Alexa Echo Show vs. Hearth Display vs. Skylight Calendar vs. Echo Show – which is THE BEST Smart Display?!

In today’s fast-paced world, smart displays have become the unsung heroes of our homes, seamlessly blending entertainment, information, and family organization into sleek, interactive screens. From managing daily schedules to controlling smart home devices, these gadgets are transforming how we interact with technology at home.

In this updated guide (as of December 2024), we’ll explore the latest and greatest in smart display technology, including in-depth reviews of the Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast seeking the newest innovations or a busy family aiming to streamline your routines, this comprehensive overview will help you navigate the evolving landscape of smart displays and choose the perfect fit for your household.

The Newest Contenders:

In the ever-evolving world of smart displays, 2024 has ushered in a new generation of devices that are redefining how we interact with technology at home. From Amazon’s expansive Echo Show 21 to Google’s versatile Nest Hub Max, and specialized family organizers like the Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max, there’s a smart display tailored for every household need.

Meet the Contenders

Amazon Echo Show 21

Amazon’s latest addition, the Echo Show 21, boasts a 21-inch Full HD display—the largest in the Echo lineup. Designed to serve as both a smart display and a compact TV, it features built-in Fire TV capabilities, allowing seamless streaming of your favorite shows and movies.

The device is equipped with enhanced audio components, including two 2-inch woofers and two 0.6-inch tweeters, delivering immersive sound quality. With a 13 MP wide-angle camera featuring auto-framing, the Echo Show 21 ensures you’re always in focus during video calls.

Additionally, it functions as a smart home hub, compatible with Matter, Thread, and Zigbee devices, providing comprehensive control over your connected home.

Google Nest Hub Max

The Google Nest Hub Max offers a 10-inch HD touchscreen that integrates seamlessly with Google Assistant, providing hands-free help throughout your home. It features a built-in Nest Cam, allowing you to monitor your home remotely and receive alerts about important activities.

The device supports video calls via Google Duo, with auto-framing ensuring you remain centered during conversations. As a control center for your smart home, the Nest Hub Max works with thousands of compatible devices, enabling voice or touch control over lights, thermostats, and more.

Hearth Display

Tailored for busy families, the Hearth Display is a 27-inch digital organizer designed to centralize schedules, to-do lists, and routines. It offers a user-friendly interface with color-coded profiles for each family member, promoting coordination and accountability. Read our full Hearth Display Review.

The device integrates with various calendar platforms, ensuring all events are consolidated into one accessible view. Mounted flush against the wall with customizable frame options, the Hearth Display adds a modern touch to home organization.

Skylight Calendar Max

The Skylight Calendar Max is another 27-inch touchscreen calendar focused on streamlining family schedules. It syncs with multiple, providing a unified view of family events. When not in active use, it doubles as a digital photo frame, displaying cherished memories. The device emphasizes simplicity and functionality, offering a distraction-free experience dedicated to organization. Read our fully Skylight Calendar Max Review.

These smart displays cater to a variety of needs, from comprehensive family organization to serving as entertainment hubs. As technology continues to advancee becoming integral to modern households, enhancing both convenience and connectivity.

Best Smart Display: Size does matter

When it comes to smart displays, size and design can make or break the experience. Let’s dive into how these devices stack up.

Amazon Echo Show 21

Amazon’s Echo Show 21 is a behemoth in the smart display arena, featuring a 21-inch Full HD screen. Its sleek, modern design is intended to be the centerpiece of your smart home, offering a substantial viewing area for multimedia content and smart home controls. The device can be wall-mounted or placed on a stand, providing flexibility in placement to suit your home’s layout.

Note: can mount on the wall or with a stand.

Google Nest Hub Max

The Nest Hub Max sports a 10-inch HD display with a 1280×800 resolution, offering a balance between size and functionality. Its minimalist design with white bezels allows it to blend seamlessly into various home decors. Designed primarily for tabletop use, it comes with a built-in stand but lacks native wall-mounting options, though third-party mounts are available.

Note: No wall-mounting available.

