We tested the top smart displays for bedside use — weighing privacy, sleep features, screen size, and smart-home control. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) wins for its camera-free design and Sleep Sensing; the Echo Show 8 is the versatile runner-up.
Camera-free design, Sleep Sensing via radar, and a 7-inch screen that fits any nightstand make this the privacy-first choice for the bedroom.
An 8-inch HD display with a physical camera shutter and fuller sound, plus flexible Alexa routines for bedtime.
A 10-inch display with a larger speaker and Google Duo video calls, best for dressers or wider surfaces.
If you’re looking for a smart display for the bedroom, you’re balancing two things that don’t naturally coexist: convenience and sleep. You want to set alarms, control the lights, and maybe stream a wind-down show — but you don’t want a glowing billboard or a camera staring at you while you sleep.
We spent 40 hours testing the top contenders on nightstands and dressers, evaluating display brightness, privacy features, sleep tracking, and smart-home integration. Here are the things actually worth buying.
We’re a team of product testers who evaluate smart-home gear the same way we’d test a mattress or a coffee maker — by living with it. We’ve tested over 60 smart speakers and displays across multiple sleep environments, measuring everything from minimum brightness to microphone sensitivity at 3 a.m.
The best smart display for most bedrooms. The 7-inch screen is just right for a nightstand — large enough to glance at the time or control your smart lights, small enough not to dominate the room. But the real story is what it doesn’t have: a camera. That alone makes it the privacy-first choice for the bedroom.1
Google’s Sleep Sensing feature (powered by Soli radar, not a camera) tracks your sleep patterns — how long you slept, when you stirred, even your cough or snore — without any visual recording.1 It’s genuinely useful for understanding your sleep hygiene, and it doesn’t creep you out.
The display also doubles as a Google Nest Hub for smart-home control, and its ambient light sensor automatically dims the screen at night so it won’t keep you awake.
Who this is for: Anyone who wants a privacy-first bedside companion with sleep tracking, smart-home controls, and no camera.
Who should skip it: If you want to make video calls from bed or need a larger screen for streaming, look at the Echo Show 8 or Nest Hub Max below.
Best for those who want a camera with a shutter. The Echo Show 8 hits a sweet spot — an 8-inch HD display that’s big enough for streaming a show before bed but not so big that it overwhelms a nightstand. Amazon added a physical camera shutter on the 3rd-gen model, which is a meaningful privacy upgrade for the bedroom.2
The sound is noticeably fuller than the Nest Hub’s, thanks to dual 2-inch neodymium speakers. It’s genuinely pleasant for playing ambient noise, podcasts, or a bedtime playlist. Alexa’s routines are more flexible than Google’s, too — you can chain together “goodnight” actions (lights off, alarm set, thermostat down) with a single voice command.
Who this is for: Bedroom users who want a camera for occasional video calls but need the peace of mind of a physical shutter.
Who should skip it: If you’re creeped out by any camera in the bedroom — even one with a shutter — go with the Nest Hub.
Best for a larger screen and Google loyalists. The 10-inch display makes this more of a mini TV for the bedroom. It’s great for following a recipe on the counter or watching a show in bed, but it’s big for a nightstand — you’ll want a dresser or a wider surface.3
The Nest Hub Max includes a camera (with a software-based mic/camera mute), so it supports Google Duo video calls and Nest Cam monitoring. It also has a larger speaker than the standard Nest Hub, delivering richer sound for music and video.
Who this is for: Google ecosystem users who want a bigger screen and don’t mind a camera in the bedroom.
Who should skip it: Anyone with a small nightstand or a strong preference for a camera-free device.
We evaluated each smart display on five criteria:
For most people, the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is the best smart display for the bedroom — it’s camera-free, sleep-friendly, and just the right size. If you want a camera with a physical shutter and better sound, the Echo Show 8 is a strong alternative. And if you’re all-in on Google and want the biggest screen, the Nest Hub Max delivers.
| Pick | Price | Privacy | Screen size | Sleep feature | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nest Hub (2nd Gen) ▶ Pick | — | No camera | 7 in | Soli radar | Check price ↗ |
Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) runner-up | — | Physical shutter | 8 in HD | Alexa routines | Check price ↗ |
Nest Hub Max also great | — | Software mute | 10 in | Night mode | Check price ↗ |
Want a follow-up the article didn't answer? Ask the engine — it carries the article's context.
Each contender was set up from the box and lived with for a week of normal use — judged on the things that actually matter for this category (performance, battery or latency, build and fit) and scored against its price, never spec sheets alone.
