Two-minute review

The Echo Show 8 (2025) is the fourth-generation model of Amazon’s second-smallest smart display, offering a great canvas for hallways, living rooms, offices and beyond. Announced in September 2025 alongside the Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio (2nd-generation) and the Echo Show 11.

Adopting a similar design language to the Echo Show 10 (2020), the Echo Show 8’s speaker is now the base for a floating, thin display, rather than the slightly clunky wedge shape design of previous generations. It’s a lovely change that makes the speaker feel far less utilitarian in the home like many of the best smart displays it's competing against, but there’s a casualty; there’s now no physical camera shutter. You can still mute and blind the Echo Show 8 with a button on the device, or fully switch off the camera in the app (or, of course, cover it with a sticker), but it’s an unfortunate loss for those who want that extra layer of built-in privacy and peace of mind.

The new 8.7-inch screen is wonderful to use with minimal lag, and the speakers are pretty accomplished. Everything, from reading recipes to Alexa queries, is zippy thanks to the new AZ3 Pro chip, topped by a great streaming experience. There’s also a great array of smart home features, including the Omnisense technology as well as Thread, Matter, and Zigbee support.

Overall, it's a powerful boost for Amazon's second-smallest smart display, and if you can get past the lack of a physical privacy shutter and the slightly cluttered interface, it's a real crowd-pleaser, and easily one of the best Alexa speakers available today.

Echo Show 8: Specs

Echo Show 8: Design

• Fresh redesign akin to the Echo Show 10 (2020)
• Bright and beautiful floating display
• No physical camera shutter

The Echo Show 8 gets a fresh new look, modeled after the Echo Show 10 (2020) with a round, pill-shaped speaker base and a floating thin screen. It’s a much more sophisticated look than the Echo Shows of yore, and doing away with the chunky wedge shape is drastically improves the smart display’s appeal. It does, however, make the whole thing a little more space-consuming at 21 cm x 15 cm x 13 cm (W x H x D).

Its speaker base is clad in a mesh fabric, following the suit of other newer smart speakers and similar to the materials used in Apple’s HomePod and Google’s new Home Hub speakers. Inside are housed two full-range, front-facing drivers for spatial sound and a 2.8-inch woofer.

The screen is an all-around upgrade; it measures 8.7 inches (versus the previous generation’s 8 inches) with a resolution of 1,340 by 800 pixels, (versus 1,280-by-800). It’s fully attached to the base, meaning you can’t adjust the height or the orientation; a slight missed opportunity, but the price jump doesn’t quite cover such engineering, perhaps. It's a shame, though, as the Echo Show 10 offered this function, but neither the new Show 8 nor 11 could fit it in.

Centered at the top of the screen is the 13 MP camera with auto framing; of note is that there’s no more physical privacy shutter, presumably to allow for that lovely thin screen, but that does mark a downgrade for the privacy-conscious. While settings in-app and the on-device mute button do cancel the camera feed, you can just as easily grab an affordable stick-on shutter or use a bit of tape.

On the right side of the screen are the mute buttons and volume rocker, and the rest of the controls are touch-based on the screen.

You win some, you lose some in the world of tech, and the victims of a lovely, more sophisticated design are unfortunately handy screen-adjusting mechanisms and a physical camera shutter. For a lot of customers, neither will be missed, but both are nice to have in a pinch.

• Design: 4.5/5

• Design: 4/5

Echo Show 8: Performance

• Zippy and responsive touch screen, decent audio
• Sensors are accurate and genuinely useful
• User interface a little cluttered

In performance, the Echo Show 8 is broadly the same as the Echo Show 11, owing to the components being the same; however, the screen experience differs somewhat.

Starting there, the display is vibrant, clear and plenty bright, making it easily visible from a few meters away unless you need to make out detailed text. The smaller screen real estate means it suffers a little more under the weight of Amazon’s suggested content (i.e. the recipes, TV shows and products it wants you to engage with) than its 11-inch sibling, but I found setting up a photo album for the Echo Show to shuffle through reduced the amount of advertising and recommendations.

Otherwise, the user interface (UI) was easily operated, responding quickly to touch controls. Widgets do feel a little squashed in places, and some buttons within apps can be awkwardly small, but it’s nowhere as bad as trying to do anything more than adjusting volume and brightness on the Echo Show 5.

Every now and then, there’s a slight stutter to an animation, with some customers reporting mild to moderate issues with input delay. I did find that to be the case with the Echo Show 11 I tested, but the Show 8 was very reliable for me on test. You can swipe down the control center to quickly toggle settings and access various hubs, and swipe left on the screen for your customizable widgets. Just be mindful that the screen is an absolute fingerprint magnet when you’re liberally swiping around.

