Facebook - Portal Plus Smart Video Calling 15.6" Display With Alexa - White (Android)

Love this item. It’s so much more than a video calling device, although it’s brilliant for that. It’s very well made. It was packaged really well and was easy to set up. The only extra I would have liked was a booklet telling me about all the things it does as how to get the best from it. I’m finding out gradually but it could be so much easier.

update:1/22/2021: It is now 1.5 years and the portal+ is still going strong. My original comments still apply. The video call is it's main purpose and best use case. It's still loud and the camera is awesome as it pans to where there is motion or voice. It does work from 25-30 feet away. We have it on continuously so the portal updates itself occasionally. We have had to do a couple reboots in this 1.5 years but in general it works. They did add one capability which I like: I can now create a 'superframe' folder in my facebook account and direct portal to display only those photos in round robin fashion. So now I have control of what gets seen and when. I put a small number of photos into that folder and change the photos periodically. I am still hopeful the other 2 capabilities will show up in the near future (remote administration, auto answer). I got portal plus about 9 months ago. It is great as a video chat device. The main benefit I saw is that display is large and the speakers are loud and voice control is available. This is used for the grandparents who are computer illiterate and somewhat hard of hearing. The speakers are loud so they can really hear me . It's volume is adjustable too for those not so deaf. This loudness was definitely required. When they video chat with me I can hear them fine too so the microphone is sensitive. This means whether they stand up close of talk from the kitchen (30 ft away). The display is larger that a tablet and we put it in landscape mode (can be portrait too) . Our goal is it is a device that just sits there and needs no attention like a landline telephone. It will take multiple calls at once ie video conference so the most we've had is 3 people call at once. All 3 were displayed simultaneously. The other thing that helps illiteracy is they can just answer by saying " hey portal answer". We did not want them to touch the device or initiate call. 'superframe' is what they call the display of pictures when not in a call. So we load it with tons of pictures and somehow it cycles and displays pictures. Not just what I load up but what I also put in their facebook account. I'm unclear as to when and what pictures get displayed. Easy to answer if you have just a few photos but if you have hundreds+ then I don't know which ones get chosen over time. So every week or so I add photos to their facebook account and hope newer ones show up. Lots of other capabilities but it accomplished our main objectives. Some features that I hope will come in future: 1) remote administration - so I can program /adjust as needed 2) auto answer - so I can check up on them and they don't have to do anything to answer 3) superframe - better control of what and when pictures show up. Click HELPFUL if you find this of benefit .

Device is awesome! Large screen and big icons help parents & older users video chat with their loved ones through various apps available for Portal. Just note when using that these devices have multiple mics all around, so the other side can even pickup on background chatter..😁 Seller has been extremely attentive to customer service. Excellent purchase overall!👍🏽

This Portal+ replaced our Echo Show on the kitchen counter. It’s automatically zooming in and out and following camera is its best feature. It even has Alexa built-in so we can still say “Alexa, show me the front door”. All our family video or voice calls us from any of their mobile phones and tablets. The apps allows us browsing, streaming music, streaming movies, etc. It even have a Story Time feature for your viewers. The sound from its good sized speakers is excellent. The beautiful screen can easily switch from portrait to landscape and back. It also replaced our digital picture frame. Our favorite time is breakfast at the dining nook by the kitchen and saying “Hey Portal, call <name>“, add <call> other family members, and enjoy a morning group video call. Then after our morning call, say “Alexa, play <iHeart radio>”. This is the best gadget in our house.

Both my Dad and I have portals and we facetime a lot since we got them.