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When Amazon unveiled the first Echo Show show in June 2017, many attendees agreed that adding a screen was the natural progression of an Alexa device. Since then, not only has Amazon released a second-generation Echo Show, but Google has also launched its own Smart Display, called Home Hub.
At this stage of the virtual assistant race, there is not much difference between Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The same goes for their smart screens.
If you are trying to choose between the Google Home Hub and Amazon Echo Show 2, here are the main differences to know.
The Amazon Echo Show 2 is huge in comparison
Before talking about the features of Google Home Hub versus Amazon Echo Show 2, discuss the physical differences between the two devices. First, it should be clear how much the Echo Show 2 is bigger. The overall size of the device is not only more visible, but its display is also.
Featuring a 10.1-inch display, Amazon's smart display dominates the Home Hub and its 7-inch display. Regarding the resolution, the screen of the Echo Show 2 has a dynamic screen of 1280 x 800, while that of Google 1024 x 600 is good, but somehow disabled.
Day-to-day, the size and resolution of the screen do not matter. Occasional queries result in devices displaying additional information on the screen, but the benefit of the display appears when viewing content. More on that later.
The base of both devices stores the speakers of the smart screen. Obviously, because of the difference in size, the Echo Show 2 is equipped with larger speakers, more powerful and more sonorous. While the Echo Show 2 includes two 2-inch speakers and a passive bass radiator, the Home Hub only includes a full-range speaker.
Neither system sounds bad, but Amazon has a clear advantage. Other smart screens, such as JBL Link View, the LG WK9 ThinQ Xboom and Lenovo Smart Display offer a software configuration similar to that of the Home Hub, but with much better sound systems.
Both devices include almost identical physical controls. As you can see in the photos above, the Home Hub has a microphone off switch at the top of the screen and a volume selector on the right side. Amazon has placed three individual buttons on the top edge of Echo Show 2. They can increase and decrease the volume of the device, mute the microphone and disable the webcam.
Echo Show 2 comes with an integrated webcam, unlike the domestic hub. Amazon customers can use their smart display to connect to other Echo Show or Spot devices they own. In addition, users can use Echo Show 2 to video-call contacts from their contacts. The incoming call will appear on the other person's Alexa, Echo Show or Echo Spot app.
On the top of the Home Hub is an ambient light sensor. This sensor allows the Smart Display to identify the light color of its environment and adjust its screen accordingly. This feature allows the Home Hub to adapt to any room in a person's home.
Again, other smart screens include webcams, so check if you need something and do not want to buy an Echo Show 2.
Most of these differences between Google Home Hub and Amazon Echo Show 2 come from where every company envisions that customers use the smart screen. For Google, the company has designed the Home Hub to fit any room, including entrances and rooms. That's why he's small, friendly and the size of a frame. Echo Show 2, on the other hand, is primarily intended for kitchens and other entertainment spaces.
Virtual Assistant – Alexa vs Google Assistant
The main difference between these two devices lies in the integrated virtual assistant. If you plan to buy an Echo Show 2 or a Home Hub, you already know if you prefer to use Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Having a preference at this stage is advantageous because there are not many differences between the two in terms of abilities.
No matter what device you get, you'll be able to ask basic questions like weather, turn on or turn off smart elements in your home, and launch a variety of skills or apps.
Further reading:
Customers can explore new skills and integrations by either having the smart view list a list or by opening the platform application. For the Home Hub, everything is available in the Google Home app, while users can open the Alexa app to change things on Echo Show 2.
Differences from home screen
For many, the Home Hub and Echo Show 2 will be table ornaments 99% of the time. They will not be used hourly, but will stay in one place until you are ready to use them. Thus, each smart display can also display relevant information, is not it?
By default, the Google Home Hub shows the time and weather, as well as a slideshow of photos of various art objects and places of interest. Users can customize this option to view their photo albums from Google Photos or a clock.
Amazon offers a very similar configuration, but adds some additional options. Echo Show 2 can also display news headlines, sports scores, stock information, and more. You can switch these add-ons in the device settings.
While digging beyond the home screen, the Welcome Center displays various useful information. First, you will find weather and calendar events ahead. From there, you'll find suggestions for watching YouTube videos, listening to Spotify music, breaking news, and more.
Dragging from the top gives you access to the smart home controls. These allow customers to activate various items without using voice commands.
Echo Show 2 does not offer all these subtleties. You can ask Alexa to post upcoming calendar events and what is not, but the information will not be automatically populated for you. Fortunately, Amazon offers a similar drop-down menu to manually control smart home products.
Google Home Hub: smaller screen, more content
As mentioned earlier, one of the main advantages of buying an Echo Show 2 or a domestic hub is to take advantage of the screens. The Google Smart Display dominates in this respect unless you're really in love with Amazon's services.
First, the Home Hub includes support for Chromecast. This means that customers can stream the contents of their phones directly to the screen. Just press a button for YouTube, Spotify or another media provider to run on screen. The only service that is missing is Netflix.
The Echo Show 2 is sorely lacking in this department. While Amazon has added Hulu, NBC (with a cable TV subscription), Spotify (via Spotify Connect) and Vevo to the platform, customers are mostly stuck with Prime Video and Amazon Music.
At one point, Amazon had built a YouTube player in Echo Show, but Google was not happy with the implementation. So now, if customers want to watch YouTube videos, they have to launch the integrated Silk browser from Smart View or Firefox. This workaround is functional, but customers are stranded to watch videos from the mobile web interface.
Google Home Hub vs. Amazon Echo Show 2 – Final Thoughts
The choice between Amazon Echo Show 2 and Google Home Hub depends on your personal preferences. The Show is a much bigger device, with better speakers and more than 1,000 skills. The Home Hub is smaller, offers more support and fits perfectly in almost any room.
It also depends on your voice assistant preference. Alexa and Google Assistant can perform almost identical tasks, you must choose the one that suits you best. The wizard is linked to your Google Account. It integrates more deeply into all the services you could use.
The Google Home Hub costs € 149, but is regularly listed for $ 20 to $ 30 less. Echo Show 2 costs $ 230 and may also occasionally be on sale. The price difference is considerable, but you get a bigger screen, better speakers and a webcam in Amazon offers.
Keep in mind that if you prefer Google's Smart Display platform, other third-party devices offer the same user experience as the Home Hub, but with larger displays and more powerful speakers. .
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