The speaker on the Echo Show 8 is the same as the Echo Show 11, but I ran the same tests in case the larger screen impacted the sound quality. As long-time Amazon speaker users will know, audio quality is never the main selling point for Echo devices; the performance is often admirable for the size and price, but not one for the audiophiles (though the Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max buck that trend somewhat).

I streamed lossless tracks from Spotify to test the audio quality, starting with Luafey’s Falling Behind. Her jazzy vocals came through warmly with great clarity, underpinned by the lively but slightly dulled staccato of an acoustic guitar. Older tracks began to show the cracks, however. Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain was muddy, with the vocals sinking further into the track than usual; however, the bass was still nice and punchy.

That drive isn’t consistent, though, and some tracks suffer more from the muddiness. Portishead’s Glory Box was flat all around, losing that breathy quality to the vocals and flattening the usually well-rounded bass, and Jeff Buckley’s rich, haunting vocals are thoroughly buried in the higher layers of Last Goodbye. Still, at this price and size, it’s a pretty accomplished speaker, and Amazon has done well to create a truly room-filling sound out of this smart display.

Inside the Echo Show 8 are a range of sensors that can be used to set up Routines with Alexa and help you monitor your home. There’s an auto-framing 13MP camera centered at the top of the screen, just like in the last generation, and the onboard microphones are great for clear audio on video calls or drop-ins. Also housed in the Echo Show 8 are temperature, motion and brightness detectors, all of which worked well in my testing, as did the facial recognition and personalization features that underpin the seamless Alexa experience.

Alexa and VegaOS generally run well, and the Echo Show 8 is fantastically responsive thanks to the AZ3 Pro chip. Queries are rapidly responded to (sometimes prematurely), with Alexa delivering suggested recipes, playing music and summoning your favorite TV shows and movies in double time. I had a few hiccups trying to watch shows on Netflix and YouTube on the Echo Show 11; but the Echo Show 8 worked perfectly out of the box, and Alexa has come on leaps and bounds when it comes to searching and playing your requested media.

We don’t yet have Alexa+ access in the UK, but we’ve got a full Alexa+ review coming soon that will give the full low-down about its performance on a range of Echo devices.

• Performance: 4/5

Echo Show 8: Price and availability

• List price: $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$349
• Announced September 2025, released November 2025

Announced in September 2025, the Echo Show 8 costs $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$349 and is available in black and white. Of note, this marks a $30 / £30 / AU$100 price increase versus the last generation, which sold for $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$249.

Broadly, this cost increase is due to the design overhaul, which greatly modernizes Amazon’s second-smallest smart display. It’s not a huge jump in price, and it feels somewhat justified given the improvements to the performance and display. There’s also an optional (and stylish) stand, which will set you back $39.99 / £34.99 / AU$69.95.

Still, it's worth highlighting the value of the device depends in part on whether or not you're bothered by Alexa+. Right now, its early access programme is exclusively available in the US, and this device automatically enlists you for that service, but elsewhere in the world we're effectively losing a selling point for the same price for the foreseeable future.

• Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Echo Show 8?

Buy it if...

You’re upgrading from older Echo Shows

Especially if you want Alexa+ to work at peak performance, the Echo Show 8 is a must-have; but the refreshed design, zippy AZ3 chip and lovely display also mark significant improvements.

You make good use of smart home features

From its omnisense technology to its smart home connectivity, the Echo Show 8 is fully equipped with clever features to make your home work for you.

Don't buy it if...

You want a physical camera privacy shutter

Sure, you can mod this yourself or disconnect the feed in the app, but some people will just want absolute privacy out of the box.

You’re on a budget

With its new price point, the Echo Show 8 isn’t affordability-first anymore; it’s by no means premium, either, but you could buy a very capable older smart display for less.

Amazon Echo Show 8: also consider

If you're not sure the Amazon Echo Show 11 is the right Alexa smart speaker for you, here are further options to consider from Amazon:

How I tested the Echo Show 8 (4th gen, 2025)

• I used it pretty much non-stop for a week
• I tested its smart home features and sensing
• I performed our standard audio and movie streaming tests

To put the new Echo Show 8 through its paces, I used all of the advertised features over a week of testing. I tried setting up automations that use its various sensors and connectivity options to ensure everything worked seamlessly, and used Alexa for my everyday household tasks.

I also tested the speakers using a variety of tracks in different genres to see how well the speakers can replicate music for a wide range of customers, and used streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, as well as Amazon Prime Video both to assess the display’s performance and the general user experience.

I’ve been testing smart speakers for four years, and use an Alexa-based smart home setup every day. I’m well-acquainted with the system and its features, but I’ve also spent a lot of time in other ecosystems to learn the pros and cons of each.

