The Ultimate 2025 Smart Display Showdown: Echo Show 10 vs Nest Hub Max 2 vs Lenovo Smart Display 2

Smart displays are smarter than ever in 2025. Amazon’s Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen), Google’s rumored Nest Hub Max 2, and Lenovo’s anticipated Smart Display 2 are vying for a spot on your countertop. Each combines a voice assistant with a touchscreen to stream videos, control smart homes, show recipes, video call family, and more. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll cover the latest updates and news on each device and see how they stack up across design, audio quality, smart home integration, privacy, video calling, user experience, ecosystem support, content services, price, and overall pros and cons. Read on to find out which smart display reigns supreme in 2025!

Design and Display

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen): The Echo Show 10 features a 10.1-inch HD touchscreen (1280×800) mounted on a cylindrical base that houses its speakers shi.com. Its signature trick is a rotating display that automatically swivels to face you as you move, using camera and audio tracking whathifi.com. This motorized rotation is eerily precise – “the accuracy is almost uncannily good,” one reviewer noted, though they admitted saying “Alexa, follow me” can feel “a little bit creepy” whathifi.com whathifi.com. The screen’s resolution is adequate for casual viewing, if not quite full HD, and it has adaptive brightness to adjust to lighting whathifi.com. The design is modern with a fabric-covered base and minimal bezels. One downside of the swiveling design is the device’s bulk – at over 2.5 kg and about 25 cm tall, it needs ample space to rotate without bumping into walls or objects whathifi.com whathifi.com. In smaller kitchens or tight corners, it can be challenging to position this Echo optimally wired.com. However, if you have the counter space, the Echo Show 10’s moving screen ensures you can see it from anywhere in the room, which is great for following recipes or workouts. It can be manually tilted up or down to adjust viewing angle whathifi.com, but it does not rotate vertically. Overall, the Echo Show 10’s design is unique and functional – essentially a “moving smart tablet on a sturdy driver-packed plinth” whathifi.com that literally follows you around to keep its screen in view.

Google Nest Hub Max 2: Google’s Nest Hub Max (1st gen) already had a 10-inch HD display (1280×800) set in a minimalist, fabric-backed frame store.google.com. It sports an unobtrusive design akin to a photo frame with a soft grey or charcoal fabric base. The screen doesn’t rotate – instead it’s fixed at a slight tilt, making it easy to see across a room. The current Nest Hub Max’s display is bright and doubles as one of the best digital photo frames thanks to Ambient EQ (automatic color/brightness adjustment) and seamless Google Photos integration businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. Photos look almost like printed images under its adaptive lighting theverge.com. As of 2025, Google is widely expected to launch a Nest Hub Max 2. Rumors point to a larger 12-inch OLED display on the new model, which would be a step up from the 10-inch LCD echotekk.com. An OLED screen could deliver richer colors and contrast, enhancing video watching and photo display. The Nest Hub Max 2 may also come with a more compact design despite the bigger screen, by trimming bezels. Google hasn’t officially revealed it yet, but code snippets in the Google Home app have hinted at an upcoming device inkl.com inkl.com. The Nest Hub Max’s design philosophy is all about blending into the home: it looks like a fancy digital picture frame and “has an unobtrusive design” that doesn’t call attention to itself wired.com. Expect the second-gen to continue that trend – likely a slim, modern aesthetic that fits on a kitchen counter or living room shelf without dominating the decor. One potential design enhancement for the Hub Max 2 could be a built-in Thread radio (more on that later), which might slightly alter the chassis to accommodate new hardware. Overall, Google’s device emphasizes a clean look and functional display over flashy moving parts. It’s built to be looked at (for photos, videos, Nest camera feeds, etc.) rather than to move and follow you, so consider if you prefer a stationary screen versus the Echo’s motion.

Lenovo Smart Display 2: Lenovo was an early pioneer of Google Assistant-powered displays, and their original Smart Display (2018) earned praise for its elegant design. The 10-inch Lenovo Smart Display stood out with a unique side-mounted speaker and a sleek curved back finished in bamboo woodgrain theverge.com. It was a “beautifully designed smart display” that balanced style and functionality techradar.com theverge.com. The 10-inch model offered a Full HD+ screen (1920×1200), which was actually sharper than the Echo Show’s and Nest Hub Max’s screens techradar.com techradar.com. We expect the Lenovo Smart Display 2, if it materializes, would carry forward that design DNA – a crisp display (likely 10-inch or larger, possibly retaining 1920×1200 resolution or higher) paired with a strong speaker system in an attractive enclosure. Lenovo might offer a premium finish (perhaps bamboo or fabric options) to appeal to home aesthetics. One benefit of Lenovo’s original design was that it could be propped up in portrait orientation (it had rubber feet on one end) for video calls, although software only supported portrait mode during Duo calls theverge.com. A second-gen Lenovo display might fully enable vertical orientation for flexibility, which would help it fit on narrower surfaces. In terms of build, Lenovo’s first Smart Displays were slim around the screen with a larger wedge for the speaker, and they included a physical camera shutter (more on privacy later). That thoughtful hardware design – balancing a “larger screen and stronger audio” in a compact form techradar.com techradar.com – would likely continue. However, it’s worth noting a major update: Google has stopped providing software updates for third-party Assistant displays like Lenovo’s 9to5google.com. This cast doubt on whether Lenovo will actually release a “Smart Display 2” with Google Assistant. It’s possible Lenovo could pivot to using Amazon’s Alexa or another platform, but no official announcement has been made as of August 2025. So while we can envision a Lenovo Smart Display 2’s design – probably a refinement of the original’s stylish look and sharp screen – its very existence remains speculative. If it does launch, expect a visually impressive display and premium design, given Lenovo’s track record. Just be aware that without Google’s full backing, the software experience might not keep pace with the polished feel of Amazon’s and Google’s own devices.

Sound and Audio Quality

Echo Show 10: Housed in that large base are some serious audio components. The Echo Show 10’s cylindrical speaker base contains a 2.1 audio system (two tweeters and a woofer) that delivers powerful, room-filling sound wired.com. In fact, the Echo Show 10 sounds more like a quality smart speaker than a tablet. Music and voices have good clarity and even a touch of bass thump. One reviewer noted it “sounds great” for its size wired.com, easily loud enough for a dance-around-the-kitchen moment. Another source quipped that “the sound quality is good enough for a dance around the kitchen with your oven gloves on,” even if it “lacks sonic brilliance” like a hi-fi system whathifi.com. That’s to say, it won’t outshine a dedicated stereo or a Sonos, but it’s excellent by smart display standards. The unique thing, however, is that the speakers are stationary while the screen rotates whathifi.com. This means the sound direction doesn’t really track you – only the display does. In practice, the Echo’s audio is omnidirectional enough to fill a space, but you won’t always be in a “sweet spot” as it turns whathifi.com. Amazon has included features like room adaptive audio, so the Echo Show 10 can adjust its sound output based on the acoustics of your room amazon.com. You can also pair the Show 10 with other Echo speakers or a subwoofer in a group for multi-room or stereo sound whathifi.com. Overall, Echo Show 10 offers arguably the best audio of these three: it’s rich, gets fairly loud without too much distortion, and is great for casual music listening, podcasts, or hearing Alexa’s responses clearly. It transforms into a small party speaker when needed, although audiophiles will still notice some compression and a focus on mid-range/bass whathifi.com whathifi.com. For everyday use, it’s more than sufficient.

Nest Hub Max (2): Google’s Nest Hub Max has surprisingly robust sound as well. It packs a stereo speaker system with two front-facing tweeters and one 30W subwoofer built into its base amazon.com marketplace.srpnet.com. In plain terms, it can produce stereo separation and decent bass for its size. In fact, the Nest Hub Max is often praised for having the best audio of any Google Assistant display – “the Nest Hub Max also offers the best sound out of any smart display on the market,” according to Business Insider’s 2023 review businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. It easily outclasses the smaller Nest Hubs and even many competitors in fullness of sound. The speakers can fill a medium-sized room with music, and clarity is generally good, with voices and vocals coming through cleanly. It’s an ideal kitchen companion for music or watching YouTube how-to videos with audible dialogue. While the Echo Show 10 might edge it out in sheer volume or bass (thanks to that larger enclosure), the difference isn’t huge – the Hub Max holds its own. The Nest Hub Max 2, if it upgrades hardware, could potentially improve audio further. If a larger body or new design is in play, Google might tune the speakers for louder, richer sound. Also, if the Nest Hub Max 2 integrates more AI (Gemini) processing, that’s more about smarts than sound; the audio hardware will likely be similar or slightly improved (perhaps adding more wattage or an extra driver). But even as is, the current Nest Hub Max’s “excellent sound quality” makes it a “worthy miniature entertainment center” for music and video in the kitchen or living room businessinsider.com. Some users have reported occasional audio hiccups or that the sound can distort at max volume businessinsider.com, but for normal use it’s clear and pleasant. If you’re an audio stickler, you can pair Nest Hubs with other Cast-enabled speakers for multi-room audio as well. One thing to note: Google’s devices support high-quality streaming from services like YouTube Music, Spotify, etc., but they don’t have an aux-out or Bluetooth speaker pairing mode (the Echo Show 10 supports Bluetooth in/out for audio). So, you’ll be using the built-in speakers only on the Hub Max. Still, with tuned stereo speakers plus a subwoofer, it’s more than sufficient for daily listening and arguably the best-sounding Google smart display to date businessinsider.com.

Lenovo Smart Display 2: The original Lenovo Smart Display featured a 10W full-range speaker and dual passive radiators for bass, which delivered fairly loud output but only average audio quality. Reviews were mixed: TechRadar lauded its “blasting audio” and “impressive audio performance” for spoken word and music techradar.com techradar.com, while The Verge found it “passable at best” – fine for background music, but distorting at higher volumes and not on par with dedicated speakers theverge.com theverge.com. For a potential Smart Display 2, Lenovo would likely aim to improve the sound to stay competitive. We might see an upgraded speaker array, perhaps stereo drivers or a larger woofer, to match the Echo Show and Nest Hub Max in audio richness. If Lenovo sticks with the side-firing speaker design (with the speaker grille next to the screen), it has the advantage of a wider soundstage when the device faces you sideways. The design of Lenovo’s unit has room for a robust speaker, and they’d likely tune it for clear voice (important for Assistant responses) and decent bass for music. In terms of volume, the original could get “plenty loud” at max – enough to fill a room – but with some distortion creeping in theverge.com. Expect a second-gen to refine that, possibly with better drivers to reduce distortion. Also, recall that Lenovo’s display had only two microphones, lacking the far-field mic arrays of Amazon/Google’s own devices techradar.com. That could affect how well it hears you over loud music. A new model might add more mics to improve voice pickup during audio playback. Without official info, we speculate that Lenovo Smart Display 2 would deliver solid sound but may not outperform Amazon or Google’s flagships. If you prioritize audio quality, third-party Google displays historically haven’t been the very best, but they’ve been serviceable. One silver lining: if Lenovo’s device were to use Alexa instead (pure speculation, given Google’s update freeze), Amazon’s Echo technology like Multi-Room Music and equalizer settings could come into play. In summary, Lenovo’s next display should at least match the Nest Hub Max in audio and possibly compete with Echo Show 10, but we’ll have to see if it ever launches. As of now, Lenovo’s first-gen was good but not great on sound – future enhancements would need to address volume without distortion and possibly add more bass depth to truly excel.

Smart Home Integration (Voice Assistants and Connectivity)

One of the biggest differences among these devices is their voice assistant and smart home ecosystem. Amazon’s Echo Show 10 runs on Alexa, while the Nest Hub Max (and Lenovo’s, if it sticks with Google) use Google Assistant. Both Alexa and Google Assistant can handle the basics – answering questions, setting timers, playing music, and controlling a wide array of smart home devices – but each has its own strengths and ecosystem perks.