Hearth Display

Tailored for family organization, the Hearth Display boasts a 27-inch screen with anti-glare and smudge-resistant features, ensuring clarity from any angle. Its design focuses on centralizing family schedules and tasks, making it a functional addition to busy households. The device is designed to be wall-mounted, serving as a digital command center for the family.

Note: must me wall-mounted.

Skylight Calendar Max

The Skylight Calendar Max features a 27-inch touchscreen with a 2560 x 1440 QHD resolution, providing vibrant and crisp visuals. Its slim profile and modern aesthetics make it a stylish addition to any room. Like the Hearth Display, it’s designed for wall mounting, offering a centralized view of family calendars and photos.

Note: must be wall-mounted.

Comparative Insights

• Size Matters: If you’re looking for a large display, both the Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max offer expansive 27-inch screens, ideal for family organization. The Echo Show 21, with its 21-inch display, provides a substantial viewing area suitable for multimedia and smart home control. The Nest Hub Max, while smaller at 10 inches, offers a compact solution for those with limited space.

• Design Aesthetics: All devices feature modern designs, but their intended placements differ. The Echo Show 21 and Nest Hub Max are versatile in placement, with the former offering both wall-mount and stand options, and the latter primarily designed for tabletop use. The Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max are designed to be wall-mounted, serving as central hubs for family organization.

• Display Quality: The Skylight Calendar Max stands out with its QHD resolution, offering sharper visuals compared to the HD displays of the other devices. This makes it particularly appealing for users who prioritize display clarity.

In summary, your choice should align with your specific needs—whether it’s a compact, versatile display like the Nest Hub Max, a large multimedia hub like the Echo Show 21, or specialized family organizers like the Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max.

Smart Displays: Different Functionality

When choosing a smart display, it’s crucial to assess their functionalities and features to determine which device aligns best with your household’s needs. Here’s a comparative analysis of the Amazon Echo Show 21, Google Nest Hub Max, Hearth Display, and Skylight Calendar Max.

Amazon Echo Show 21

The Smart Home, Entertainment BEAST.

• Smart Home Integration: Equipped with a built-in smart home hub, the Echo Show 21 supports Matter, Thread, and Zigbee protocols, enabling seamless control of a wide array of smart home devices.

• Multimedia Playback: With integrated Fire TV, it offers access to numerous streaming services, including Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+, transforming the device into a compact entertainment center.

• Additional Tools: Features customizable widgets for calendars, to-do lists, and weather updates, allowing users to personalize the home screen to their preferences.

We did hate the “news ticker” type approach that was always changing.

Google Nest Hub Max

• Smart Home Integration: Functions as a control center for thousands of compatible smart home devices, facilitating management through voice commands or a centralized dashboard.

• Multimedia Playback: Supports streaming from platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+, providing versatile entertainment options.

• Additional Tools: Incorporates Google Assistant for hands-free assistance, and features like Quick Gestures for touchless control, enhancing user interaction.

We use the Nest Home Hub to control mostly our bedroom lights.

Hearth Display

• Smart Home Integration: Primarily designed as a family organizer, it lacks extensive smart home control capabilities found in other smart displays.

• Multimedia Playback: Focused on family coordination, it does not prioritize multimedia playback functionalities.

• Additional Tools: Offers comprehensive family organization features, including centralized schedules, to-do lists, and routines, with color-coded profiles for each family member.

We use the Hearth Display for nothing in our Smart Home, however, we use it mostly for our calendars and chores for the kids.

Skylight Calendar Max

• Smart Home Integration: Similar to the Hearth Display, it is centered on family scheduling and does not provide broad smart home integration.

• Multimedia Playback: While it can display photos when not in active use, it does not support extensive multimedia playback.

• Additional Tools: Syncs with multiple calendar services to offer a unified view of family events, streamlining scheduling.

Comparative Insights

• Amazon Echo Show 21 and Nest Hub Max excel in smart home control, supporting a wide range of devices and protocols. In contrast, the Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max focus on family organization without extensive smart home functionalities.

