Facebook Portal Mini - Smart Video Calling 8” Touch Screen Display with Alexa - White

loved everything about this product!

I like the fact I can talk face to face with my son who lives in Germany!

Best Christmas gift they loved them better quality then the echo ones.

I bought this to be able to video chat with an elderly parent hospitalized during this No Visitors time. It is a fabulous device. I set it up from home and then got within range of the hospital WiFi before sending it up to her room. Once set up, it is very easy to use, either with verbal commands or with the touch screen. The CONS to this device - 1) it has to be plugged in at all times, and the cord is fairly short. (We sent it to the hospital with an extension cord.) Caretakers kept moving it to not trip on the cord, so it kept getting put out of her range to reach the touch screen. 2) The WhatsApp feature is very glitchy. It eventually stopped working altogether. Definitely a much better device for just using Facebook Messenger. UPDATE: We’ve now had these devices for 7 months. The device that my elderly mother has has to get rebooted somewhat regularly. Apps and features will freeze. Also, because she forgets how to turn the screen off (which you can only do verbally), she tends to lay it on its face and the screen now has a dark shadow all around the edges. I’m guessing it’s because it overheats when she lays it down. So, while I still like the devices, if your elderly person is getting senile or has dementia, it may not be the device for them.

Bought for my parents who aren’t too tech Savvy. They love it! We have never had a problem, it’s always been crystal clear.

Better than I expected!

I bought this so I could video chat with my co-workers more easily and not have to use my phone. It is great for this and Im very happy with this purchase. During this time of working from home it has been very useful! I use both Facebook messenger and Whats App for video chats every day. I love how it will follow you around the room, if I need to get up during a call. I highly suggest this for video calling over the Amazon Echo.

I bought this thinking it would make my home lifestyle more fun, although every time when I would try to use the touch screen it would lag and there would be like a 20 second delay after using the touch screen. The voice control doesnt really function well as I would have to call it multiple times for it to hear me. It does not have the same functions as a typical Alexa device because I cant connect any smart devices to it (such as my smart lightbulb) and it cant answer random curious or fun questions like any other regular alexa device would...so whats the point of it having an Alexa! Theres really no common/useful apps you can use this device (except for spotify) so theres no other use for it other than video chatting. Although this device provides access to a web browser you would have to navigate to any website, such as Youtube, as if your on an iPad, however....ITS SUPER SLOW and glitchy. So I NEVER find myself using the web browser as its just ends up not worth my time to try to use. Also need to note that it has a hard time switching the screen between a vertical or horizontal position as it glitches or sometimes not even responds. Ill give it 1 extra star than this device deserves ONLY because the video quality is pretty good and the cool feature where the camera follows you around in the room. But besides that, if you want to use this thing for ANY other recreational use such as putting on YouTube to watch a cooking tutorial while cooking in the kitchen or ask it typical/simple questions that my echo dot device could answer...then this is NOT the device for you.

Bought this for my 76-year-old mother. Have been looking for a completely foolproof way to do calls and video-conferencing with her. After countless devices thru the years, I can say that I finally found it. The interface is really streamlined and (almost completely) foolproof. With the WhatsApp and messenger accounts properly set up, she simply has to touch on the favorite contacts that rest right on the front screen. One tap to call, one tap to pickup. Cant beat that! If for some reason gets out of the main screen (not as easy to happen as in an iPad) or whatever, its (mostly) simple for her to get back to square 0. After several months it never had any problem (i.e. logging out, or asking for the user to validate options or updates, that would be an issue for my mother to deal with). For someone that lives far away from their parents, you can understand how this is gold! It beats the iPad (that she also has but barely uses, and is still a continuous training) that ends up having too many possibilities. Same for Alexas devices that end up having too many options and quickly she can get lost or complicated for someone not used to UXs and smart devices. Aside from the simplicity of the interface, the camera picture qualify is great and the speakers are pretty acceptable. The auto-zoom feature is very useful, however, dont expect this to be like Facetime in your face. The device has some other possibilities and an app store. Facebook is trying to add more apps to it, but frankly, it seems pretty limited still. It is a shame because it is a very powerful VC device. It has already the GoToMeeting app, and would be great if they could add Zoom. Privacy concerns are warranted. The best you can do is use the physical latch to cover the camera (that also is supposed to shut down the mic). But that is a trade-off that I accepted with my mothers device. I got the Portal TV for my own house (and use the latch) and I am waiting for WhatsApp to release the multi-device feature to buy another one for my Mother. If you want an easy, comfortable efficient way to do Video-conferencing, you use WhatsApp and/or Messenger, this is a great device!

granddaughter loved it