Echo Show 10 / Alexa: Alexa has been around for years and boasts an enormous library of “Skills” (third-party voice apps) to extend its functionality. With Alexa on the Echo Show 10, you can control pretty much any smart home gadget that supports Alexa, including lights, thermostats, plugs, cameras, and more. Amazon even built a smart home hub into the Echo Show 10: it includes a Zigbee radio that can directly connect to Zigbee-compatible devices (like certain smart bulbs and sensors) without needing an extra hub whathifi.com. Just say, “Alexa, discover my devices,” and the Show 10 will find and set up devices for voice or on-screen control whathifi.com. This is a big plus if you have Zigbee lights (Philips Hue, etc.) or door sensors – the Echo Show 10 can act as the central hub for them. Additionally, Amazon has embraced the new Matter standard for smart home interoperability. The Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is a Matter controller and even functions as a Thread Border Router matteralpha.com matteralpha.com. In simple terms, it can connect to and manage Matter-enabled devices (which are the new generation of cross-platform smart gadgets) and it supports Thread networking (a protocol for IoT devices) alongside Wi-Fi and Zigbee. This future-proofs the Show 10 for the next wave of smart home tech. Alexa’s integration with other Amazon products is another advantage: if you have a Ring doorbell or security cameras, Alexa can display their live feeds on the Echo Show’s screen with a quick voice command. It’s very handy to say “Alexa, show me the front door camera” and have the video pop up. Alexa also supports routines and automation – you can set up complex sequences (like turning off lights, locking doors, and arming an alarm when you say “Alexa, goodnight”). Amazon’s ecosystem is huge, so most third-party smart home brands work with Alexa out of the box. However, Alexa’s complexity can be a double-edged sword: with so many skills and options, sometimes you need to find and enable a specific skill to control a device or service. That said, Amazon is continually improving Alexa’s AI. In fact, a next-gen Alexa, dubbed Alexa+, is rolling out with more conversational abilities powered by generative AI wired.com. Alexa+ will be more personalized and capable (handling complex tasks and follow-up questions), which could make interacting with your Echo Show 10 even smoother. (Bear in mind Alexa+ may become a subscription service in the future, free for Prime members and $20/month otherwise wired.com.) The commitment to Alexa shows Amazon’s still invested in smart home, even after some turbulence (Amazon reportedly lost $10B on Alexa in 2022 but continues developing new devices and features) wired.com. Overall, if your home already leans on Alexa-compatible devices or Amazon services, the Echo Show 10 will integrate seamlessly. It’s essentially a voice-controlled smart home hub with a screen, able to control devices by voice or touch, show live feeds, and even act as a security camera itself (Alexa’s app lets you drop in and view the Show 10’s camera remotely, effectively using it as an indoor monitor) whathifi.com whathifi.com.

Nest Hub Max / Google Assistant: Google Assistant on the Nest Hub Max is equally powerful in many respects, especially if you’re entrenched in the Google/Nest ecosystem. Out of the box, the Nest Hub Max can control thousands of smart home products that work with Google Home – lights, cameras, thermostats (like Nest Thermostat or Ecobee), smart locks, kitchen appliances, you name it businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. Setting up devices is done through the Google Home app, and once linked, you can use voice or the Hub’s screen to control them. Google’s interface features a Home View dashboard (accessible with a swipe down or via voice) that shows an overview of your smart home rooms and devices, making it easy to tap to turn things on/off or adjust settings. One area Google shines is integration with its own services: for example, if you have a Nest Hello video doorbell, when someone rings it, the Nest Hub Max can automatically display the camera feed and even allow two-way talk. Google’s Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell products play very nicely with the Hub Max – it becomes a control center for your Nest security system (viewing camera feeds, etc.). Google Assistant is also arguably a bit smarter in answering general questions and performing web searches (no surprise, given Google’s search engine backbone). It handles conversational queries and follow-ups gracefully, and it can tap into Google’s vast knowledge graph for answers. With the Nest Hub Max, you also get some unique features like Face Match, which uses the camera to recognize individual users and show personalized info (calendars, messages) for that person wired.com. This means if you walk in front of the Hub Max, it might greet you with your upcoming events, whereas your partner would see their own schedule – a very “Googley” feature leveraging AI. Google Assistant supports routines as well, similar to Alexa, so you can have multi-step actions on a single command (e.g., “Hey Google, good morning” can turn on lights, tell you the weather, and start the coffee maker if it’s smart). In terms of Matter and Thread, Google has also committed fully. The Nest Hub Max (original) was updated to be a Matter controller, and while it doesn’t have a Thread radio itself, it can utilize Nest Wi-Fi or Nest Hub (2nd gen) devices as the border router for Thread devices. The rumored Nest Hub Max 2 is expected to include built-in Thread support (acting as a border router) echotekk.com, which would directly connect to Thread/Matter gadgets – a logical upgrade since Google already put Thread radios in the Nest Hub (2nd gen) and Nest Wifi Pro. So, a Hub Max 2 would likely be an even more robust smart home bridge for the Google ecosystem, unifying Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread/Matter devices. Where Google Assistant integration lags a bit is third-party support compared to Alexa’s sheer volume of skills. Google doesn’t have a skills store; instead, it natively supports many services (like Spotify, Philips Hue, etc.), and for others, it uses “Actions” that are often seamless. But occasionally you’ll find a device that works with Alexa but not Google Assistant (though this gap has closed significantly in recent years). Another consideration: Google has been shifting its strategy toward integrating generative AI (like its Gemini AI platform) across products inkl.com. There’s speculation that future Google displays could leverage more on-device AI for things like recipes or shopping lists inkl.com, though Assistant remains the core for now due to limitations (Gemini currently can’t control smart home devices well inkl.com). Google has reassured users that it’s still committed to Assistant and Nest hardware, promising “more helpful home devices… in the coming months and years” techradar.com. They even recently discontinued some older Nest gadgets (Nest Secure alarm, Nest Protect smoke alarm) to make way for new products techradar.com – possibly including that Hub Max refresh. In summary, if you already use Google Home, Nest, or Android/Google services extensively, the Nest Hub Max ties in beautifully. It’s like an extension of your Google life – integrating with Calendar, Photos, YouTube, and controlling your smart home with a “Hey Google.” It may not physically swivel like the Echo, but it’s deeply integrated into smart home routines, and it now works across platforms via Matter. The choice between Alexa and Google often comes down to personal preference and what gear you own: Alexa has a slight edge in smart home device compatibility (and an Amazon ecosystem synergy), whereas Google Assistant offers tight integration with Google services and arguably more natural voice interactions.

Lenovo Smart Display 2 (Assistant): If Lenovo’s next display sticks with Google Assistant, then its smart home integration is essentially the same as the Nest Hub Max described above. Under the hood, third-party Google displays run the same software platform (originally Android Things, now Fuchsia on first-party Hubs) and connect via Google Home. So, a Lenovo Smart Display can control the same devices, respond to “Hey Google” the same way, and display the same Google Home interface for smart device control. In 2025, however, we must consider that Google has stopped issuing software updates for Lenovo’s previous Smart Displays 9to5google.com. That means features Google added to Nest Hubs (like the new look or features such as Look and Talk, Quick Phrases for skipping “Hey Google,” etc.) might be missing on Lenovo units 9to5google.com. Google explicitly announced in April 2023 that it would no longer update Lenovo, JBL, LG third-party smart displays, which could cause some functionality to “suffer or disappear entirely as time passes” wired.com wired.com. This is a crucial piece of news: the third-party Google smart display platform is effectively legacy. If Lenovo were to release a “Smart Display 2,” without Google reversing this policy, the device might be frozen on older software. It would still work for basic Assistant queries and smart home commands, but over time new services or Matter improvements might not reach it. Also, Google’s new features (for example, the reintroduced group audio volume control wired.com or upcoming AI enhancements) might not be available. This puts Lenovo at a disadvantage in integration, through no fault of their own, but due to Google’s strategy pivot. On the other hand, Lenovo could choose to integrate Alexa instead – this is speculative, but Lenovo has built Alexa into some of its tablets and clocks. If they did that, the “Smart Display 2” would function more like an Echo Show (with the Alexa pros/cons we discussed). There’s no concrete info on this happening for a large display, though. As of now, if we assume Lenovo’s device uses Assistant, you’ll get all the same smart home control as a Nest Hub Max when you buy it – control your lights, thermostats, cameras via voice or touch, cast videos, etc. It would work with Google’s Home app and support multi-room audio with other Google speakers. It would likely also be made a Matter controller (Google did update third-party displays to support Matter at least initially). But the longevity is questionable. Enthusiasts online have noted that “it seems to be the fate of most third-party Google smart displays” to be left behind in updates wired.com, and advised sticking to first-party devices wired.com. So, for integration, Lenovo’s offering is a bit of a wild card: potentially great initially, but riskier long-term support. If you already have an older Lenovo Smart Display, it will still control your smart home fine today, but it may not get future bells and whistles. A new model would likely launch with full Google Assistant capability – making it, out of the box, a central smart home controller like the Nest Hub Max – but just be aware of Google’s support stance. To sum up, Alexa vs Google Assistant is a key consideration: Alexa (Echo Show) might give you broader device compatibility and a built-in Zigbee/Thread hub, whereas Google (Nest/Lenovo) gives you native YouTube/Photos integration and Nest device synergy. Both ecosystems now support Matter, aiming for cross-compatibility. The safe advice echoed by experts is: stick with the platform that matches your current devices (if you have a bunch of Alexa gear or Prime services, go Echo; if you’re a Google/Nest household, go Nest Hub) theverge.com. And if considering third-party like Lenovo, weigh the trade-off of its nice hardware against Google’s uneven support.

Privacy Features

When you invite a camera- and microphone-equipped device into your home, privacy is a big concern. All three devices have taken steps to address this, but with some differences.

Echo Show 10 (Privacy): Amazon has included physical and software features to give users control over privacy. On the Echo Show 10, you’ll find a hardware camera shutter that you can slide over the lens at any time amazon.com. This shutter is built-in (a small white tab above the screen), and when slid closed it physically covers the 13 MP camera and also electronically disables motion tracking reddit.com whathifi.com. As soon as you cover the camera, the device will stop rotating to follow you – a reassuring touch that it’s not “watching.” There’s also a microphone/camera off button on top; a single press will electronically disconnect power to the mic array and camera, indicated by an orange bar on the screen and red LED (so you know Alexa isn’t listening) whathifi.com whathifi.com. These are standard on Amazon’s recent Echo models – all Echo Shows have a mic/cam mute button and a camera cover. Additionally, Amazon allows you to manage your voice recordings. You can ask “Alexa, delete what I just said” or set your recordings to auto-delete after 3 months, etc. However, a recent change in 2025 is worth noting: Amazon’s upcoming Alexa+ upgrade will require that all voice recordings be sent to Amazon’s cloud for processing, and Amazon has removed the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” option that previously existed wired.com. Essentially, to get the more advanced Alexa features, you’re trading some privacy, as more of your voice data will be used to personalize and train the AI. Amazon says Alexa+ will be more conversational and smart, but privacy advocates have raised an eyebrow at the mandatory data collection wired.com. If that’s a concern, you could choose not to subscribe to Alexa+ (though Amazon is making cloud processing the default for basic Alexa as well). On the bright side, Amazon provides visual indicators and the ability to review/delete recordings via the Alexa app or web. The Echo Show 10 also has a setting to disable motion if you’re uncomfortable – you can turn off the follow feature at any time, or even set specific boundaries for how far it should rotate. Amazon explicitly markets that the Show 10’s motion is designed with privacy in mind, giving you control to pause or disable it amazon.com. And unlike something like Meta’s Portal, the Show 10 doesn’t use its camera for things like face recognition (Alexa does have a feature called “Visual ID” on some devices, but Amazon’s implementation is opt-in and much less prominent than Google’s Face Match). For those worried about eavesdropping, remember that when the mic is on, Echo devices only stream audio to cloud when the wake word is detected; otherwise it’s in a local listening mode. You’ll always see a clear indicator (like the blue light ring or bar) when Alexa is actively listening/sending audio. Overall, Amazon covers the basics: mute switch, camera shutter, clear indicators, and user control over voice data (to an extent). The physical shutter on Echo Show 10 gives immediate peace of mind that you’re not on camera – something Google’s device lacks built-in.

