Smart speakers are increasing in popularity, but
home assistants with displays are still a rare sight. Amazon's exploring the
niche with the Echo Show and now Lenovo wants a piece of the market with its
Smart Display and Google Assistant. The device visualizes all your questions
and answers and offers step-by-step directions for cooking.
Lenovo Smart Display is essentially Google Assistant
with a screen. It has Qualcomm Home Hub Platform, based on Snapdragon 624 with
octa-core CPU, 4 GB storage and 2 GB RAM. It also supports video calls via
Google Duo and supports Wi-Fi 802.11 ac networks.
There is a 5 MP camera on the front that supports
video recording at up to 720p resolution. Since it is located in your home,
Lenovo thought about privacy and provided physical shutter that hides the cam,
as well as a microphone mute key.
Smart Display works with Google Assistant in a
well-known fashion, but now it can also show you some visualizations. After
“Hey Google, good morning” you receive graphical info for the upcoming weather
and traffic congestion on your commute, instead of just dictating like the
Google Home device.
Purchasing the device will give you three months
free of YouTube Premium. Smart Display can also play content from HBO Now,
Spotify, Pandora, Google Play Music and YouTube Music. Of course, it also plays
podcasts and audiobooks, although nothing is happening on the screen at that
moment.
Lenovo Smart Display arrives with 8” or 10” IPS
display for US$ 199.99 or US$ 249.99. It can be purchased from the company's website,
but shipping is expected to begin in August for both variants. The front of the
two versions is white, but the smaller variant has a gray plastic cover on the
back, while the 10” device has a texture similar to wood.
