Sound QualityThe Facebook Portal Mini has Fair overall sound quality. Bass has so-so impact is a bit subdued and boomy, and lacks deep bass. Midrange is hazy, somewhat grainy and is a bit telephonic. Treble is smeared, somewhat prominent, and the upper treble is muted. Does a decent job of recovering room ambience and is somewhat congested. The speaker is monophonic. There was no significant difference between WiFi and Bluetooth sound quality. Provides adequate listening volume for a small sized room but best suited for near field listening.
Versatility
Versatility is good. It's a monophonic speaker, which lacks multi-room support and stereo pairing support with another Portal Mini display. Wireless: WiFi supports dual-band and this unit has Bluetooth but is unble to output to another speaker and lacks speakerphone functionality. Communications: Has support for calling, texting and messaging. Digital Assistant Muting: Has a dedicated control to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones and video camera. Audio Connections: Lacks analog audio input and outputs. Audio Tailoring: Lacks user adjustable treble and bass controls. OS Support: Android, iOS and Fire OS for Amazon Alexa - no native app required for Portal Mini. Other connections and features: Lacks a USB device port. Display: Has a touchscreen information display. Streaming by voice command: Supports voice command of many common streaming services such as Amazon music, Pandora, Spotify, Tune-In and iHeart Radio. Voice ID: Lacks support to setup voice identity using this speaker, although it can use a voice print stored in a user's Amazon account trained from an Amazon speaker. This feature allows the account holder to access personal information with their "voice print".
Ease of Use
Overall ease of use of the Facebook Portal Mini is very good. Console controls: The volume controls on the console only have low contrast (+/-) labels; when the controls are actuated the display shows a non-persistent graphical indicator with no index markings. Volume may also be controlled via a natural language command and level is easily repeatable via verbal commands. Audio mute: Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged. Microphone mute: Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged. Source selections: Doesn't require app to be installed, native switching between streaming sources requires selecting the -cast- icon in the native or 3rd party supported app. Fairly intuitive but subject to 3rd Party implimentation of cast selection. App remote: Volume control symbol, then volume slider, lacks index markings so not easily repeatable, but easy to actuate. Shown for currently playing streamed WiFi music. Mute: (Remote) Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged and mutes the line input. Voice transport controls: Natural language control of transport (Play/Pause/Skip/Mute), volume controls and source selection was easy and intuitive.
