Lenovo Smart Display

Amazon has brought put a screen on an Echo device in June last year, with the Echo Show (though it took a few months longer to reach the UK). Now, more than half a year later, Google has finally caught up, partnering with third-party manufacturers to build its own Echo Show rivals powered by Google Assistant.

LG, JBL, and other manufacturers are all working on Google Assistant devices with displays, but the most

impressive so far is the Lenovo Smart Display. We went hands-on with the new device at CES 2018, and here’s what we thought.

Price

The Lenovo Smart Display doesn’t have a firm release date yet, but it’s expected to arrive – in the US at least – in “early summer”. We’re not sure yet if other markets will get it at the same time, but we’ll update this when the release date is more definite.

As for pricing, the Smart Display will cost $199 (around £143) or $249 (around £179), depending on whether you opt for the 8in or 10in model. Again, we don’t have specific UK pricing just yet, but will update this when we do. Either way, the pricing is in line with the Echo Show, which Amazon sells for £199.

Design

At first glance, the Lenovo Smart Display looks a lot like a tablet with an oversized speaker grille at one end – either the left-hand side or the bottom, depending on which orientation you choose.

From the back, though, there’s an angular wedge shape to the base to help keep it upright.

As we said above, the Smart Display comes in two different sizes of display: 8- or 10in. There are a few other differences between the two models though – the most obvious being the finish.

While both models are white on the front, the 8in comes with a muted grey on the rear while the larger device comes with a bamboo finish instead. Both look attractive enough, but since they’re on the rear of the