Two-minute review

The Echo Show 11 is Amazon’s latest mid-size smart display, releasing alongside the latest Echo Show 8, Echo Studio and the new Echo Dot Max. It’s a new screen size for Amazon’s smart displays, but it’s technically the successor to the Echo Show 10 (2020) with a slightly larger screen.

That being said, its positioning isn’t quite as secure as some of its siblings, nor its predecessor. It lacks some of the features we loved from older generations (and in particular from the Echo Show 10 (2020)), and it’s largely packing the same specs as the Echo Show 8, with the main difference being the larger screen.

Still, it’s far from a bad smart display, and still sees improvements over older devices; it’s powered by the latest AZ3 Pro chip, the screen is now 1080p, audio performance is decent, and there are ample smart home features and connectivity benefits, including the addition of Matter and Thread support.

The refinements to the Echo Show 10’s floating display design are small but mighty, making the whole speaker feel more sleek and less clunky. That is, of course, barring the removal of the rotating screen and a physical camera privacy shutter – but these two features might just be the deciding factor for some customers when choosing the best smart display.

As of writing, it’s also worth noting that there seem to be some software issues when it comes to streaming. I tested the Echo Show 8 alongside the 11 and had no such challenges, so it seems like a bug, albeit one I have seen a fair few consumers complain about online. Still, it’s early days for the product, and I’d expect this to be ironed out within the coming weeks.

Overall, it’s a great option for kitchens and offices, and I’m delighted to see Amazon paying more and more attention to aesthetics with its newer smart speakers. I just wish that didn’t come at the expense of utility.

Echo Show 11: Specs

Echo Show 11: Design

• Refines on Echo Show 10 (2020) design
• Bright and beautiful floating display
• No physical camera shutter

Much like the Echo Show 10, the Echo Show 11 sees a thin and light display mounted on a rounded speaker stand. While the Echo Show 10 may have introduced Amazon’s newer floating display design language, the Echo Show 11 refines it, squashing the height of the speaker a little into a pill shape and expanding the screen to a lovely 11.95-inches. These subtle changes make an impact, making the latest Echo Shows much more appealing for the home versus the older wedge-shaped devices.

The net size is still pretty minimal at 26 cm x 18 cm x 13 cm, comprised of the mesh fabric-covered speaker base and affixed screen. This marks a slightly negative departure from the Echo Show 10, which allowed you to adjust the screen for optimal viewing; it’s an important feature if you’re often using the device in your kitchen and don’t want to stoop down every time you need to check a recipe.

Otherwise, the screen is a solid upgrade; as well as the size boost, the screen now offers a resolution of 1920 x 1200 (versus the Echo Show 10’s 1280 x 800 pixels). In use, the color HD display is rich and bright, easily enjoyed even from wider viewing angles.

At the center of the top of the screen is its 13 MP camera with auto framing, but there’s no physical privacy shutter this time. This is likely due to the design constraints of thin screens, but privacy-conscious buyers might not like the change. You can kill the camera feed in-app or use the on-device mute button, but you can also just as easily grab an affordable stick-on shutter or a bit of tape.

Located on the screen’s right side are the mute buttons and volume rocker, and the rest of the controls are touch-based on the screen. The speaker houses a 2.8-inch woofer and two front-facing, full-range drivers that can deliver spatial audio.

Overall, it’s a great all-around upgrade for Amazon’s mid-sized screen, and I doubt anyone will disagree that it’s a much-needed improvement, visually. The whole unit feels a lot more premium and of better build quality, but it’s taken a long time for Amazon to come this far. It’s a shame that two really useful, functional design features had to come at the cost of a fresh look, too.

• Design: 4.5/5

Echo Show 11: Performance

• Zippy and bright touch screen, decent audio
• Sensors are accurate and help with home automation
• Streaming features didn’t work very well

So we know the Echo Show 11 looks good, but how is it in use? In short, it’s fast, facile and feature-filled, but it doesn’t always stick the landing.

Let’s start with the display. It’s bright and beautiful, perfect for enjoying TV and movies up close or to glance at your calendar or reminders from across the room. It is, of course, cluttered with suggested content a lot of the time, but that’s par for the course with Echo Shows (as well as other smart displays), and it becomes far less of a problem if you set up an album of your favorite photos to display throughout the day.

The user interface (UI) is generally quite clean and easy to navigate, with widgets rendering nicely on the large canvas screen. Recipes are easy to follow, video content is bright and vibrant, and animations are pretty slick, barring the occasional stutter.