Nest Hub Max (Privacy): Google’s Nest Hub Max did not include a physical shutter for its camera, which was a point of criticism by some. Instead, it provides a hardware switch on the back that electronically disables both the camera and microphones when toggled 9to5google.com 9to5google.com. When you slide this switch, the Hub Max’s camera turns off and an LED indicator lights up to show it’s off. It’s effectively a kill-switch – but note, it doesn’t cover the lens, it just cuts power. If you prefer a visual cover, Google sells (or third parties sell) little stick-on covers; in fact, reviewers suggested picking up a cheap plastic cover for extra assurance if the lens bothers you wired.com. Google’s stance was that a switch is sufficient, but some users would have preferred a true shutter like Lenovo and Amazon use. On the microphone side, the same switch handles it, or you can ask Assistant to mute (though hardware switch is the surest way). When active, Google’s mics also only listen after “Hey Google” is detected, similar to Alexa’s behavior. Google also touts on-device processing for certain features: for instance, the Face Match face recognition happens locally on the device, and the images of your face are stored encrypted on the device, not uploaded to the cloud wired.com. That’s a thoughtful approach – they use the AI to personalize your experience without constantly sending video to Google servers. The Nest Hub Max also has Voice Match to recognize different users’ voices for personalized responses, again handled pretty securely. For privacy of your interactions, Google lets you delete Assistant history (“Hey Google, delete what I said this week”) and control data via the Google Account settings. There’s even a Guest Mode for Google Assistant displays: you can say “Hey Google, turn on Guest Mode,” and the Hub Max will stop showing personal results and won’t save queries to your account until you turn Guest Mode off wired.com. This is great when you have visitors – they can use the device without accidentally accessing your info or leaving data tied to your account. It’s a unique Google feature aimed at privacy. However, Google has had its share of trust issues too (recall the backlash when it came out that Google had human reviewers listening to some Assistant recordings – they’ve since allowed opting out of that). The Nest Hub Max’s camera is also used for nifty features like gestures (e.g., holding up your hand to pause music) – Google assures these are processed on-device via camera AI, not sent to cloud. The device’s green LED lights up whenever the camera is streaming (like in a Duo call or when using it as a Nest Cam for monitoring), so you have a clear indicator. Speaking of Nest Cam functionality, if you enable the Hub Max as a security camera in the Google Home app, you can remotely view its feed on your phone. Google encrypts these streams and treats it like any Nest camera in terms of security. As for data, Google’s policy is that Assistant recordings are not saved unless you opt in (by default they were not, or they auto-delete after some time; Google frequently adjusts these defaults). In 2025, with AI focus, Google is also careful – the new Gemini AI features might use cloud processing, but at this point, the Hub Max is mainly standard Assistant. In short, Google covers privacy fairly well: hardware mute switch, on-device AI for face/gesture, optional Guest Mode, and account-level data controls. The lack of a physical lens cover is the main omission, but one that can be mitigated by a cheap accessory if it matters to you. Many users end up trusting Google’s approach because they’ve been transparent in notifications – e.g., if the camera is on for monitoring, it will show an icon on screen and an LED, so no one can secretly spy via the Hub Max without you knowing.

Lenovo Smart Display (Privacy): Lenovo actually was ahead in privacy hardware. The original Lenovo Smart Displays all included a physical camera shutter and a mic mute button. Dieter Bohn of The Verge even wrote, “my favorite feature… is the little hardware switch that moves a shutter to block out the 5-megapixel camera”, noting he felt much more comfortable having it in a bedroom or bathroom knowing the camera was covered theverge.com. That shutter literally slid a piece of plastic over the lens, and it also electronically disconnects the camera. The mic mute was a separate button on the top. So Lenovo nailed the privacy basics – you could quickly ensure no one can see or hear through the device. We’d expect the Lenovo Smart Display 2 to keep these features (it’d be shocking if they removed them). Lenovo has consistently put camera covers even on its smaller Smart Clock devices. So, likely a physical shutter and mute toggle will be present, giving users confidence. As for data and Assistant, since it’s essentially a Google Assistant device, it follows Google’s privacy mechanisms: you manage everything via your Google Account. The Lenovo display itself doesn’t have additional cloud services aside from Google’s. One thing to mention: because Google ceased updates for third-party displays 9to5google.com, any new privacy features Google develops might not reach Lenovo’s device. But core functions like voice deletion, Guest Mode (if supported on older software), etc., should still work. If Lenovo switched to Alexa on a new model (again, hypothetical), then it would adopt Amazon’s privacy features – presumably also including a shutter and mute as most Alexa devices do now, and Alexa’s data policies. In summary, Lenovo’s approach was very hardware-centric for privacy – giving you tactile covers and switches, which many users appreciate. It combined that with Google’s software features like voice and face match controls. So privacy was a selling point of sorts for Lenovo’s Smart Display. One slightly different angle: Google’s SafeSearch and web filtering – note that on third-party displays, Google actually disabled the web browser entirely in 2022 for safety (the Lenovo Smart Display originally could browse web pages, but Google turned that off citing lack of SafeSearch on non-Nest devices) 9to5google.com. That’s less about privacy and more about content filtering, but it is something that differentiates first vs third party. A Lenovo user might not be able to pull up a random web page, whereas an Echo Show user can use Silk browser to go anywhere (which could be a content risk if you have kids using it). So depending on perspective, Google actually locked down third-party units more strictly. For a family setting, that might not be a bad thing, but it’s worth knowing. Overall, all these smart displays give you basic privacy controls: a way to mute cameras/mics and clear indications of when those are on. Amazon and Lenovo provide the extra peace of mind of a physical shutter; Google relies on an electronic kill-switch. In terms of voice recordings and personal data, you’ll have to trust either Amazon or Google’s policies and use the provided tools to delete or limit data collection to your comfort level. If you are extremely privacy-conscious, you might even choose a smart display with no camera at all – like Google’s smaller Nest Hub (2nd gen) has no camera by design. But among our three, at least you have the option to cover or disable the camera at will on each. As one expert succinctly put it, when it comes to in-home displays “you may want to pick up a privacy cover to block [the camera] when it’s not in use” wired.com – wise words if you’re concerned.

Video Calling and Camera Capabilities

All three devices have front cameras and support video calling, but their capabilities and supported services differ, especially after some changes in 2023.

Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen): Amazon equipped the Echo Show 10 with a 13-megapixel camera – a big jump from earlier Echo Shows’ 5 MP cams whathifi.com. This camera not only powers the device’s face-tracking for screen rotation, but it also enables high-quality video calls. On an Echo Show, you can make video calls through Amazon’s Alexa Calling service (which can call other Echo devices or the Alexa app on someone’s phone) and also through third-party apps like Zoom and Skype. Notably, Amazon added Zoom support to the Echo Show 10 and 8, so you can join Zoom meetings by saying “Alexa, join my Zoom meeting” theverge.com. Many Echo Show users leveraged this during the pandemic to take meetings or family Zooms on a smart display instead of a tiny phone screen. It works pretty well, effectively turning your Echo Show into a mini conference device. Skype was one of the first third-party calling integrations on Echo Shows, and while it’s less hyped now, it’s still available if you link your Microsoft account. The auto-framing camera means as you move around during a video call, the Show 10’s camera will pan and zoom to keep you centered – great for cooking and chatting or chasing a toddler while talking to grandparents. Reviewers found this auto-framing very effective, saying the Show 10 “keeps you in frame while you video chat” wired.com. The person on the other end sees a smooth follow, almost like you have a cameraman. Additionally, the drop-in feature (with permission) lets trusted contacts instantly start a video chat – sort of like a live intercom. This can be handy for checking in on relatives (though both sides have to approve drop-in permissions). The Echo Show 10’s camera also doubles as a security camera that you can access remotely. Using the Alexa app, you can view a live feed from the Show 10’s camera anytime and even manually pan it by swiping, since the whole unit will rotate accordingly whathifi.com whathifi.com. This is a very neat feature: if you’re out and want to check if you left the stove on or see what your pets are doing, you can “peek” around the room with your Show 10. Few devices offer a motorized panoramic security cam in a smart display like this. On the downside, because Echo Show is a closed ecosystem, it doesn’t integrate with Google Duo/Meet or FaceTime of course. But Alexa’s calling supports group calls (up to 7 or 8 people if they have Alexa apps/Echos) and works fine for most casual use. The 13 MP sensor means the picture is quite clear and in our experience, much better than the grainy 1 MP cameras from older models. It’s comparable to a decent phone selfie cam. The field of view is wide enough to capture a good portion of your room, and the auto-pan can digitally zoom as needed. All told, the Echo Show 10 is excellent for video calls, especially within the Alexa ecosystem or Zoom. It’s like having a dedicated video chat appliance that you don’t have to hold or angle. Just remember privacy: if you don’t want it watching, use that shutter (but then you’ll need to reopen it before calling).

Nest Hub Max (and 2): The Google Nest Hub Max features a 6.5-megapixel camera with a 127-degree wide-angle lens and auto-framing capabilities googlenestcommunity.com. This camera was used for Google Duo (now Google Meet) video calls, and it could also automatically pan and zoom to keep you centered (Google calls it auto-framing, similar to what the Echo does). Video calling on the Nest Hub Max historically allowed you to use Google Duo/Meet to call family and friends (or their phones). It also, at one point, supported Zoom and Google Meet for work meetings. However, this is where a major change occurred: As of late 2023, the Nest Hub Max dropped official support for both Zoom and Google Meet conferencing theverge.com techradar.com. Google announced that by end of September 2023, you would no longer be able to join work Google Meet calls or Zoom calls on the Nest Hub Max theverge.com. This was a surprising move – likely Google refocusing on their Pixel Tablet for those use cases or just streamlining. The Hub Max can still make 1:1 video calls via Google Meet (which absorbed Duo) to friends and family, similar to how Duo worked – so you can do a video call to someone’s Gmail account or phone app. But the more advanced integration of calendar meetings or Zoom sessions is gone reddit.com 9to5google.com. In practical terms, if you primarily want a device for Zoom, the Echo Show or a dedicated tablet might be a better bet now. That said, for personal video calling, the Nest Hub Max works well: the wide camera and auto-framing means you can chat while multitasking. The image quality is decent – although one reviewer noted “we find the camera quality lacking overall” on the Hub Max businessinsider.com. It’s only 6.5 MP vs. Echo’s 13 MP, and in practice, it’s fine but not stunning HD. It can be a bit grainy or struggle in low light. It does the job for casual calls, and the person recognition allows nice touches like looking at the display to initiate a Google Duo call without saying “Hey Google” (using the Look and Talk feature Google introduced 9to5google.com). The Nest Hub Max’s camera strengths lie in its extra features: it serves as a Nest Cam when enabled. That means you can use the Google Home app to view the Hub Max’s camera remotely (like checking in at home), and even get motion alerts or use it in your Nest Aware security subscription. It essentially doubles as an indoor security cam with a 24/7 live feed, within the constraints of being plugged in and stationary. For many, that’s a two-for-one value (smart display + security cam). Google’s camera also enables Quick Gestures – for example, if a timer is ringing or music is playing, you can hold up your hand toward the camera and it will pause/stop without a word. It’s a clever use of the camera that doesn’t exist on Echo or Lenovo. Looking forward, a Nest Hub Max 2 might upgrade the camera – possibly to match the 12 MP cameras on the latest Nest Cam models or add an improved sensor for low-light. There’s speculation that Google could incorporate more AI so the device can recognize not just faces but gestures more reliably, or do things like track exercise form (pure theory, but with Google’s push into AI, who knows). But no concrete leaks on camera upgrades yet, aside from general “it’s coming.” In summary, the Nest Hub Max is great for Google Duo/Meet calls among family, has cool camera-based tricks (Face Match personalization, gestures), and can be your indoor security cam. Its limitations: it no longer supports Zoom or standard Google Meet meetings, and the camera resolution is middle-of-the-road. If Google releases a second-gen, we hope they bring back broader video chat support (perhaps even a native Zoom app) and boost the camera specs to stay competitive.

