Summary

Technical sheetDesignScreenConfigurationInterface and usesAutonomyPrice and availabilityConclusionCommentsSee the product sheetAvailable at €199

Available this Tuesday, Facebook's Portal Go plays the mobility card with its wireless aspect. Facebook's smart display has the look of a Google Nest Hub, but it adds a big plus: it's battery-powered so it can follow you everywhere in your video calls, meetings, chats and productivity. The strong point of a device far from being uninteresting.

Facebook's new Portal Go smart screen // Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

Facebook Portal Go 2021Data sheet

Model	Facebook Portal Go 2021
Built-in microphone	Yes
Number of speakers	3
Subwoofer	Yes
Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 5 (ac)
Assistant	Amazon-Alexa
Screen size	10 inches
Definition	1280 x 800 pixels
Display technology	LCD
Dimensions	257 x 174mm
Price	199 €
	Product sheet

This test was carried out using a device lent by the brand.

Facebook Portal Go 2021Design

It is a new product for Facebook which enriches its range of smart screens. Gone is the straight rectangular format, the Portal Go opts for an equally original design within the brand. But it is reminiscent of a certain Google Nest Hub…

There we find a triangular device consisting of a screen with wide borders on the front and a “very Google” fabric covering all around. On the back, the differentiating element: the handle that allows it to be easily transported anywhere. The device weighs about 1.4 kg, but it is carried without too much difficulty, because its weight is rather well distributed.

The Facebook Portal Go runs on battery // Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

The Portal Go has a loudspeaker well hidden under the coating, quite powerful and with fairly marked bass. But it manages to offer a very immersive sound that spreads all around without the need to spit. This will be particularly pleasant for calls and to hear your interlocutor(s) well. In the settings you can adjust the bass and loudness of the sound according to your taste.

On the back, there is also the standby power button at the bottom, although the device can put itself there. On the upper edge of the Portal Go, three buttons are materialized by a circle, a line and a cross to activate / deactivate the microphone (a red light comes on when it is inactive), lower or raise the volume of calls. For the volume in music, it will have to be done by touch on the screen.

Portal Go controls // Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS The handle on the back of the Portal Go to carry it more easily // Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS You can deactivate the microphone and hide the camera // Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

On the front, there is the camera with a cover that slides to block it and protect your privacy. The Portal Go is based on a mini charging dock that merges under the device. It can thus work by being in charge on it or follow you everywhere in the house.

Here we have a well-finished and compact product, which one might think comes from Apple's R&D. It fulfills its key asset: the nomadic side with the ingenious handle on the back that allows you to grab it quickly to move it. And its format is perfect for easy use with a good quality touch screen.

Facebook Portal Go 2021Screen

The 10.1-inch HD screen (1280 x 800 pixels) is quite bright and of good quality. The colors are pleasant. This will be particularly visible to contemplate your landscape photos or the portraits of your loved ones. We compare the Portal Go to the Nest Hub, but it's actually much bigger and makes video calls much more interesting, especially with several people.

There is a 12 MP camera with an ultra-wide field of view to frame everyone on the call, with a microphone to its right and an LED which, when lit red, means that the microphone is muted (a surprising and unusual behavior ).

The new Portal Go, a small format and an interesting autonomy // Source: Facebook

Even if we could have hoped for thinner edges, because they appear coarse here in the era of screen minimalism to dive into the content, the panel is pleasant. By default, it displays the time, date, temperature and battery with wallpapers offered or with the photos you have selected in the settings. At the top left is the active profile. It is possible to enter several profiles and adapt the display as well as the information to the user concerned.

To choose the profile, just click on the photo and select the user concerned.

In the settings, Facebook has provided several settings to adjust the screen to your liking. It has a Night mode that you can control manually or by setting activation time slots. The device has a sensor to adjust the brightness to your environment and you can choose the automatic adjustment as well. The same goes for color when viewing photos whose colors can match your surrounding colors more.

Facebook Portal Go 2021 Setup

It's pretty classic. You connect the Portal Go to your Wi-Fi to be able to use it. You will then have to define your user account. You can use or create a Facebook, WhatsApp or Facebook Workplace account for this. The process is easy, just go on the Internet and enter the connection code indicated on the Portal from the web interface (or the app from your smartphone) and you're done.

You can also type your identifiers on the touch screen keyboard that will be displayed. But while it's handy to have a fairly large keyboard available, typing on a slightly angled screen isn't the most comfortable. We will keep this option in case of extreme necessity.

You then define a Portal security code so that you can lock your user profile if necessary (but you can also choose not to). Once your account is linked, all you have to do is choose your favorite contacts who will be displayed on the home screen to make video or audio calls to them, leave them messages too (audio or video), more easily.

Facebook Portal Go // Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

It is also possible to add Amazon Alexa as a voice assistant to launch functions, control the connected home if you have compatible objects, put on music or answer your questions, all with voice.

