Facebook is slashing the price and the size of the
Portal, its screen and camera-equipped gadget
for making video calls with friends and family as
it attempts to get the device into more homes.
A smaller version will now cost $129 and will
come with an 8 inch display. A larger version
with a 10 inch display will cost $179.
A new screenless Portal device that attaches to a
television set will be $149.
Last year’s models were bigger and cost more —
$199 for a 10.1 inch display and $349 for at 15.6
inch screen.
Facebook isn’t saying how many Portals it’s
sold since it launched the first models last
fall. It remains unclear how many people
want a Facebook-branded smart camera in
their homes, given the company’s history of
privacy problems.