Lenovo Smart Display 2: The first-gen Lenovo Smart Display had a 5 MP front camera (with a wide angle lens) that was mainly used for Google Duo video calls theverge.com. It did not have any special auto-framing tech; it was a fixed wide view, which was fine but less dynamic than Echo or Nest Hub Max. It did, however, support the basics: you could call anyone on Google Duo, and it effectively worked like any Google smart display for calls. One limitation was that, unlike the Nest Hub Max, the Lenovo’s software didn’t do face recognition or gesture controls – those came later with Google’s own devices. It was more a straightforward “video chat camera.” If Lenovo were to issue a Smart Display 2 with Google Assistant, likely it would have an improved camera – perhaps they’d go to 5 MP or higher (maybe 8 MP or even 13 MP to match Echo) to market as an upgrade. The challenge is, with Google dropping Zoom/Meet support on the platform, a Lenovo device would face the same limitation: essentially personal Google Meet calls only. That might be fine for many users. The Lenovo’s advantage was that it could pivot to portrait for Duo calls (so you appear properly framed in a vertical aspect to someone on a phone) theverge.com, which was neat. The device didn’t automatically rotate – you had to turn it sideways on its end, but because of the design it could stand vertically. Google’s software would adapt only during Duo calls to show a portrait UI. This meant if you primarily called people on phones, you could have your Lenovo display in portrait so both of you see each other in full frame without huge black bars. The Nest Hub Max cannot be rotated (it has no support for portrait mode at all). So Lenovo had an edge in that niche use-case. We’d expect a Smart Display 2 to still allow physical rotation to portrait for calls (assuming Google’s software still supports that hidden feature). As far as other camera uses: since it’s basically the same platform, a Lenovo display could also be used as a security camera via the Home app (the old ones can be viewed in Home app as cameras too). However, note Google’s warning that quality of video calls on third-party displays might degrade over time without updates 9to5google.com 9to5google.com – a bit ominous, implying maybe Duo/Meet changes could break things eventually. If Lenovo switched to Alexa, then camera usage would change: it would support Alexa Drop In, Alexa video calls, and probably Zoom via Alexa as well. Lenovo might even integrate with Microsoft Teams as they do for some conferencing devices, but that’s speculative. In any case, Lenovo would surely keep a camera in the device (smart displays without cameras have a harder sell at the high end). And with privacy in mind, they had that shutter to cover it when not in use theverge.com. Quality-wise, a new Lenovo device would need at least an 5-8 MP camera to compete; hopefully with 1080p streaming. The competition’s trend is clear: Portal had 13 MP, Echo Show has 13 MP, Google might improve theirs; Lenovo can’t stick with 5 MP. One more note: because Google’s third-party displays are not being updated, they never got features like Look and Talk (which lets you start talking to Assistant if you’re gazing at the camera). So Lenovo’s new device, if based on older software, might lack some of those futuristic camera tricks. But as a straightforward video calling device, it will do the basics.

Summary of Video Calling: If you use Alexa calling or Zoom a lot, the Echo Show 10 is a star – great camera, auto-framing, and support for Zoom makes it versatile. If your circle uses Google Meet/Duo, the Nest Hub Max will slot into that Google ecosystem (just note the lack of Zoom support now). It also has the benefit of Nest Cam capabilities and unique gesture controls. The Lenovo Smart Display 2 (if it exists) will likely mirror the Nest’s capabilities if on Google, but with potentially fewer new features and uncertain support. All three allow remote monitoring (Echo via Alexa app, Nest/Lenovo via Google Home app) turning them into security cams of sorts. One downside common to all: none support Apple’s FaceTime, and while you can do Skype on Echo, you can’t on Google devices. Each lives largely within its own ecosystem’s calling service. So choose based on what your family/friends use – Alexa or Google – or opt for cross-platform solutions like Zoom which at least Echo Show supports natively. With 2025’s trends, it seems Amazon is doubling down on video calling (even experimenting with their own Alexa Together for caregivers), whereas Google is pulling back from business calls on smart displays to perhaps focus on tablets. And Lenovo’s position will depend on which side they lean into.

User Interface and Experience

Echo Show 10 UI (Alexa Experience): The Echo Show’s interface is built around Alexa’s voice-first experience, supplemented by a touchscreen that shows useful visuals. On the Echo Show 10, the home screen rotates through informative cards: weather forecasts, upcoming calendar events, news headlines, Alexa skill suggestions, and tips. Amazon often uses the screen to encourage you to try new Alexa features (“Did you know I can do XYZ?”) or show trending news. Some find these rotating suggestions helpful, others find them a bit like ads – fortunately, you can customize some of what appears. For instance, you can set the home screen to primarily show your personal photos (via Amazon Photos or Facebook) or to display rotating backgrounds with minimal text. A reviewer noted enjoying using it as a photo frame and for snippets like weather and headlines, saying it was “much less intrusive and much more useful” than expected whathifi.com. You can also enable things like a “Daily Rotation” of recipes, or Alexa’s commute traffic updates, etc., if you want. Navigation: Swiping down from the top reveals a quick settings menu (adjust brightness, volume, enable Do Not Disturb, etc.) and shortcuts to things like smart home control. There’s a dedicated smart home dashboard you can pull up which presents your connected devices by group (lights, cameras, thermostats) for tap control – very handy if you don’t want to voice-command everything. Amazon has also introduced Widgets on newer Echo Shows (especially the Echo Show 15). On the Show 10, you can access certain widget-like experiences (like sticky notes, to-do lists, smart home favorites) by swiping from the right side. It’s not as extensive as the Echo Show 15’s widget panel, but Amazon is unifying the interface across Show devices. You can, for example, have a widget for your shopping list or a little calendar pinned on screen. The Show 10 being a high-end model gets the latest UI updates, so expect a rich visual layout. Touch interaction is supported for scrolling recipes, pausing music, etc., but the device is not a full tablet – you can’t install arbitrary apps or browse an app store (it’s mostly voice or built-in functions). However, you can use the web browser (Silk or Firefox) by voice or touch to navigate websites like YouTube (since no native YouTube app) whathifi.com. This is a workaround but at least it’s possible – albeit clunky to tap out searches. Alexa’s UI excels in things like showing step-by-step recipe instructions (with visual guidance from sources like Food Network Kitchen), lyrics on Amazon Music, and live camera feeds with two-way audio controls. One feature Amazon added is a visual Home Monitoring view – if you say “Alexa, show me all cameras,” the Show 10 might display a multi-camera feed dashboard (if you have multiple cams). The Show 10’s UI also leverages its motion: if you’re cooking and move around, the screen tries to stay visible. This leads to a subtle but nice UX aspect – you don’t have to manually adjust the device or stop what you’re doing to see a timer countdown or recipe; Alexa’s motion keeps it in view. On the performance side, the Show 10 has a decent processor (MediaTek 8183) and runs Alexa’s interface smoothly with minimal lag. Voice responses are quick, and touch interactions, while not 120Hz-smooth, are fine for what they are. One quirk: because the screen rotates, if you attempt to tap something and then walk, the device might move – but in practice it stops moving when you’re actively touching it. In terms of personalization, Alexa will give you somewhat generic home screen content unless you link services. It will show events from your linked calendar, to-dos from your Alexa lists, and memories if you use Amazon Photos. But it’s not as deeply tied to your Google account info as a Nest Hub would be to Google’s services. Some folks love that Alexa’s UI is straightforward; others feel it’s lacking the finesse of Google’s design (for instance, Alexa’s visual responses for general knowledge are not as info-dense as Google’s). Alexa might show a basic card for an answer with text or an image, whereas Google often shows a richer result or a webpage snippet. Still, Alexa’s voice usually supplements the screen well. Updates: Amazon pushes periodic updates that sometimes tweak the UI. For example, an upcoming Alexa UI revamp (with Alexa+ perhaps) could change how conversational the on-screen responses are. But in general, the Show’s interface is functional: big icons, simple menus, geared for voice complement. If you’re in the Amazon ecosystem, the UI will surface your Amazon deliveries, Prime Video recommendations, etc. One downside: Amazon does sometimes use the screen to advertise its content (like showing a Prime Video show or prompting you to try Amazon Music Unlimited). You can disable some of these “suggestions” in settings, but not all. This can be mildly annoying if you want a pure photo frame – you might see an occasional “Alexa tip” pop up.

Nest Hub Max UI (Google Experience): The Google Nest Hub Max’s interface is often praised for being clean and visually pleasant. The home screen typically acts as a smart photo frame when idle, showing either your chosen Google Photos albums or curated art/landscape images. Thanks to the ambient light sensor and the auto color adjustment (Ambient EQ), photos on the Nest Hub Max look almost like printed paper and the display blends into the environment theverge.com. This is a killer feature for many – it doubles as one of the best digital photo frames you can get wired.com. When you touch the screen, you enter Google’s menu system. A swipe right (or left, depending on locale) takes you to the home dashboard with your smart home controls (rooms, lights, thermostats, etc.). Swiping up from bottom gives quick settings (volume, brightness, do not disturb, alarms). The interface is very Google Assistant-centric: at the top of the main screen you might see a greeting and your next calendar event (“Good Morning, here’s your commute”), followed by suggestion cards like “Play Music” or “Try saying …”. It’s less heavy on overt ads and more on useful snapshots. One tap can bring up weather forecast details, or you might see a rotating carousel of recommended YouTube videos, news summaries, and other content tailored to you (especially if the device recognizes you via Face Match). The Nest Hub Max has a feature where if it recognizes your face, it will show personalized info quietly until you come closer or tap it. It’s a subtle personalized touch (it won’t speak your personal details out loud unless asked). Google’s UI strength is in showing information at a glance: for example, if you ask “How’s the weather this weekend?”, the Nest Hub Max will display a multi-day forecast chart with icons, while verbally summarizing – a very clear visual context. Similarly, asking for a local restaurant brings up a card with Google Maps info, hours, ratings – basically what you see in Google search. In general, Google’s smart display UI is more informative for search queries than Alexa’s, thanks to Google’s data. For media, Nest Hubs have a nice interface for YouTube (since it’s native, unlike Alexa’s browser workaround). You can use touch to scroll YouTube or just ask Assistant. Netflix and Disney+ integration means if you link those accounts, you can say “Play Stranger Things on Netflix” and it will play on the Hub Max, with playback controls on screen. According to The Verge, “Google supports more video services… including Disney Plus and Paramount Plus,” and you can cast content from many phone apps (like HBO Max) directly to the Hub Max theverge.com. This makes the UI akin to a Chromecast target – you can use your phone as the controller. And because of that, the Hub Max doesn’t need separate apps for each service, simplifying the interface. Another aspect is Google Assistant voice feedback: some find Google’s voice to be more natural and the answers more contextual. The Hub Max can handle back-and-forth follow-ups (continued conversation) pretty well. There’s also Quick Phrases (on Nest Hub Max) that let you acknowledge alarms or timers without “Hey Google” (e.g., just say “stop” when a timer rings) 9to5google.com – a small UX convenience. Google’s speed on the Hub Max is generally good; it runs on a solid chipset (it was Qualcomm SD624 in Lenovo, similar in Nest). It’s smooth for built-in functions. If anything, some users have noted slight lag when rendering very info-heavy pages (like a long Wikipedia page) compared to a phone, but that’s minor. One frequently praised UI element is the Cooking aid: you can ask Google for a recipe and it will go into a step-by-step mode with voice-guided instructions and the ability to ask for next steps or have it repeat ingredients. Amazon does similar, but many prefer Google’s source (it pulls from numerous recipe sites and YouTube videos). On the Nest Hub Max, you can even watch YouTube cooking tutorials hands-free. In terms of personalization, since it’s tied to your Google account, it will show your Google Calendar, reminders (from Google Keep or Assistant reminders), and commute from Google Maps. It feels like an extension of your Google life. If you’re an Android user or use Gmail/Calendar, it’s very cohesive. If you’re an iPhone user without much Google app usage, you might not get as much personal utility out of it. One possible downside: Google’s UI isn’t very customizable. You can’t, for example, put a giant clock face like you can on some Alexa modes, or have news headlines always up. It’s mostly automated. There’s a “Photo frame” mode and an “Info” mode, but not the level of widget customization Amazon is exploring (though recently Google added some glanceable widgets for weather and such on the ambient display of Nest Hub 2nd gen). Overall, the user experience on Nest Hub Max is intuitive, visually rich, and tightly integrated with Google services. It tends to be an “at-a-glance” dashboard when needed, and a passive photo frame when idle. The learning curve is low – many actions are voice-driven, and the touch UI is simple grid of icons and sliders. Where it might fall short for power users is in not allowing third-party app expansions (no web browser at all on Nest Hubs, intentionally 9to5google.com) and being so Google-centric that if you prefer other services, you might feel a bit locked out (for instance, no native Amazon Prime Video of course, though you could cast Prime Video from your phone to it). But as far as user-friendliness for general public, Google’s smart display UI is top-notch.

