Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Nest Hub Max vs. Echo Show 10: which is the better smart display?

The world of smart displays is dominated by two companies — Amazon and Google. Amazon is responsible for the Echo Show 10, while Google is behind the Nest Hub Max. Both offer large screens, access to a massive roster of apps, and the ability to connect (and control) the rest of your smart home. There are a lot of similarities between the two popular displays, but there are a few key differences you should be aware of before adding one to your home.

Here’s a closer look at the Echo Show 10 and Nest Hub Max to help you decide which is best.

Pricing and design

The Nest Hub Max on a table.
Google

The Nest Hub Max costs $229 and is designed to sit on your countertop. It features a large display, an oblong base, and a webcam built into the top of the unit. The Echo Show 10 costs $250 and looks eerily similar to the Nest Hub Max. But instead of an oblong base, it features one that’s round and elevates the display a bit farther from the ground. No matter how you cut it, both are sharp devices and look great regardless of where you place them. However, the smaller price tag of the Nest Hub Max makes it slightly more appealing.

Winner: Nest Hub Max

Display size and quality

The Echo Show 10 on a kitchen counter.
Amazon

As you’d expect, the Echo Show 10 boasts a 10.1-inch HD touchscreen. It’s built to move with you, allowing you to stay in focus during video calls, even if you’re moving around in the kitchen or through your living room. The Nest Hub Max features a 10-inch HD touchscreen and also uses auto-framing to keep you in focus during video calls. But where the Echo Show 10 physically rotates its screen to follow you, the Nest Hub Max doesn’t. That only gives it a 127-degree viewing angle compared to the 715-degree rotation offered by the Echo Show 10.

Winner: Echo Show 10

Features and smart home connectivity

The Nest Hub Max in a kitchen.
Google

Both the Nest Hub Max and Echo Show 10 offer tons of connectivity and smart features. For the Nest Hub Max, you’ll get to use it as a hub for Google Home — allowing you to control other devices or check in on streams from your security cameras. It also benefits from stereo speakers and a three-inch woofer that are great for pumping music through your home. Other features include a built-in webcam, support for popular apps (including Netflix and Spotify), and the option to display photos.

Many of those features can also be found on the Echo Show 10. This includes a built-in webcam, support for Netflix, Spotify, and other leading apps, the option to display digital photos, and powerful speakers (including a three-inch woofer). But instead of support for Google Home, the Echo Show 10 is built for Alexa.

Winner: Tie

Which is the better smart display?

Since both the Nest Hub Max and Echo Show 10 share so many features, it’s impossible to say one is better than the other. Both are highly capable smart displays with large, vibrant screens — and you can’t go wrong adding either one to your home. Both support a wide range of apps and are great for making video calls or listening to music.

The primary difference between the two is their respective smart home platform. If your home is already filled with Google Home devices, pick the Nest Hub Max. If your home is filled with Alexa devices, pick the Echo Show 10.

If you’re just starting your smart home journey, consider picking up whichever one is currently on sale. Both Google Home and Amazon Alexa have a deep library of supported smart devices, so you won’t have any issues finding smart locks, smart lights, or other smart devices that play nicely with your chosen smart display.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
Echo Hub vs. Echo Show 8: Which is the best option for your smart home?
An Echo Hub mounted on the wall near a living room.

The Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) are two of the newest products to join the Amazon catalog. Both are designed with large touchscreens and make it easy to access the Alexa voice assistant, connected smart gadgets, and your favorite apps. But while the two share a few similarities, there are big differences between the Echo Hub and Echo Show 8.

Here's a closer look at the Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 to help you decide which is best for your smart home.
Pricing and design

Read more
What is the Amazon Echo Hub?
A person using the Amazon Echo Hub.

Amazon already has a robust lineup of smart displays, but the new Echo Hub is something entirely different. While it looks a bit like an Echo Show, the Echo Hub isn't a smart display -- it's a smart home hub designed to be mounted directly on your wall.

Unlike the Echo and Echo Show products, the Echo Hub isn’t a tabletop device. In fact, you'll need to pay extra for an optional stand just so you can place it on your table or countertop. That's because the Echo Hub is a smart control panel, not a smart speaker or smart display. Amazon bills the Echo Hub as "an Alexa-enabled control panel for your smart home devices." After getting it mounted to your wall, it'll sync up with the rest of your smart home and make it easy to control your various gadgets via its touchscreen.

Read more
Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs. Nest Doorbell: Which is the better video doorbell?
The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro installed near a door.

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is one of the newest video doorbells on the market, offering premium features along with the simplicity of a battery power source. It's a fancy piece of smart home tech -- but how does it stack up to the always-popular Nest Doorbell? The two video doorbells bring many of the same features to your front door, though there are a few key differences you'll want to be aware of before making a purchase.

Here's everything you need to know about the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro and Nest Doorbell -- including a look at their installation process, standout features, and pricing details -- before adding one of them to your smart home.
Design

Read more