Meta Portal - Smart Video Calling 10 Inch Display - Black

Bought for my Dad in care home with dementia. He loves the photo slide show that the family put on the app for him. He still is able to video call Mum (a few times a day!) as the contacts are on the front page. Staff help him when needed. This is the second one as the cleaner dropped previous & screen broke. Well worth the money to stay connected.

I was a little concerned at some of the negative reviews as I am not that tech savvy. I found the portal very easy to set up , you didn’t need a lot of instructions as some reviews were critical of. Opened a Facebook account got relatives to request as a friend , accepted them and that was it . It was for us that simple . Calls are so clear visually and audibly it’s fabulous . It’s great so glad we made this purchase , we bought for an elderly relative and the Carers do have to accept the call for them by touching the screen but relative can be left chatting to us and when when the call is over we hang up and the call ends on the portal without our relative having to do anything . Very positive experience .

I bought the 10" Portal - I'll get the pro's out of the way cos theres not many!Pros:- The front looks gorgeous with a large vibrant screen and hidden speakers with easily accessible buttons for volume and mic/cam.- video quality is good and does track quite well- audio is very clear and loud- "Hey Portal" works well... and with "Alexa" you have more options and features- the web browser is decentCons:- there are very few apps... in fact, it gets around this by using the web browser - which works with some services but not all (disney plus, and netflix wont work)- Netflix is advertised... i didn't realise until after i brought it that in the very tiny print that is nearly impossible to read it states "only on portal TV"- Theres no Amazon music app... you need Alexa installed and can only play amazon music by asking alexa (so forget about browsing or using the screen to select albums playlists)- Hey Portal will not control any Alexa linked stuff (so you are switching between two assistants)- It clearly advertises Amazon Video Prime... what it doesnt say is this is via the browser...the same with youtube.- You can't link a number to call phones... it is literally messenger or WhatsApp (when it's connected)- no proper clock feature... seems odd that you have no clock mode - i dont always want to display my photos- the stand is a stick with the cable built in - break the stand, you need to buy a new cable as well.All in all it looks nice and on paper seemed very promising... but this is just a very expensive glorified digital picture frame with a camera and a web browser.The amazon echo does so much more for less... granted, their 10" is a lot more because it has all the fancy features... but their 8" is still far better than this Portal.Let's just say, due to the misleading information, missing advertised features, and how bad it is - it's going backI was willing to overlook Facebook security issues - but this just isnt worth the money... maybe in a year's time i'll consider it - but it really needs proper built in apps and features - you can't advertise something thats halfbaked or available via a web browsers

This review is for the 10” portal. I wanted the portal tv but the reviews were shocking so I’m glad I got this.It’s absolutely outstanding.Dead easy to set up. Videos are on YTube to help you. Super quick. You do need a Facebook account and what’s app on your phone.You can put whatever photos you like on this. Off Facebook. Off Instagram or just off your phone via the portal app.The sound quality is outstanding as is the visual quality. Phone calls are clear.Alexa was a fiddle. It doesn’t work in British voice at all. I got the Alexa app and set up all my smart lights and sockets and cameras around the house. But like others report you have to change the language from English UK to English US. yes it means you’ve got an American talking to you all day but who cares. I get the portal to turn the tv on, the volume up or down, turn lights on and off, and I can view all the cameras around the house too.The storyline feature is a fun gimmick. Love it. You can use Zoom on this and Facebook live. Etc etc.Do your research before buying but trust me the portal 10” frame is great.

This device has been brilliant for connecting me to young children in my family who I haven’t been able to see over lockdown. The story telling is brilliant at engaging children and the special effects make them smile. Downside is that it is not wireless so moving from room to room and staying connected whilst you do some chores is difficult. There also is a delay on the story telling. It took a few calls to connect to each person. I was contacting but it seems to learn as it goes. The facility to call several people to join the portal call is good and when you are not calling people it displays your photos which is lovely. There are other facilities on it that I have not tried yet. You do need a Facebook or a what’s app account to use it. Recommend.

I bought this as an alternative to using Zoom/Teams on the world's slowest desktop, a laptop with a stupidly positioned webcam, or my iPad. Use of both platforms has been glitch free so far, which cannot be said of the other equipment. Easy to set up - my work Outlook calendar appeared as if by magic, giving a single click to access meetings. Picture image much superior as well, at least I no longer routinely look as though I've just been dug up.Point off for very limited abilities to work Spotify. I have a premium account and it's all synched up OK but fiddling and internet searching has drawn a blank regarding any capability to search fully, find new music etc. Instead I've just been able to access playlists etc already saved. I'm not a hi-fi nut or anyone who knows anything about the quality of speakers or anything but I'm perfectly happy with the quality and volume of playback.