Lenovo Smart Display UI: If using Google Assistant, Lenovo’s UI is basically identical to Nest Hub (first-gen) UI, with a slight Lenovo branding in settings. Lenovo doesn’t get a custom interface; it’s all Google-driven. So you would experience much of what we described for the Nest Hub Max, minus some newest features if they weren’t updated. In fact, early on, some animations on Lenovo’s felt a tad less smooth than Google’s own, but that’s negligible now. One thing is Lenovo’s display had a higher resolution (1200p) which meant elements looked a bit sharper. But it ran Android Things with the same overall design. If Lenovo 2 came out with Assistant, it would presumably now use the Fuchsia-based platform that Google migrated Nest Hubs to – but wait, Google might not license that to third parties anymore given their stance. It could be stuck on the older cast platform interface. This is unclear. However, from a user perspective, controlling it and using it would feel just like using a Nest Hub: “Hey Google” voice, swipe controls, etc. If Lenovo went Alexa, then the UI would change drastically to Amazon’s style – but let’s assume it stays Google. Lenovo’s advantage might be if they add any proprietary app – unlikely; the nature of the platform is that you can’t really add apps. So UI-wise, you’d mainly notice the hardware differences (like how sound feedback or mic responsiveness feels). One point: since Google blocked the web browser on third-party displays 9to5google.com, the Lenovo cannot browse websites at all, which the Nest Hub wasn’t intended to do either (Google didn’t include a browser on Nest Hub). So no loss, but just an example of how locked the UI is. In short, if you’ve seen a Google Nest Hub in action, you know how a Lenovo Smart Display operates – it is the Google UI. That’s good for consistency, though it means Lenovo can’t differentiate much in user experience except perhaps including a physical remote or something (no indication of that, but JBL once had a rotary volume knob on theirs, for example). Given the slowdown in support, a Lenovo device might not get future UI improvements which Google might roll out to first-party. That means over time the user experience might lag. But for now, it’s comparable.

Which UI is better? It depends on personal preference and ecosystem. For engagement and proactive info, Google’s is subtle and personal (photo frame + widgets), Alexa’s is a bit more commerce-driven but very handy for daily stuff like weather, news, and Amazon content. For controlling smart home via touch, both have dashboards, but Alexa’s might be a tad more buried (in Show 10 you often use voice or go to the smart home section manually; Google shows controls readily when you swipe). For content consumption, Google’s wins for YouTube and casting, Amazon’s wins for Prime Video and easy voice access to Netflix/Hulu without needing your phone. Ultimately, both are designed to be primarily voice-first. Experts often say if you use Assistant a lot, you’ll find Nest Hubs more natural, and if you use Alexa a lot, Echo Shows feel right. As one tech writer put it: Alexa displays and Google displays “work best with [their respective] services”, and each can show things the other can’t (Alexa with Amazon’s ecosystem, Google with Google’s) theverge.com. Thankfully, both are fairly simple for a general public audience – you don’t need to be tech-savvy to use these daily once set up. They kind of just serve you information and respond when asked, which is exactly what they should do.

Ecosystem Compatibility and Services

In the smart home world, ecosystem is everything. We’ve touched on Alexa vs Google Assistant, but here let’s drill into compatibility with other devices and services – essentially, how each smart display fits into a larger ecosystem of products and subscriptions.

Amazon Echo Show 10 / Alexa Ecosystem: If you’re an Amazon user, the Echo Show 10 is like coming home. It ties in tightly with Amazon’s vast ecosystem: Prime Video streams natively (just ask Alexa to play any Prime show or movie), Amazon Music streams with lyrics on screen (if you have Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited) whathifi.com, and your Kindle books or Audible audiobooks can be read aloud and sometimes even show text highlights on screen. It’s also integrated with Amazon Photos – if you use Amazon’s photo storage (free unlimited for Prime members), you can set the Show as a cloud photo frame, even with slideshows of specific albums. Another synergy: Shopping and deliveries. You can add items to your Amazon cart or shopping list via voice, reorder products, and track Amazon package deliveries with a visual status on the Show (“Your package arriving today”) – something Google can’t do as seamlessly with Amazon orders. The Alexa ecosystem also includes Ring and Blink (Amazon-owned security cameras). If you have a Ring Video Doorbell, the moment someone presses it, the Echo Show 10 can automatically pop up the camera feed and let you talk to the visitor – effectively acting as a doorbell monitor whathifi.com. It’s super convenient; no need to pull out your phone. Similarly, Blink cameras and many third-party camera brands that integrated with Alexa can show feeds (“Alexa, show me the nursery camera”). Another big piece is Fire TV and entertainment: while the Echo Show 10 doesn’t run Fire TV OS (the Echo Show 15’s newer model does), you can still watch Netflix, Hulu, Prime, and more by voice command. Alexa can play Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, Pandora, etc., if you link those accounts – covering most music services people use. The only one Google had exclusively was YouTube Music (Alexa doesn’t do YT Music) but Alexa added support for Apple Podcasts, etc., so it’s broad. Alexa’s ecosystem also includes things like skills for Uber, Domino’s Pizza, Fitbit – you name it. For example, you can ask Alexa to order a pizza via the Domino’s skill, or check your Fitbit stats. These may not all show visual components, but some do (a weather skill might show a fancy forecast graphic beyond the default, etc.). Another plus: Alexa can integrate with Microsoft services (there’s a Cortana skill, etc., though that’s less used now) and even business tools (Alexa for Business had features, but for home that’s not big). Alexa also now has interoperability with Matter – meaning if you buy a Matter-certified smart bulb or lock, it should connect to Alexa without caring about brand, and Alexa’s Echo can be a controller. In Amazon’s multi-device ecosystem, the Echo Show can act as a central controller: you can use it to control Fire TV via voice, or even as an intercom to other Echo speakers (Drop In or announcements). If you have multiple Echo Shows (maybe one in kitchen, one in living room), you can do video calls between rooms or use them as a baby monitor system. An emerging thing: Alexa’s ecosystem is venturing into AI (Alexa+ as mentioned) which might connect to more cloud services to answer complex queries or control third-party apps. It remains to be seen how that pans out, but being in Amazon’s ecosystem might soon mean Alexa can tap into more knowledge (like Bing’s AI via a skill, or others – Alexa already had an experimental integration with ChatGPT-like Q&A via some skills). The bottom line: the Echo Show works best if you embrace Amazon’s world (Prime, Ring, Alexa-enabled devices). It doesn’t play as nicely with Google’s world – e.g., no native Google Photos (though you could maybe view via browser), and obviously no official YouTube app (browser only). So, if you use Google Photos for all your pictures, or you rely on Nest cameras, the Echo Show will feel lacking in those areas. Conversely, if you’re a Prime subscriber with Kindle books, an Echo is fantastic (it can even show book summaries or act as an Echo reading companion).

Nest Hub Max / Google Ecosystem: The Nest Hub Max thrives in Google’s ecosystem. It’s tailor-made for those using Google services day-to-day. For instance, if you use Google Calendar, events show up and you can verbally add new appointments or get schedule summaries. With Gmail and Google Workspace, while you can’t exactly read emails on it, the integration comes in via Assistant (you can ask if you have new emails and it might summarize high-level info or suggest unread count). It’s more geared to things like Google Keep notes and reminders – if you use Keep for shopping lists or notes, those sync and can be displayed/added via voice. Google Photos is probably the biggest ecosystem win: it’s considered one of the best photo services, and the Nest Hub Max is seamlessly a photo frame for your albums, with live albums updating as you take new pictures on your phone wired.com. Amazon users could do similar with Amazon Photos, but Google’s AI for picking best shots (e.g., no blurry ones, people smiling) in live albums is top-tier. If you have Nest devices (thermostat, cameras, doorbell, Nest x Yale lock, Nest Protect), the Hub Max becomes mission control. You can see your Nest doorbell cam when someone’s at the door (just like Ring on Alexa) – in fact, a notification pops up with video and you can hit “Talk” to speak through the doorbell. Nest cameras can be viewed on demand with a simple voice command or tapping the camera icon in Home View. If you have Chromecast or Android TV devices in your home, the Nest Hub Max can act as a controller – you can ask it to play something on your Chromecast-equipped TV and it will, as part of the Google Cast system. Alexa can control Fire TV similarly, but Google’s integration extends to any Chromecast target (which includes many third-party Android TVs). The Google Assistant ecosystem also integrates deeply with Android phones (you can broadcast to your phone or send a map direction to your phone, etc.) and Android Auto. If you have YouTube Premium or YouTube TV subscription, the Hub Max is gold: you can watch ad-free YouTube videos while cooking, or live TV from YouTube TV in any room. Also, Google Duo/Meet accounts – if your family uses Google accounts, calling them on their phones is trivial through the Hub. Another subtle ecosystem plus: third-party services like Spotify, Netflix, Philips Hue – these are cross-platform, but if you started with Google Home, you likely linked all those. Google’s platform has most major smart home brands onboard (Hue, SmartThings, Arlo, Wyze, etc.). Only a handful of things may be Alexa-exclusive (some very niche or older devices). With Matter bridging gaps, that’s less of an issue now. One thing Google has is Android integration like Continued Conversation (you can talk to your phone and Hub interchangeably as they’re all tied to Assistant). Also, with Google’s push into cross device coordination, you can transfer music from your Nest Hub to your phone or vice versa by voice (“move music to the living room speaker”) – Alexa does that with multi-room groups too, but Google has made it quite straightforward with casting. For smart home standards: Google supports Thread and Matter strongly. If you have Nest Wifi or the Nest Hub (2nd gen), they form a Thread mesh for sensors (like the new Nest temperature sensor or door sensors from other brands). The Hub Max 2 should have that too. Alexa joined Matter and has thread in some Echos (like Show 10 as we said), so both ecosystems are future-proof. However, if you have Apple HomeKit stuff: neither Alexa nor Google directly control HomeKit devices (that’s Apple’s own thing), but with Matter, many devices can be controlled by all three ecosystems concurrently. If using Siri/HomeKit heavily, none of these displays will integrate with those directly (though you can use Siri Shortcuts via phones etc., but no Siri on these of course). Lastly, Google’s ecosystem includes fun stuff like Chromecast games or Assistant games (“Hey Google, play a quiz”) which show visuals. Alexa has Alexa Skills games too (Jeopardy, etc.). Both ecosystems have plenty of entertainment for kids (Alexa has Disney stories, Google can play kids’ read-along books with sound effects, etc.). If you use Chromebook or Google Assistant on PC, you might enjoy telling your Hub to send an article to your phone or reading out info from your Chrome browser, etc. Alexa can’t interact with Chrome or Google apps that way, but it can with Amazon services. So it really is a case of where you’re invested. The general advice by 2025: don’t mix voice assistant ecosystems if you can avoid it – it’s simpler to stick to one for your home. Wired’s smart home guide even said “if you’re going to get one, stick with devices directly from the brand whose voice assistant you prefer” wired.com. So, if you already have Google Nest Minis all over, adding a Nest Hub Max is seamless. If you have Echo Dots everywhere, the Echo Show integrates perfectly with them (for whole-home announcements, music sync, etc.). Lenovo’s device, if Assistant-based, falls under Google’s umbrella, so it’s basically the same compatibility as Nest Hub Max. If a curveball happened and it used Alexa, then consider it under Amazon’s umbrella. As of now, we assume Lenovo Smart Display 2 = Google ecosystem.

