Meta Portal

Facebook launched Portal in November 2018, a family of smart displays built around video calling, whose standout feature was a Smart Camera that used computer vision to pan, zoom, and keep people framed as they moved around a room. It launched into the worst possible headwind for the company that made it: deep public distrust of putting a Facebook camera and microphone in the living room. The devices found a small foothold among remote workers during the pandemic and never became the consumer hit Meta wanted. In 2022 Meta stopped developing consumer Portals, sold through the remaining inventory by year end, and pointed what was left toward business before letting the line lapse entirely. Existing units kept working, but the Portal as a product Meta sold and built was finished.

Founded

2018-11

Shut down

2022-12-31

Funding raised

Undisclosed

Years alive

4

Founders

Meta