I tested this $3,000 smart message screen—and it’s great

I’ll admit, I was skeptical to try Vestaboard, the $2,995 smart message display that looks like it belongs in an old train station. But after setting it up and using it in my smart home, I’m convinced it’s one of the coolest gadgets you can get — that is, if you can afford it.

While it’s hard to get past the price, I can honestly say in my years of reviewing smart home devices, I’ve never seen anything quite like a Vestaboard. It’s a split screen of 132 modules that rotates to display all kinds of messages, from personal greetings and sports scores to doodles, dad jokes, and more. It’s like a piece of art, except it can be endlessly customized.

Vestaboard installation

Vestaboard sent me a review unit of their classic model to test. After removing the digital picture frame where I thought the screen would look best, I assigned my dad to help install the Vestaboard. Following the instructions on the adhesive installation guide, we attached the included mounting hardware and hung the hardware on the wall. The unit weighs 55 pounds, so I’d consider it a two-person job.

The only real headache I had with the installation was the length of the power cable. It comes with a 19.7-inch cord, which works if you have a recessed port behind the screen—but I don’t. Vestaboard sells longer cord, though any IEC 320 C5 cable from the hardware store will work. You can also do what I did and use a standard extension cord. Luckily, I had one, but I think if you’re paying $3,000 you should get the option of a second cord included.

Test Vestaboard features

Once Vestaboard was installed, I used the pairing code displayed on the screen to connect the device to the Vestaboard app on my smartphone. From there, I was free to experiment with different messaging features.

I started with the default, “All You Need Is Love” with a split red heart. In a home of Beatles fans, this message went over well. But I started exploring other daily recommendations, which included inspirational quotes and even holiday-themed designs. Some templates allow you space to customize messages with names and occasions, or you can create messages entirely from scratch. I used this to make my evening dinner menu, so no one bothered me about what we ate all day.

After dinner, I sat down and delved into features exclusive to Vestaboard Plus, a $95 per year service that unlocks a wealth of Vestaboard-compatible apps. First, I tried a song that cycled through the song titles of my Sonos playlist. Then, to get a chuckle out of my family, I launched a series of dad jokes. We finished the night on Word Scramble, which allows us to use our smartphones to compete with each other to create words using a jumbled letter displayed on a Vestaboard.

This is when I have to mention that Vestaboard is rather loud when changing messages. The clicking sound is fairly satisfying when you expect it, but it can be annoying early in the morning or late at night. Fortunately, you can set “quiet hours” that prevent Vestaboard from receiving new messages during specified times.

But in the morning, as the World Cup final kicked off, I installed the World Cup app to refresh the screen as the match progressed minute by minute. While in the kitchen tidying up most of the game, when the Vistaboard alerted me that France had scored two goals in two minutes in a row, I knew I had to head to the living room TV to watch the rest of the game.

Is Vistaboard worth it?

Vestaboard and all of its messaging features are great, but unnecessary for most people. Besides, for half the price, you can get an LG OLED TV or a Samsung QLED TV that has the features of surround display. But if you’re equal parts technical and artistic, I think you’ll find the modern Vistaboard alive with a magnetic personality—inspired by the mechanical split-screen displays you used to find at every train station, of course.

I think the longer cable and Vestaboard Plus membership should be included for the device’s steep price; It’s also fair, though, that I think those with money to spend on Vestboard can also afford a discontinued extension or installation cable, in addition to the subscription fee.