooted in concerns around privacy and security. If you are one of those people, you probably can stop reading now. If you like the idea of a more immersive experience and the promise of additional functionality for the future, then keep reading. I’ve experimented with connecting to other portal users, messenger users, and WhatsApp users. Each time the connection behaved very well, the video was pretty clear, and i was able to hang out on the couch and catch up with someone effortlessly. The same could not be said for setup, given no HDMI cable was to be found in the box, and the software update required out of the box hung up quicker than when a telemarketer trying to sell me an auto warranty calls. Once it did finally go through, i found the interface and remote simple to follow, though i managed to accidentally call someone more than once when fumbling around. additionally, the portal has Alexa built in - and she is a little too powerful for her own good. My unit in the bedroom will miss a command but Portal, which is one room over, will hear it. That can be really great or really bad depending on if you are actually trying to use Alexa, or if she gets excited about something you said that wasn’t even meant for her. All things considered, this device is great for families who want to stay connected in a more meaningful way. I found myself enjoying my conversations more when i could see everyone on the big screen, and ultimately i will keep using Portal any chance I get to bring those people that matter most “into” my home.

Item didn’t show up and we didn’t have enough time to get another ordered before the holiday

Portal tv stopped working. Freezes on white portal screen on start up. Only volume works on remote. Too late to return or exchange.

I loved this product at 1st but a few months later I’m the screen just went black and won’t work again

The portal has multiple problems. It’s always struck and i had to restart at evey use. It’s very slow and annoying.

Product worked for one call second call the screen was all scrambled. Changed out hdmi no change. Return it but not anle to get a replacement.

Won’t work anymore. Only worked a handful of times.

It is a very good option to make video calls, especially if it is between more than two people, since the camera is designed to focus on one person or the whole family. It is one of the strengths of this product, its camera, in addition to the fact that most people already have a Facebook account or use WhatsApp. It is a product that looks great and the color is perfect, it does not attract so much attention mounted on the TV. Extra features such as streaming are very limited, but I hope more apps or options will be added to enjoy this product even more. As already mentioned, it does not include HDMI cable so you will have to buy it, fortunately there are too many options out there and many very affordable. It connects to the power directly, does not have a USB connection to the TV which can give it power, so you have to consider that extra space will be needed in the outlet. For the price, in my opinion, it would be good to have more options for the use of the camera and the platform, but in summary it is an excellent option to greatly improve the “simple” video calls.

Cheap product. Charged $100 but does not even come with hdmi cable. Video quality is poor. Not worth the price

Not happy with it.Keeps getting stuck and net to reset every 15 days.

The Facebook - Portal TV with Alexa is a spectacular way to connect with people like never before. Bring your closest friends and family right into your living room (home) with this amazing interactive video conferencing solution. This also makes a wonderful holiday gift. The Facebook - Portal TV with Alexa is like nothing I've ever used before when it comes to video conferencing. Use fun animations that your friends can see in real time, watch TV together as though you were in the same room and so much more. The video and audio are clear and I love the auto-pan and zoom feature. Really makes the experience seem more organic as you don't have to sit in one place during the video call or carry anything around with you. Best of all, there are several privacy features built in to Facebook Portal. The camera can be covered with a sliding lens cover, and disable audio/speaker functions with the push of a button. I highly recommend the Facebook - Portal TV with Alexa. It will change the way you connect with the ones you love!

Product did not work. Constantly getting feed back and echos. This happens on both ends of the conversation .

I bought 2 portal TVs. One worked great the other is defective so I will re-buy it from a more reputable store.

Very bad camera. Not worth taking. I thought it will be a useful gadget but it is a waste of money