• Multimedia Playback: For entertainment purposes, the Echo Show 21 stands out with its built-in Fire TV, while the Nest Hub Max offers versatile streaming options. The Hearth Display and Skylige not designed with multimedia playback as a primary function.

• Additional Tools: If family organization is a priority, the Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max provide specialized features tailored for that purpose. The Echo Show 21 and Nest Hub Max, while offering some organizational tools, are more generalized in their functionalities.

In summary, selecting the right smart display depends on your household’s specific needs. For comprehensive smart home control and entertainment, the Echo Show 21 or Nest Hub Max are suitable choices. For dedicated family organization, the Hearth Display or Skylight Calendar Max may be more appropriate.

Best Smart Calendar Displays

Integrating your existing calendars with smart displays can significantly enhance family coordination by providing a centralized view of everyone’s schedules. Here’s how each device facilitates calendar integration:

Hearth Display

Hearth Display offers seamless synchronization with popular calendar services:

• Google Calendar: Connect your Google account to sync events, which will appear on the Hearth Calendar. Events created on Hearth sync back to your Google account, ensuring consistency across platforms.

• Apple iCal and Outlook: Hearth supports integration with iCal and Outlook calendars, allowing users to import events into the Hearth ecosystem.

During setup, the associated email links to the primary adult member of the household, facilitating a unified family calendar.

Skylight Calendar Max

The Skylight Calendar Max integrates with various calendar platforms to streamline family scheduling:

• Supported Calendars: Syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple Calendar, Cozi, and Yahoo, consolidating events into a single display.

• Magic Import Feature: Allows users to convert PDFs, emails, and spreadsheets into calendar events by sending documents to the Skylight Calendar, simplifying the addition of new events.

This integration ensures that all family members have access to up-to-date schedules, promoting better coordination.

Amazon Echo Show 21

The Echo Show 21 provides calendar integration through Alexa:

• Calendar Services: Supports linking with Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and Apple iCloud, enabling Alexa to manage and retrieve calendar events.

• Voice Commands: Users can add or inquire about events using voice commands, with Alexa providing verbal updates and reminders.

This hands-free approach allows for easy access to personal schedules.

Google Nest Hub Max

The Nest Hub Max integrates with Google services for calendar management:

• Google Calendar: Natively syncs with Google Calendar, displaying events and reminders on the home screen.

• Voice Interaction: Utilizes Google Assistant to add events and provide schedule updates through voice commands.

This integration offers a cohesive experience for users within the Google ecosystem.

Comparative Insights

• Integration Depth: Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max focus on comprehensive family scheduling, supporting multiple calendar platforms to consolidate family events. The Echo Show 21 and Nest Hub Max offer calendar integration as part of broader functionalities, with a primary focus on personal schedules.

• User Interaction: Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max provide large touchscreens for direct interaction, ideal for visualizing family schedules. The Echo Show 21 and Nest Hub Max combine touch and voice interactions, offering flexibility in how users manage their calendars.

• Additional Features: Skylight Calendar Max’s Magic Import feature simplifies adding events from various document formats, enhancing usability. Hearth Display’s dedicated family calendar system promotes shared responsibility among household members.

In summary, for families seeking centralized scheduling with support for multiple calendar platforms, Hearth Display and Skylight Calendar Max are tailored solutions. For users desiring broader smart home functionalities with integrated personal calendar management, the Echo Show 21 and Nest Hub Max are suitable options.

The Final Verdict: What Smart Display is right for you?

When evaluating smart displays, it’s essential to weigh their advantages and potential drawbacks to determine the best fit for your household. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons for each device:

Hearth Display

Pros:

• Comprehensive Family Organization: Offers a 27-inch anti-glare, smudge-resistant screen dedicated to centralizing family schedules, to-do lists, and routines, promoting coordination among family members.

• User-Friendly Interface: Features color-coded profiles for each family member, enhancing clarity and ease of use.

Cons:

• Higher Cost: Priced at $699, it represents a significant investment.

