Facebook Reveals Battery-Powered Portal Smart Display for $199

Facebook is expanding its Portal smart display line with two new products: a portable model and one with an ever larger, 14-inch display. 

The portable version is called the Portal Go, and it’ll retail for $199. The product retains the 10-inch 1,280-by-800-resolution touch screen found in the original Portal from 2019. However, the new model adds a built-in rechargeable battery, allowing you to carry the smart display around the house while it’s still on.  

“It’s designed to let conversations move from room to room, with an integrated handle and long-lasting battery,” Facebook said in Tuesday’s announcement. 

CEO Mark Zuckerberg also showed off the 3-pound product during a live stream. “Portability has been one of our most requested features since the beginning,” he said. “People have told us stories about how they’re using extension cords to bring Portal to the middle of their living room. And Portal Go solves that problem for you.”

Facebook also points out that portability means the Portal can double as a smart speaker; the device itself contains two built-in speakers and a subwoofer. For video conferencing, Portal Go relies on a 12-Megapixel camera with a now larger 125-degree field of view, an increase from the 103-degree FOV found in the original Portal. 

Portal+

The second product is the Portal+, which will retail for $349. It has a larger 14-inch screen with a 2,160-by-1,440 resolution for better picture quality. The company has also bumped up the field of view on the 12MP camera to cover 131 degrees. But on the downside, it comes with no rechargeable battery.

“With the rise of remote and hybrid work models, Portal+ makes a perfect dedicated screen for work calls, freeing up your computer to take notes, view a presentation, or multitask,” the company added. “Thanks to the large screen, you can see up to 25 people in gallery mode on a Zoom call at one time.”

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On the privacy front, Facebook says you can easily disable the camera and microphone on the products, which will trigger a red light next the camera lens when activated. "You can also use the integrated camera cover if you’d like to physically block the camera lens but still want to receive incoming calls and notifications and use voice interactions," the company added.

Facebook has been touting the Portal devices as ideal for conducting video chats from your home. The calls can be made over Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Zoom, and GoToMeeting video conferencing software, among others, depending on the device model.  

The company is already offering pre-orders for the Portal Go and Portal+ and plans to start shipping the products on Oct. 19. The products will also be sold on Amazon and Best Buy.