Earlier this year Google unveiled the Smart Display platform, which also introduced a new type of product: a smart speaker with a display and Google Assistant on board. Lenovo, JBL, LG and Sony were quickly on board with hardware products and now one of them is finally up for preorder. It’s the Lenovo Smart Display, being made available in two sizes.
It focuses a lot on Google Assistant, providing excellent acoustics and challenging the Amazon Alexa-based Echo Show. While the LG WK9 Smart Display went on preorder months ago, then it disappeared from retailers, Lenovo’s gadget is here to stay. It can be preordered from the B&H Photo Video, but shipments happen at a crazy later date: September 3rd.
There are 8 inch and 10.1 inch versions of the device promised and the prices are more affordable than expected. The 8 incher is priced at $150 and the 10 incher at $230. The larger unit comes with a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution and the smaller with a 1280 x 800 pixel one. Both devices can hook up to smart home products and also receive Google Duo voice calls.
They’ve got dual array microphones, 10 watt full range drivers, for an always listening experience. Hopefully the September release date is wrong, since it sounds weird to get a product about 9 months after its announcement.