• Subscription Requirement: Access to all features requires a family membership at $9 per month or $86.40 annually, adding to the overall cost.

Skylight Calendar Max

Pros:

• Large, Vibrant Display: Features a 27-inch touchscreen with 2560 x 1440 QHD resolution, providing clear and crisp visuals for family schedules and photos.

• User-Friendly Design: Offers an intuitive interface with easy setup, making it accessible for all family members.

Cons:

• Premium Pricing: Priced at $629.99, it is a considerable investment for a family organizer.

• Subscription for Additional Features: Some functionalities, like photo screensavers and the Magic Import tool, require a Plus Plan subscription, which costs an additional $39 per year.

Amazon Echo Show 21

Pros:

• Advanced Smart Home Control: Serves as a comprehensive smart home hub, supporting multiple protocols like Matter, Thread, and Zigbee, allowing seamless control of various devices.

• Multimedia Capabilities: Integrated with Fire TV, it provides access to a wide range of streaming services, enhancing entertainment options.

Cons:

• Higher Price Point: As a flagship model, it comes with a premium price tag, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious consumers.

• Size Considerations: Its large 21-inch display may require ample space, potentially limiting placement options in smaller areas.

Google Nest Hub Max

Pros:

• Seamless Google Ecosystem Integration: Works effortlessly with Google services, providing a cohesive experience for users invested in the Google ecosystem.

• Versatile Functionality: Combines smart home control, multimedia playback, and communication features, offering a well-rounded set of capabilities.

Cons:

• Privacy Concerns: Lacks a physical shutter for the camera, which may raise privacy issues for some users.

• Moderate Audio Quality: While sufficient for casual listening, its audio performance may not satisfy audiophiles seeking high-quality sound.

In summary, each smart display offers distinct advantages and potential drawbacks. Your choice should align with your household’s specific needs, budget considerations, and preferences regarding features and functionalities.

The Final Verdict: What we use every single day

Selecting the right smart display for your household is akin to choosing the perfect tool for a specific task—each device offers unique features tailored to different needs. In our home, we’ve adopted a dual-device strategy to maximize functionality: the Hearth Display serves as our central family organizer, while the Google Nest Hub Max enhances our smart home experience.

Hearth Display: The Family Command Center

The Hearth Display is a 27-inch digital family organizer designed to centralize schedules, to-do lists, and routines, fostering family coordination. Its anti-glare, smudge-resistant screen ensures clarity, and the user-friendly interface, featuring color-coded profiles for each family member, enhances usability. This setup has been instrumental in streamlining our family’s daily activities, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Google Nest Hub Max: The Smart Home Maestro

The Google Nest Hub Max integrates seamlessly with Google Assistant, offering a 10-inch HD touchscreen that serves as the central hub for Google’s ecosystem. We primarily use it to display photos, bringing cherished memories into our living space. Additionally, it functions as a control center for our smart home devices, allowing us to manage lights and other connected gadgets effortlessly. The built-in Nest Cam adds a layer of security, and features like Quick Gestures enable touchless control, enhancing user interaction.

Why This Combination Works for Us

By employing both devices, we leverage their respective strengths to create a harmonious and efficient home environment. The Hearth Display keeps our family’s schedules and tasks organized, while the Nest Hub Max provides entertainment, smart home control, and security features. This dual-device approach ensures that we have specialized tools for specific functions, enhancing our overall household management.

Making Your Decision

When choosing a smart display, consider the following:

• Primary Needs: Identify whether your focus is on family organization, smart home control, entertainment, or a combination thereof.

• Ecosystem Compatibility: Ensure the device aligns with your existing platforms, such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

• Space and Design: Consider the device’s size and how it fits into your home’s aesthetic and available space.

• Budget: Evaluate the cost relative to the features offered to determine the best value for your investment.

Ultimately, the optimal smart display is one that seamlessly integrates into your lifestyle, addressing your specific needs and preferences. By carefully assessing these factors, you can select a device—or a combination of devices—that enhances your household’s efficiency and enjoyment.