The Portal Go accepts several profiles (up to 4) and it will be able to offer a personalized experience according to your uses. Household mode allows certain applications, contacts and other defined information to be shared between the different profiles stored on the device. You can create a 4-digit code to lock each account.

Facebook Portal Go 2021Interfaces and uses

The primary objective of Portal Go is simple: to make video calls in the best conditions, whether to your family, friends or colleagues. And for this, several means are offered: Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp or videoconferencing tools like Zoom or Facebook Workplace.

The Facebook Portal Go home screen // Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

Missed call notifications or Messenger Rooms invitations appear so you can join a group or resume a call quickly. In the coming weeks, birthday reminder notifications will also be displayed with the possibility… to make a call to the person concerned.

The Portal Go is based on your contacts, which are therefore easy to access, but also on content that is just as easy to use, customizable and personalized with possible suggestions.

For this, you have two choices:

The Facebook Portal Go interface // Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

Once the apps and websites have been downloaded, you then have your selection ready to use. On the home page, simply click on the "Applications" icon to access it. The interface is fluid and responsive to the touch to move from one page to another, launch apps. There is also a Photos and Photo Booth app if you want to immortalize your head and embellish it before sharing your shot with your loved ones using the multiple filters and backgrounds available. It's fun and you'll play it once or twice, your children probably a little more to share with the grandparents. These filters and wallpapers can also be activated during video calls via Facebook.

The attraction of the Portal Go is also its mobility. Not being condemned to be electrically connected, it can be taken anywhere in the house, for any activity, as long as it is connected to Wi-Fi. It could also be a smart screen if you cook to have the recipe on video or in writing under your nose (recipe apps are available), allow children to tell stories in augmented reality with the "Tell me an AR story" app which offers content in French or in English for interactive reading.

Video calls at the top

You can also take advantage of regular Facebook features like Watch Together to watch a Facebook Watch video with your contacts. And of course, make video calls (or audio only, but that turns out to be less interesting) to several people. The sound is qualitative and you will hear your interlocutor as well as he hears you correctly, with a good quality image thanks to the ultra-wide-angle camera.

And what is significant is that it follows you laterally and can zoom in on the person who is speaking thanks to its on-board AI. A way of always being in the frame, even while moving (not too far anyway!). And if a second person enters the field, it expands to show everyone.

You can add filters and backgrounds to your photos before sharing them // Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS Augmented reality stories to tell // Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

The good news is that your caller doesn't have to have a Portal device to take a video call or make one to you. You can call up to 8 people in a group on Messenger and up to 4 on WhatsApp (including you). Facebook promises that conversations are encrypted end-to-end, for both audio and video. If you choose to launch a Room on Portal, you will be able to host up to 50 guests at the same time. All you have to do is press the contacts in your list or the "+" during a conversation to add them.

If you've linked your WhatsApp account, you can just as well make your calls through it, soon also taking advantage of multi-device support that allows you to use the messaging service without needing your smartphone nearby.

Ideal for work

Facebook made it clear that its device had also been designed with new work uses in mind since the pandemic. And among them, video meetings are at the top of the list. In recent months, the social networking giant has seen an increase in the use of Portal for teleworking, in addition to its PC. A second screen all found for a minimum size.

The Portal Go is battery operated and can be taken anywhere // Source: Facebook

So the Portal Go must be used for something other than calls between friends and also think of your colleagues. It therefore embeds the main accessible videoconferencing services, but also functions adapted to become a real work companion. You can therefore use it for your calls on Zoom, BlueJeans, Webex and soon Microsoft Teams. The entire Microsoft Teams universe will be available (calendar, contacts, file sharing, chat, etc.) with the assurance of benefiting from the security of the collaborative platform.

The Calendar application is also present to offer shortcuts to your videoconferences.

Alexa, present without really being

The Alexa assistant is present on the Portal Go, but in a way that is not very clear or very intuitive. If asked for a musical title, the Amazon Music application will open on the song and even offer the lyrics. But impossible to go to the global service. Likewise for video, Alexa wants to launch a program on Prime Video, Arte or Molotov.tv and displays the service… which is not available on Portal Go and requires skills or apps to be downloaded, which is impossible, due to a lack of power. access the Amazon App Store.

Amazon Alexa is a useful assistant, but not free of bugs // Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

But when you have to ask him for information, the weather, launch the connected devices of the house, the voice assistant fulfills his task perfectly. But he cannot access all his services despite the pages displayed.

Note that if you use the Portal in English or Spanish, you can activate Facebook Assistant.

Facebook Portal Go 2021Autonomy

This is the strong point of this device. It has an induction charging base. He can thus come and go after you for easier use. It recharges quite quickly and is quite durable. Facebook announces a day of autonomy if you have to chain video meetings. By doing a little calling, navigation and various small uses, we can even go to two days. Recharging is fast and in just over an hour it is 100%.

In charge, it is possible to activate a timer to turn off the screen if the Portal Go does not detect any movement.

Facebook Portal Go 2021Pricing and Availability

The Portal Go is available at a price of 229 euros on the Facebook site.

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