Lenovo Smart Display 2 Ecosystem: Under Google, it does everything the Nest Hub Max does with Google services. One caveat: because Google isn’t updating them, some new Nest service might skip it. For example, if Google launched some exclusive Assistant feature on Pixel devices that requires newer software, maybe Lenovo wouldn’t get it. But core ecosystem compatibility remains. It will control all the Google Home-linked devices, display Google Photos, etc. If anything, Lenovo might not support some upcoming Nest accessory due to software limitations – but that’s speculative. On Alexa, if that happened, then it becomes like any Echo Show – but I’ll not split hairs further. The key point: Lenovo’s platform choice dictates its ecosystem. Assuming it’s Assistant, it’s in lock-step with Nest Hubs in connecting to Chromecast, Nest, Google apps.

In summary, ecosystem compatibility is a deciding factor: Are you Team Alexa/Amazon or Team Google/Nest? The Echo Show 10 will seamlessly mesh with Amazon services (Prime, Audible, Ring, etc.) theverge.com. The Nest Hub Max will be a natural extension of your Google world (Gmail, Photos, YouTube, Nest cams) theverge.com. Both now play relatively nicely with generic third-party smart devices thanks to Matter. But each still has exclusives (e.g., only a Nest Hub can do Nest Cam facial alerts; only an Echo Show can do Alexa Guard listening for smoke alarms). Consider what you already use: If you have an Alexa-enabled household with Amazon Fire TV, Echo speakers, and you love Prime Video – Echo Show is the no-brainer. If you live off Google Calendar, stream via YouTube Music, and have Nest Hello at the door – the Nest Hub Max will feel indispensable. And if you’re starting from scratch, think about which voice assistant’s philosophy you like more. Both are good, but if you want maximum compatibility, owning both ecosystems is an option (some people do put an Echo in one room and a Nest Hub in another). Just note they won’t coordinate with each other – you’ll be managing two voice systems separately. For most, picking one ecosystem and running with it yields a smoother, more integrated smart home experience.

App and Content Support

Modern smart displays are not just voice helpers; they’re also mini entertainment centers. Let’s compare what apps and content each device supports.

Echo Show 10 (Apps & Content): Amazon’s Echo Show doesn’t use a traditional app store, but it supports various built-in streaming services and skills. Out of the box, the Echo Show 10 can stream video from Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, NBC, Food Network Kitchen and more – these have native Alexa integration, meaning you can just ask for content and Alexa will play it in a dedicated interface. It can also play YouTube, albeit not through a native app but via the Silk web browser (or Firefox browser) built-in whathifi.com. You can say “Alexa, play funny cat videos on YouTube” and it will launch a browser instance of YouTube; you’ll likely have to tap to sign in or to select the video. It’s a bit clunkier than on a Nest Hub, but it works. As What Hi-Fi noted, “Netflix and Amazon Prime apps are well integrated on the Show 10, but there are a few gaps… including Disney Plus and YouTube,” where YouTube only works via the browser method whathifi.com. Indeed, Disney+ and HBO Max are not directly available on Echo Show as native apps, which is a bummer for Disney fans. However, some users have found workarounds like using the Silk browser to navigate to disneyplus.com (which can work, though not as smoothly). Amazon might add more services over time, but currently if you ask Alexa for Disney+, she may say it’s not supported on that device. For music and audio, the Echo Show supports an impressive list: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, Audible (audiobooks), and podcasts via TuneIn or Apple Podcasts. You can simply say “Alexa, play jazz on Spotify” once your account is linked. It will show album art and track info on screen, and sometimes even scrolling lyrics if the service supports it (Amazon Music and Apple Music show lyrics line by line). Alexa can also play radio stations via services like TuneIn (“Alexa, play BBC Radio 2”). For news and information, Alexa offers “Flash Briefings” – customizable news updates from sources you choose (CNN, BBC, NPR, etc.), which can include video news clips on the Show. You can also ask for weather, and get a visual forecast card. One thing Alexa has is a basic web browser (Silk). So in theory, you can access web content – like checking a website or even web apps (some people have used the Silk browser to run simple web games or access social media, though it’s not super convenient without a keyboard). Still, the presence of a browser means the Echo Show 10 can access almost any content on the web if you’re determined, whereas Google’s displays do not allow arbitrary web browsing 9to5google.com. On the downside, the Echo Show doesn’t support Google’s content: no native YouTube (beyond browser), no Google Photos app (you’d rely on Amazon Photos or Facebook or simply not have that feature). For photos, Amazon expects you to use their service or link Facebook. You can’t point it to an Apple iCloud Photos album or Google Photos (unless you did a manual workaround like uploading some to Amazon). Alexa skills also expand content: e.g., there’s a TikTok Alexa skill now that lets you watch TikTok videos on Echo Show (yes, TikTok is supported on Echo Show via a partnership as of late 2021). There’s also a Netflix Kid’s profiles support and Amazon Kids+ content if you set the device in kids mode (like cartoons, educational stuff). For productivity, the Echo Show can show your calendar (if you link Google or Microsoft calendars to Alexa, it will display events and let you add events by voice). It also has some email checking skills (not widely used, but you could, for example, get an Alexa skill to check your Gmail, which will read subjects – not a great interface though). When it comes to gaming and interactive content, Alexa has some visual games: Jeopardy! (Q&A game), Song Quiz, escape room text adventures, etc. Many are voice-centric but leverage the screen for visuals or buttons. Amazon even introduced Alexa Widgets for things like sticky notes, weather, to-dos, which you can place on the screen in a sort of dashboard. On Show 10, you might mostly use them in the rotating content rather than a pinned dashboard, as that feature matured more on Show 15. But they are there in a limited form. Another difference: the Echo Show 10 cannot install arbitrary Android apps like a tablet – it’s a closed system. But Amazon sometimes adds new features: e.g., the Echo Show 15 recently got a free update to run the Fire TV interface, allowing use of a remote to navigate streaming apps on it (essentially making it a small TV). There’s talk that Amazon could bring Fire TV UI to other Shows like the 10 via update wired.com, but as of now it hasn’t (and the Wired piece notes Show 15 pairs with a remote whereas Show 10 doesn’t have one). If it ever did, it would mean an app store and more video apps. But that’s speculative. For now, content on Echo Show = Alexa-supported services + web. If your main entertainment is Netflix, Prime, Spotify, Apple Music, etc., Echo Show covers it. If you love YouTube, you’ll have to use voice and tap-workarounds on the browser. If you want every streaming service under the sun, a dedicated tablet might still outdo a smart display. But for casual watching and listening, the Echo Show 10 does a great job, even letting you cook along with Food Network or watch Netflix while washing dishes, etc.

Nest Hub Max (Content): Google’s Nest Hub Max similarly doesn’t have an app store, but it leverages casting and native integrations. The star of the show is YouTube. Naturally, you can play any YouTube video by voice command and it’s a native app experience (since Google owns YouTube). If you’re a YouTube Premium subscriber, no ads, background play, all that on the Hub Max. It’s the best device for kitchen YouTube binge-watching or tutorial following. It also supports YouTube TV (Google’s live TV subscription) – you can say “Watch ESPN on YouTube TV” and it’ll stream live TV if you have that service, effectively turning the Hub Max into a mini television. On the movie/show front, Google Assistant can directly play Netflix and Disney+ on the Nest Hub Max once you link those accounts in Google Home theverge.com. This was a big update Google rolled out – Netflix came in 2020, Disney+ in 2021. You simply ask for a show and if it’s on Netflix or Disney+ (and you subscribe), it will play. For other streaming apps: Google doesn’t have native Hulu or Prime Video on the Nest Hub Max itself. But here’s the workaround: the Nest Hub Max has Chromecast built-in. This means from your phone or tablet, you can cast content from any Cast-supported app to the Hub’s screen. That list is extensive: Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount+, Plex, etc. will all detect the Nest Hub Max as a cast target, just like a Chromecast. Tap the cast icon on your phone app, choose the Nest Hub Max, and the video plays on its screen (often the Hub Max will then show transport controls on its screen too). This essentially fills the gap for any missing service. For example, if you want to watch Amazon Prime Video on the Nest Hub Max – yes, the irony – you actually can if you have Prime’s mobile app: just use the Cast function from Prime Video app (Prime Video app on Android and iOS supports Google Cast) and select the Hub Max. Boom, Jack Ryan on your Nest Hub. So the Nest Hub Max is quite the agnostic streamer via Cast. The only big service that historically didn’t cast was Apple TV+ (Apple likes AirPlay instead), but even Apple Music now supports casting to Nest devices, and Apple TV+ might not cast but you can always AirPlay to Nest? (No, Nest Hub doesn’t do AirPlay). So Apple TV+ specifically you’d have to skip or maybe mirror phone screen via a workaround (not trivial without Apple TV or AirPlay target). Nonetheless, between native apps and cast, Google covers more services natively than Amazon on these displays (like Disney+ which Echo lacks natively) theverge.com. For music, the Nest Hub Max supports YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Deezer and more. Yes, Google Assistant added Apple Music integration too, so if you prefer Apple’s library, you’re covered (just link your Apple Music account in Google Home app). Spotify and YouTube Music are most popular and work flawlessly with voice or touch controls. It also handles radio via TuneIn and can play podcasts through Google Podcasts or Spotify. One thing Google’s good at: if you ask “play BBC News podcast,” it will find it on Google Podcasts and play, with an on-screen player that lets you skip 30s, etc. Google’s platform also integrates with third-party content via Assistant Actions – for example, you can use Plex on Nest Hub to play your personal media library (if you run a Plex server), by linking your Plex account and using voice to request movies from your library. Or use Spotify Connect or Cast to stream things like audio books from apps that support casting. For news/video briefings, Google doesn’t do flash briefings like Alexa, but it has News playlists – you can say “play the news” and it will compile a playlist of audio/video news from chosen sources (configurable in Assistant settings). Visually, it may show the news clips from sources like Reuters, AP, etc. For photos, Nest Hub Max is king with Google Photos integration – it will show your albums with AI-selected highlights and can even show shared live albums updated in real-time wired.com. Amazon can show photos too, but many rave about Google Photos on the Nest Hub as a killer app (especially since many people use Google Photos on their phones). In terms of games and extras, Google has some Assistant games (trivia, sound effects, etc.), but fewer visual games than Alexa’s skills. There are some cute things like interactive stories for kids (e.g., “Hey Google, talk to Mickey Mouse” for a story). But this is a smaller aspect. For productivity, Google Nest Hubs can show your Google Calendar, and they introduced a “Your Afternoon” or “Your morning” summary page with tasks and commute that you can scroll. It’s not a full email or browser device – in fact, no web browser as mentioned. If you ask something that requires a web page, it may offer to send the info to your phone rather than open a browser (for example, if you asked “show me knit sweater images”, the Hub might say “I sent some results to your phone” because it can’t display arbitrary web content beyond what Assistant templates allow). That limitation is deliberate for simplicity and safety. Also, while you can cast almost anything, you cannot do the reverse – i.e., you can’t easily mirror the Nest’s screen to a TV or something (no need mostly, but just noting it’s mostly a receiver, not a sender for cast). Summing up, the Nest Hub Max is strong in video (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, casting) and strong in photos, and covers all major music services. It only lacks a native way to do some niche apps, but Cast fills most gaps. If you heavily use one service that is absent (e.g., maybe Amazon Music? Actually, you can cast Amazon Music from phone to Hub – yes you can since Amazon Music app supports casting too), so even that is solved. The ecosystems try to lock each other out, but casting undermines that a bit in favor of Google’s side. Meanwhile, Alexa’s workaround is the browser, which is less elegant but occasionally more flexible (for example, you could theoretically check web email on Echo’s browser – not comfy but possible; on Nest Hub, no go). Finally, voice assistant content: Google’s answers for things like “show me how to tie a tie” will directly play a YouTube tutorial on Nest Hub; Alexa might show a Bing search result or a description or maybe a how-to video from wikiHow if there’s a skill. Google has that advantage because of YouTube and search integration – it often gives you a more direct video answer. Alexa sometimes can show video answers from certain partners (like if you ask Alexa how to make a recipe, it might show a Food Network video if you have that skill enabled). But Google’s default is YouTube, which covers nearly everything. So if you’re a visual learner, Nest Hub might please you more.

