5 Best Video Calling Devices for Staying in Touch (2026)

The Meta Portal is the most complete video calling device in this group. Its 10 inch touch screen sits in a sleek picture frame design, and the Smart Camera adjusts automatically so you can move around while staying in frame. Smart Sound helps your voice come through clearly, which is especially useful for people who pace the kitchen while they talk.

Calling works through apps like Messenger and WhatsApp, and the person you call does not need their own Portal. That makes it flexible for a family that already uses those apps, but it also means you need an account on one of them. Voice and touchscreen controls keep daily use simple, though the account sign in is the one setup step that can frustrate a less technical buyer.

In a living room or kitchen it works well as a permanent fixture rather than something you carry. Compared with the Portal Go, you give up the built-in battery and handle but get a steadier, always-ready setup. Compared with the myFirst frame, you get a larger display and a wider app ecosystem, at the cost of a more involved first-time setup. Confirm current availability and software support before buying, since research notes show Meta has already discontinued Portal TV.

The myFirst takes the picture frame idea and adds video calling to it. It is a 7 inch digital frame that makes one tap video calls through the myFirst Circle app, with dual microphones and stereo speakers handling the audio. Family can also send photos and videos directly to the frame and comment on shared items through the app.

That combination is its biggest strength, because a frame that already shows grandchildren's photos feels natural to keep on a shelf. The extras include preset ambient sounds like rain and ocean waves plus an MP3 music player, which turns it into a bedside companion as well. The trade-off is a smaller screen than the Portal, and calls run through the myFirst Circle app instead of the apps your family may already use.

Setup is lighter than a full smart display, since most of the management happens from the family member's phone. Compared with the Meta Portal, it is simpler and more focused, but you lose the auto framing camera. Compared with the TMEZON camera, it feels like a household object instead of a gadget, which matters in a living room.

The Portal Go is a portable take on the same idea as the standard Meta Portal. It has a 10 inch touch screen, a long lasting battery, and an integrated handle that makes it easy to carry from room to room. You can call anyone through Messenger and WhatsApp, even if they do not have a Portal themselves.

The portability changes how you use it. Instead of a fixed spot on a counter, it can follow you from the kitchen to the porch to the bedroom, which suits a household where a call might happen anywhere. The cost is that a battery device still needs charging, and a portable object is easier to forget in another room than a wall or shelf fixture.

Compared with the myFirst, it is larger and more capable, but also more involved to set up. As with the other Portal device, confirm current availability and software support before purchase.

The TMEZON is a different kind of device, a small camera with a 2.8 inch screen that supports two way video calling with a phone. It is sold as a two pack, and the one button call lets someone at home reach a family member's phone with a single press. The listing describes 1080P HD resolution, so the picture should be crisp on the phone side.

This is a very simple tool, and that is both its appeal and its limit. A single button is easy to understand, which suits someone who does not want a menu at all. The screen is small, however, so the person at home sees a tiny picture compared with the Portal or the myFirst, and the camera nature means it is not a general purpose display.

Because it comes as a pair, you can put one at each end or in two rooms, which is practical for a household that wants quick check ins. Compared with the oneware, it has a built-in screen so the person at home can see the caller. Compared with the Meta Portal, it is far less capable, but it is also less to learn.

The oneware is the lowest-cost pick here and takes the simplest approach of all. It pairs indoor camera features with a big call button, so the person at home can reach you in seconds without an app. You get Full HD video, automatic night vision, and two way audio, with motion alerts and app control on your side.

The listing frames it around kids calling parents, so be aware that the marketing is not aimed at older adults. The mechanism, though, is exactly what many people want from a simple device, one large button and nothing else to learn. The trade-off is that it is more of a camera than a display, so the experience is less like a conversation on a big screen.

Compared with the Meta Portal, it is far more basic, but it can sit on a shelf and be used without any account for the person who presses the button. It is a reasonable low-cost experiment if you are not sure a dedicated device will be used.