Finding ways to stay in touch from afar is more important than ever, and so for many people, technology that connects us has become thoroughly woven into our daily lives. The devices that have stood out this year are the kinds that get us as close as possible to feeling like we’re right there—and that help us put our loved ones first.
Portal Mini is the most compact of four devices from Facebook that use smart camera technology to do just that. Its design addresses the issues that most of us have started to take for granted with video calls: family members jostling for space on a small screen, shaky shots and inconsistent sound, the difficulty of following action on screen. Rather than accepting that these are just the pitfalls of communicating from long distances, the Portal Mini, available at Best Buy, offers an experience that not only eliminates these challenges but enhances the focus on whoever’s on screen.
When its smart camera technology is enabled on a video call, Portal Mini keeps the users in frame as they move during a conversation. That means the camera can actually distinguish individuals from their surroundings, so the focus is all on whatever they want to do, whether that means showing off dance moves or moving back and forth in the kitchen while they demonstrate how to prepare a recipe, as Pam H. did when she tested out the Mini with tech expert Gurpreet Sarin. All of this happens hands-free, so no one has to fiddle with their camera or hold their phone at just the right angle for hours, no matter how long they linger in conversation.
Portal Mini is also built for a world where video calls aren’t just two people sitting in front of their own screens, talking to each other without moving. For any party speaking through a Portal device, flexibility is built right in to keep the conversation flowing with no awkward interruptions. If there’s a big group on the line or someone new enters the room, the shot widens to include everyone. Smart Sound tunes out noisy backgrounds and enhances the voice of whoever is talking. And if there are children on the call who want to show off what they’ve learned in ballet class, the smart camera’s smooth zooming and panning ensure that their audience can fully enjoy the action. Of course, it’s not necessary for both parties to use Portal devices to have a conversation, but if they do, it’ll be a perfectly seamless experience on both ends.
On or off a video call, simple privacy controls are built into all Portal devices. When users are done with their conversations, they can use the privacy shutter to physically cover the camera lens. The simple design of the Portal Mini encourages privacy as well, with quick and easy controls to switch camera and microphone settings off.
In fact, even once the microphone and camera are disabled, Portal Mini is designed to be much more beyond a communication device. When not in use, it’s still there to support busy lifestyles and close relationships. Portal Mini can display Instagram and Facebook photos, birthday reminders, and notes on when contacts are available to connect. Features like these, available on all Portal devices and made hands-free with Alexa integration, keep friends and family feeling close every day. And with no technical quirks to worry about, the Portal Mini is there to fill the holiday season with as many video calls—complete with baking, dancing, and surprise guests—as anyone could want.
Check out the rest of this series where we explore Augmented Reality and Productivity with Gurpreet.
This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Best Buy.