Lenovo Smart Display 2 (Content): If it runs Google Assistant, content support is identical to Nest Hub Max’s description. The Lenovo displays even supported Netflix and Disney+ when those rolled out (since it’s an Assistant platform-wide feature). Casting works the same. No differences, except again potential lack of updates might mean if Google adds a new service in 2025, maybe Lenovo wouldn’t get it – but so far services like Netflix were delivered via server-side updates that did work on third-party displays. The one possible difference: some third-party displays didn’t have as powerful hardware, so maybe heavy YouTube playback for hours could get them warm or something – but Lenovo’s had decent chips, so likely fine. If – big if – Lenovo went Alexa, then content matches Echo Show offerings (and presumably they’d try to include similar Netflix support, etc.). But likely it stays in Google’s realm.

In conclusion, both platforms cover a lot of ground for entertainment and info, but with slightly different philosophies. Alexa/Echo Show is a bit more closed but does have a browser for flexibility, great integration with Amazon content, but misses native YouTube/Disney+. Google/Nest Hub is very user-friendly for YouTube/Netflix and casting, ties into Google services, but no browser and limited to what Assistant serves up. For an average user, both will let you watch shows, follow recipes, see photos, play music and video call – the staples are all there. Heavy YouTube users will lean Google; heavy Prime Video users might lean Amazon (though one could argue just cast Prime to Google – but not everyone is comfortable using two devices to do one thing). So think about your content habits. One tech comparison summed it up: “if you watch a lot of YouTube or are a YouTube TV customer, the Nest Hub does a much better job… Google also supports more video services… You can cast video content from apps on your phone… which you can’t do with an Echo Show” theverge.com. On the other hand, “the Echo Show can play video from Amazon’s Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix. But it doesn’t easily play YouTube…nor does it have HBO Max or Disney Plus” theverge.com theverge.com. Those quotes neatly summarize the app situation – each covers the big three or four, but beyond that, Google’s cast approach is more versatile while Amazon’s approach is catching up (with maybe future Fire TV integration bridging some gaps). For most general public users reading this, rest assured all these devices can play your music, stream popular shows, and show your photos – none is going to leave you bored!

Price and Value

Now let’s talk dollars (or your local currency) and whether these devices are worth it.

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) – Price & Value: The Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) launched at a price of $249.99 in the US wired.com. As of 2025, its list price remains around $250, but you’ll often find it on sale – during events like Prime Day or Black Friday it’s not uncommon to see it drop to ~$200 or even $180. Availability has been a bit interesting: at times Amazon has had it out of stock (possibly gearing up for a revision). In mid-2025, some reports noted it was “currently out of stock” on Amazon wired.com, fueling speculation of a 4th-gen coming. But at this moment, Echo Show 10 (3rd gen) is Amazon’s top-of-the-line Alexa display. For $250, you’re getting a 10-inch rotating display with premium sound and all the unique features we discussed. Is it worth it? If you are an Alexa user who will take advantage of the rotating screen (for example, you have a big kitchen or open area where you move around a lot while interacting with it), the Show 10 offers something no other competitor does – a screen that literally follows you. That’s a major value proposition for hands-free use and it feels futuristic. Also, the sound quality is good enough that it can replace a separate Bluetooth speaker or small stereo in the kitchen, adding value. Essentially you’re combining a tablet, a speaker, and a security cam in one. On the other hand, $250 can be a steep ask if you just want a smart display for occasional weather checks and music. Amazon recognized that many people might not need the motion feature, which is why they also sell the Echo Show 8 and 5 at lower price points (the latest Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is $149.99 list wired.com, and often $129). The value of the Show 10 thus depends on if you’ll use its extras: the Zigbee hub (saves you buying a separate $50 hub for those devices), the rotating screen (unique but maybe not necessary for all), the camera’s security patrol (could save buying an indoor camera). If all those align with your needs, then the Show 10 is a great all-in-one smart home device. If not, an Echo Show 8 could do 80% of the same stuff for much less money (just with a smaller screen and no swivel). In terms of longevity, Amazon tends to support Echo devices for many years with updates (the previous Show 2nd-gen from 2018 still works fine). And with Alexa’s ongoing developments (Alexa+ AI coming), the Show 10 is slated to be among the first to get those improvements wired.com. So it’s not a gadget that will be obsolete quickly. Critics have said the Show 10 is a bit pricey for a 10-inch display when tablets exist – for instance, Amazon’s own Fire HD 10 tablet is ~$150, and you could put it on a stand with Show Mode to mimic some functions. However, that wouldn’t give you the speakers or the rotating ability or always-on convenience. So you’re paying a premium for the form factor and convenience. The value-adds include: replacing maybe an iPad on a stand, a Bluetooth speaker, and adding home monitoring. If those are things you’d otherwise buy, the cost seems reasonable. If you just want a “smart alarm clock with weather,” it’s overkill. On a competitive note, $250 is more than the Nest Hub Max’s typical street price ($229) – Amazon might argue their audio and features justify it. Often you can find the Show 10 discounted to match Nest Hub Max’s price anyway. If Amazon does release a 4th-gen Show 10, it could mean either a price drop on the 3rd-gen or a new model at similar price with improved specs. So far no official word. Overall, I’d say the Echo Show 10 (3rd gen) offers strong value for Alexa loyalists who utilize its full feature set, and just decent value for casual users (you could save money with a smaller model if you don’t need the bells and whistles).

Google Nest Hub Max (and 2) – Price & Value: The Nest Hub Max launched at $229.99 in the US and typically hovers around $200-$230 at major retailers wired.com. It sometimes goes on sale for ~$179 during holidays. As of 2025, Google still sells it (though rumors of a Nest Hub Max 2 may change that soon). At around $200, the Nest Hub Max is Google’s priciest display, but it’s also the largest and with the best audio. How does that price feel? Many find it reasonable given that it’s essentially a 10-inch tablet-like device with good speakers and a camera. Compared to Echo Show 10, it’s slightly cheaper and doesn’t have the rotation, but it arguably has a more polished integration if you value Google services. If Google releases a Nest Hub Max 2, there’s speculation it could price it similarly or maybe a tad higher if the screen is indeed 12-inch OLED (which would be a significant upgrade). A 12″ smart display could creep towards $300 territory depending on features. But until that happens, $229 is the baseline. Is Nest Hub Max a good value in 2025? Given that it’s a 2019 device originally, some might feel it’s aging. However, Google has updated it with new software features over time, and it still competes strongly. One must consider that Google also offers the smaller Nest Hub (2nd gen) at a budget ~$99 (often on sale for $50). If your needs are modest (no video calls, smaller screen is okay), the little Nest Hub is a value champ. But the Nest Hub Max gives you that camera, larger sound, etc., which justify the higher cost. If you have Nest cameras or plan to use it as part of home security, the value proposition increases – it’s a security cam + smart display + speaker in one. If you love the digital photo frame aspect, some people buy the Nest Hub Max just for showcasing Google Photos plus occasional Assistant queries – they consider it worth the price as a 10-inch digital frame (those alone can cost $150+ for good ones) that also does a lot more. Considering alternatives: The Pixel Tablet (with speaker dock) is $499 wired.com – that’s much more, though it’s a full tablet that doubles as a smart display when docked. But ironically, for pure smart display purposes, many reviews (like Wired) still recommend the Nest Hub Max over fancier options because it’s straightforward and always-on wired.com. If you see the Nest Hub Max as not just a gadget but as a long-term home appliance (like a microwave or a stereo), the price is fairly low for how much daily utility it can provide to a family. On the other hand, one ding in its value: Google removing Zoom/Meet support might diminish its appeal for those who wanted it as a work device or for group calls with remote colleagues theverge.com. It’s now more of a consumer/family device. But that’s its primary target anyway. Longevity-wise, the Hub Max should continue working for years, but with a potential new model, one could worry if Google might drop software support eventually as they did for older Nest devices. However, Google tends to support its own Nest displays (the original Nest Hub from 2018 is still getting updates). So, I’d consider the Nest Hub Max a solid value for Google-centric homes, offering a lot of functionality for the price. If the rumored Nest Hub Max 2 comes out, early adopters might want to wait, but if you need a device now, you likely won’t overpay as discounts are often available around $200. And if Hub Max 2 launches at a higher price, the original might become an even better deal on clearance. So keep an eye on that timeline (Google I/O 2025 maybe?).

Lenovo Smart Display 2 – Price & Value: This one’s tricky since it’s not officially in the market yet (or may never be, depending on Google’s support stance). Let’s use context: the original Lenovo Smart Display 10 was $249 at launch techradar.com but soon got discounted – eventually, one could find it for $150 or even less during clearance as newer models came out. Lenovo also had a smaller 8-inch for $199 at launch. If a “Lenovo Smart Display 2” were to release, Lenovo would likely price it competitively against the Nest Hub Max, perhaps around $199-$249 range. Lenovo might try undercutting a bit, say $199 to attract buyers away from Google’s own. But there’s no concrete info. The value proposition of a Lenovo display would rest on its hardware quality vs cost. For example, if they offered a higher resolution screen (say 2K or something) and great speakers at the same price as a Nest Hub Max, that could be compelling. Lenovo’s original had that nice FHD screen advantage techradar.com. And maybe they’d have to sweeten the deal given consumers know first-party Google devices get better support. However, given that third-party displays have been deprioritized, if Lenovo did put out a new one, they might pivot strategy – possibly marketing it as a hybrid device (like maybe running both Alexa and Assistant? Unlikely, but just thinking outside the box). Or they might not enter this space again at all. As of now, one can only talk about the value of existing Lenovo Smart Displays: if you find one (8” or 10”) on the used market or leftover stock, they often go for quite cheap (under $100). At that price, they can be a bargain for a secondary room – but with the knowledge you’re not getting new features. For those, a Nest Hub might be a better “value” due to support. If somehow Lenovo 2 came with Alexa, its value would then be weighed against Echo Show models. Perhaps Lenovo could carve a niche by making a slightly larger screen, e.g., a 12-inch Alexa smart display – there’s no direct competitor aside from Amazon’s wall-mounted 15” (which is pricey at $300). A 12-inch countertop Alexa display at ~$250 could be interesting. Again, speculation, but it shows how value is relative to unique features.

Given we have no announced Lenovo 2, it’s hard to assign a value, so I’ll summarize from a consumer perspective: if you see a Lenovo Smart Display (1st gen) on clearance for a good price, know that it still does most of what Nest Hub Max does, but it’s effectively end-of-life in terms of updates 9to5google.com. It could be a cheap way to get a 10-inch Assistant screen if you’re okay with eventual feature stagnation. On the flip side, if a brand new Lenovo Smart Display 2 appears and you’re considering it over Nest Hub Max or Echo Show, scrutinize how Lenovo addresses the software support issue. The value for money will depend not just on raw specs, but on assurance that it’ll remain functional and updated. Without that, spending $200+ on it might be risky when first-party options are similarly priced and fully supported.

In conclusion, here’s a value snapshot: The Echo Show 10 and Nest Hub Max are both premium $200+ devices that justify their cost with larger screens, better sound, and extra features (motion tracking for Echo, Nest integration for Hub). They are generally seen as worth the money for users in those ecosystems, and their prices have become more affordable through sales. The “Lenovo Smart Display 2”, if it were real, would have to either be significantly cheaper or significantly better in hardware to lure buyers, given the ecosystem uncertainty.

Overall Pros and Cons

Finally, let’s distill the strengths and weaknesses of each smart display:

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)

• Pros:
  • Rotating Screen Follows You: Unique motorized base keeps the 10-inch display in your view as you move, excellent for multitasking during video calls or following recipes whathifi.com.
  • Great Audio Quality: Powerful speaker base (2 tweeters + woofer) delivers loud, room-filling sound with solid bass – among the best in smart displays wired.com.
  • High-Quality Camera: 13 MP camera with auto-framing keeps you centered on video calls and doubles as a security cam you can access remotely via the Alexa app whathifi.com. Supports Alexa Calling, Drop In, Skype, and Zoom meetings for versatile video chat theverge.com.
  • Smart Home Hub: Built-in Zigbee and Thread/Matter support means it can directly connect to smart lights, locks, and sensors without extra hubs whathifi.com matteralpha.com. Alexa’s ecosystem integration with Ring doorbells, etc., is seamless (live camera feeds on command).
  • Feature-Rich Alexa Ecosystem: Leverages Amazon services (Prime Video, Amazon Music, Audible, etc.) and thousands of Alexa skills. Can stream Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video by voice. Multi-room music and Alexa routines work great across Echo devices.
  • Strong Privacy Controls: Physical camera shutter and one-touch mic/camera mute button provide instant privacy amazon.com. Visual indicators show when audio or video is streaming, and Alexa offers features to delete recordings wired.com.
• Cons:
  • Bulky and Needs Space: The swiveling design demands clearance – it’s heavy (2.5+ kg) and can’t be tucked in a tight corner without obstructing rotation wired.com. Not ideal for very small kitchens or bedside tables.
  • Limited Native Apps (No YouTube or Disney+ app): Lacks a native YouTube app (uses browser workaround) whathifi.com and has no Disney+ or HBO Max support, which is inconvenient for fans of those platforms. Relies on Silk browser for unsupported video services.
  • Amazon-Centric Ecosystem: Best suited if you use Amazon services; not as friendly with Google services (no Google Photos or native Gmail/Calendar integration – those require workarounds). No native Google Duo/Meet for those with contacts on Google.
  • Pricey: At ~$250 list price, it’s one of the most expensive smart displays. You pay a premium for motion and audio. If you don’t need the rotating feature, the cost may not be justified (Echo Show 8 is much cheaper for similar functions minus swivel).
  • Privacy Trade-offs with Alexa+: Upcoming Alexa improvements will require more cloud data usage wired.com. Some users might be uneasy with Amazon’s recent policy of uploading all voice recordings (though this affects all Alexa devices similarly).
  • Large Footprint: It has a larger base and taller profile than Nest Hub Max, which could clutter a small countertop. And the power cable is a bit thick/less flexible given it supplies a motor.

Google Nest Hub Max (1st Gen, with insights for 2nd Gen)

• Pros:
  • Bright 10″ Display & Best-in-Class Photo Frame: Big touchscreen (1280×800) is great for recipes and videos. Doubles as a superb digital photo frame with Ambient EQ adjusting to room lighting – photos look natural and vivid wired.com. Ideal for showcasing Google Photos albums.
  • Excellent Sound Quality: Stereo speakers + woofer deliver rich, clear audio; regarded as “the best sound out of any smart display” to date businessinsider.com. Fills a room well, making it a mini entertainment center for music and videos.
  • Deep Google Integration: Fantastic if you use Google services – shows your Calendar, reminders, and commute info effortlessly. Native YouTube and YouTube TV support (just ask and play), plus voice control for Netflix and Disney+ on the device theverge.com. Also supports casting from countless apps (Hulu, HBO, etc.), so content options are vast.
  • Smart Home & Nest Ecosystem: Controls a wide range of smart home devices via Google Assistant. Especially strong with Nest products – e.g., instantly shows Nest Doorbell or camera feeds, and acts as a Nest Cam itself for home monitoring businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. Also functions as a Thread border router (in 2nd gen or possibly coming in Max 2) for Matter devices echotekk.com.
  • Unique Camera Features: 6.5MP camera enables Face Match (personalized info for recognized household members) and Quick Gestures (pause media by a simple hand wave) businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. Auto-framing keeps you in view during Duo/Meet video calls. Doubles as a security camera you can view remotely through Google Home app.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Clean, glanceable UI with intuitive touch controls (smart home dashboard, media controls, etc.). Google Assistant’s strong contextual voice responses and search prowess shine – often giving visually rich answers and pulling info from the web. Great for step-by-step recipe guides, weather visuals, and general knowledge Q&A.
  • Privacy-Conscious Options: Hardware switch instantly cuts off mic and camera. On-device processing for Face Match means facial data isn’t sent to cloud wired.com. Guest Mode allows using the device without tying queries to your Google account wired.com – good for privacy when visitors are around.
• Cons:
  • No Native Zoom/Meet Anymore: Google dropped support for Zoom and formal Google Meet meetings on the Hub Max theverge.com. You’re limited to personal video calls via Google Duo/Meet. This reduces its versatility for remote work or Zoom family chats, where Echo Shows still support Zoom.
  • Camera Lacks Shutter: No physical lens cover included – you have to trust the electronic kill-switch or add a third-party cover wired.com. Some users would prefer a built-in shutter for peace of mind (a feature Lenovo’s display and Echo have).
  • Google-Only Ecosystem: Best suited for those in Google’s world. Lacks compatibility with Amazon content (no Prime Video voice control, no Audible support) – though some can be cast from a phone, it’s not native. If you’re not a Google service user, you won’t tap into many of its strengths.
  • Limited Expandability: No app store or web browser. You can’t install new apps beyond what’s supported, and cannot browse websites freely 9to5google.com. You rely on cast or voice integrations for all content. While cast is powerful, it requires a separate device (phone) for some tasks, which not everyone finds convenient.
  • Aging Hardware (pre-2nd Gen): The current Hub Max was released in 2019; while still capable, it’s using older internals. A prospective Nest Hub Max 2 might loom, meaning the 1st gen could see price cuts but also potentially fewer new features going forward as Google shifts focus. Early 2025 buyers might debate waiting for the updated model with rumored OLED screen and upgraded chip echotekk.com.
  • Mic Pickup in Loud Environments: With just two far-field mics (vs. Echo’s array of 4+ mics), the Hub Max can sometimes struggle to hear “Hey Google” if music is at full blast or from across a noisy room theverge.com theverge.com. The voice recognition is generally good, but in cacophonous settings Alexa devices’ mic arrays have a slight edge.
  • Uncertain Long-Term Support: Google has a history of abrupt changes (e.g., killing third-party display updates 9to5google.com, or shifting Assistant strategy). While Nest Hub Max is first-party and should be supported for years, Google’s smart home direction (like emphasis on Pixel Tablet) introduces a little uncertainty about how many new features these displays will get in the future as standalone products.

Lenovo Smart Display 2 (Hypothetical, Based on Lenovo Smart Display 10 and current landscape)

• Pros:
  • Elegant Design & Sharp Screen: Known for a stylish look – slim profile with a bamboo or fabric back that looks great in homes theverge.com. The original 10″ Lenovo had a Full HD (1920×1200) display that was crisp and higher-res than rivals techradar.com, excellent for videos and photo clarity. We’d expect a 2nd-gen to maintain a high-res beautiful display and modern aesthetics.
  • Strong Audio (for a 3rd-Party): Lenovo engineered their Smart Displays with decent speakers (10W full-range + passive radiators). TechRadar noted “blasting audio” and impressive performance for both music and voice techradar.com techradar.com. A new model could improve on this, potentially offering audio on par with first-party devices – maybe even stereo separation if they include multiple drivers.
  • Privacy Features: Lenovo set the standard originally by including a physical camera shutter and mute switch on their displays theverge.com. Users appreciate this thoughtful design, making it easy to ensure privacy. We anticipate any follow-up device would keep these hardware privacy toggles, giving it a slight edge over Nest Hub Max’s lack of shutter.
  • Google Assistant Built-in: Assuming it runs Assistant, it can do virtually everything a Nest Hub can – voice commands for smart home, pulling up YouTube/Netflix, casting content, etc. It serves as a Google smart display, so it benefits from Google’s robust Assistant features and vast compatibility (and also now supports Matter devices through the Google Home app). Essentially, it’s a Nest Hub experience in third-party clothes, which historically meant the same core functionality to the user.
  • Competitive Pricing Potential: Lenovo might price it lower than Google’s own to entice buyers. If it launches around the ~$199 mark, it could undercut the Nest Hub Max while offering similar (or better in some hardware aspects) specs. More bang for your buck in terms of screen resolution or design could make it an attractive value choice for consumers who don’t mind who manufactures the device as long as Assistant is there.
  • Versatile Placement: The original Lenovo could be stood vertically for video calls (though software only supported portrait in calls) theverge.com. This hints at a certain versatility – perhaps a new model could fully enable portrait orientation for things like viewing documents or portrait photos. Even if not, the inclusion of physical feet for multiple orientations was a neat perk that Google’s own displays don’t have. It shows Lenovo’s eye for functional hardware tweaks that improve user flexibility.
• Cons:
  • No Google Software Updates (3rd-Party Lag): Google has explicitly stopped software updates for third-party Assistant displays 9to5google.com. This means a Lenovo Smart Display (existing ones, and likely any new one unless something changes) might not receive new features or timely fixes that Google rolls out to its Nest Hubs. There’s a risk you’re buying into a product that could be left behind, with features “likely to suffer or disappear entirely as time passes” wired.com. This uncertainty severely impacts its long-term value.
  • Reliant on Google Ecosystem Without Guarantee: If it’s Google Assistant-based, you’re still depending on Google’s ecosystem – which, as noted, isn’t prioritizing third-party displays. You’d be essentially buying hardware from Lenovo but entirely at the mercy of Google’s support for functionality. This could include missing out on future integration (for instance, if Google Assistant gets a big AI upgrade, will the Lenovo get it? Possibly not if Google limits it to Nest devices).
  • Software Stagnation / Fewer Features: Some features that Nest Hub Max has (or will get) might never come to Lenovo’s display. For example, Google added “Look and Talk” and Quick Phrases to Nest Hub Max 9to5google.com – those did not appear on Lenovo’s. The web browser was disabled on Lenovo’s by Google 9to5google.com. So, a user might find a Lenovo display can’t do everything its Google-branded counterpart can, especially over time as new updates roll out to Nest Hubs only. Essentially, you could be locked to the state-of-the-art of 2023, while Nest continues evolving.
  • Support and Warranty Concerns: Buying a first-party device (Amazon or Google) usually means strong customer support and continuous app improvements. With Lenovo, some users worry about how quickly Lenovo can push minor patches if something breaks, since they depend on Google. Additionally, warranty or returns might be fine, but software issues could become a blame game between Google and Lenovo. (E.g., if a service stops working due to Google change, Lenovo might not have a fix if Google doesn’t provide it.) That uncertainty is a con for savvy buyers.
  • Potential Alexa Pivot Confusion: If Lenovo chose to go with Alexa on a “Smart Display 2” (purely hypothetical), that in itself could be confusing – customers expecting a Google device might be surprised. It would then compete with Echo Show directly, but without Amazon’s deep integration (Alexa on third-party might not allow everything an Echo does). Essentially, any pivot away from Google Assistant could result in a product that’s not as rich as an Echo Show or a Nest Hub – a neither-here-nor-there situation. So far, no signs of this, but it’s a con to consider if Google’s platform door is effectively closed for third parties.
  • Unknown Release (May Never Launch): A very practical “con” – as of August 2025, there is no confirmed Lenovo Smart Display 2 on the market. We’re comparing a possibly mythical product. If it doesn’t launch, obviously it has no value to consumers except as an idea. Meanwhile, Lenovo’s first-gen Smart Displays, while decent, are aging from 2018/2019 with no refresh. So anyone set on Lenovo hardware is stuck with years-old tech that’s already lost update support. Without a real product, Lenovo is currently a non-player in new full-size smart displays, meaning consumers might be better off choosing between Amazon and Google’s offerings that exist.

Conclusion: In this 2025 showdown, Amazon’s Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) stands out for its innovative rotating design and robust Alexa ecosystem – perfect for those who want Alexa’s skills and a device that literally follows their voice. Google’s Nest Hub Max excels as a communal hub for Google-powered homes, shining in multimedia, Google service integration, and a photo frame that families adore. And Lenovo’s Smart Display (2), while not officially here yet, represents the promise of third-party innovation with style and high-res visuals, albeit shadowed by uncertainty in support. Each has its clear strengths: Echo Show 10 for hands-free convenience and sound, Nest Hub Max for seamless Google smarts and content, and Lenovo (if it returns) for design and display prowess. Ultimately, the best choice hinges on your preferred ecosystem and which features you value most in your daily life. With this comprehensive comparison, you’re now equipped to pick the smart display that fits your home and makes your every day a little easier and more enjoyable.

Sources: wired.com whathifi.com wired.com businessinsider.com theverge.com 9to5google.com theverge.com matteralpha.com