Touch controls are quick and responsive most of the time, though I have had to reboot it a few times after it becomes unresponsive. Some users have also reported some mild to moderate issues with input delay; however, I couldn’t replicate these issues myself. Interestingly, I’ve not faced these issues on the Echo Show 8 I tested in parallel to the 11-inch model, so I have to assume it’s an issue with the UI’s screen optimization. The touch interface is easy to navigate, though; swipe down for the control center and left for your widgets. The screen hasn’t got any smudge-proofing, though, so it becomes grubby rather quickly with regular use.

Audio performance follows suit with other Amazon Echo devices I’ve tested; it’s not one for audiophiles (those would be better off with the Echo Studio or even the new Echo Dot Max) but the performance is nonetheless decent for its price category.

I tested the speakers by streaming lossless tracks through Spotify, starting with Laufey’s Falling Behind, which was rendered warmly through the Echo Show 11’s speaker base. It had lost some of the crunch from the bossa nova-style acoustic guitars, but Laufey’s voice shone through with great clarity. Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain was muddy, losing the vocals a little more than usual, but still packed a good punch with clear highs.

Overall, it lacks drive, and some tracks make that clearer than others; Jeff Buckley’s haunting vocals get lost in the weaving higher layers of Last Goodbye, while Portishead’s Glory Box felt flat overall, compressing those wonderfully breathy vocals and the big fat bass into a thoroughly clipped mid-range. Still, the clarity and volume are impressive, especially at its size and price point, and the speakers really are room-filling; I had to stand a good 5m away before I felt the volume drop become noticeable.

The Echo Show 11 houses a range of sensors, too. The camera, centered at the top of the screen, is the same as the last generation; a 13MP auto-framing peeper that works as described, accompanied by microphones that offer great, clear audio pickup for video calls or quick drop-ins to check on your pets and loved ones. Elsewhere, its temperature, motion and brightness detectors all work as expected, and can be used for Alexa Routines. Facial recognition, personalization and screen scaling all work smoothly in the background, just the way all smart devices should.

As always, the range of compatible software and services is great, with a native app for Netflix and Prime and browser-based access to most of the more popular streaming services. For some reason, however, the Echo Show 11 I tested had an issue with launching and searching on streaming services via voice control at first. Using the control center to manually open apps worked fine, so I had to perform a hard reset before I could summon streaming apps hands-free.

Speaking of Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa is faster than ever with the AZ3 Pro chip on board, and replies come incredibly quickly – once or twice, before I’d even finished speaking. Asking for recipes elicits lightning-quick responses, music loads quickly even through third-party services, and all of Alexa’s standard commands work as expected. I’m based in the UK, so I couldn’t test Alexa+, but we’ll have a full separate review soon.

• Performance: 4/5

Echo Show 11: Price and availability

• List price: $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$429
• Announced September 2025, launched in November.

Priced at $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$429, the Echo Show 11 is the middle child of Amazon’s smart displays inbetween the Echo Show 5 and 8 and the larger, wall-mountable Echo Show 15 and 21. It’s available in black or white, and there's also a stylish optional stand, which costs $34.99 / £34.99 / AU$69.95.

The Echo Show 11 largely packs the same specs as the smaller Echo Show 8, rather than carrying over some of the defining features from the Echo Show 10 such as its rotating screen. That does make it marginally more affordable than the Show 10 ($249.99 / £239.99 / AU$399.99), but it’s still $40 / £40 / AU$80 more than the latest Echo Show 8.

I’m not entirely convinced that the larger screen alone justifies the price difference between the Show 8 and Show 11; I'd have hoped to see one or two extra premium features exclusive to this slightly larger screen to convince me it has a reason to exist beyond offering more real estate (often swallowed up by suggested content in standby mode). Plus, the price drop from the Echo Show 10 comes at the expense of features I’d really like for this more functional screen. Still, fundamentally it’s still a relatively affordable smart display and a huge upgrade if you have a 5+ year-old Echo Show 5, 8 or 10.

Value: 3.5/5

• Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Echo Show 11?

Buy it if...

You’ve got an older Echo Show

Whether you just fancy a change or specifically want one that makes you more Alexa+ ready, the Echo Show 11 is a solid purchase that brings some much-needed attention to design and performance.

You use a lot of smart home features

Packing in a range of smarts from Omnisense technology to its smart home connectivity, the Echo Show 11 is well-equipped to help you automate and monitor your home.

Don't buy it if...

You want a physical camera privacy shutter

For peace of mind, that physical shutter is a must-have, and while you can mod your own, it’s a shame to see this dropped from the design.

You don't desperately need the screen size

You can save some money by opting for the slightly smaller Echo Show 8, which packs pretty much identical features and perforance barring the screen size.

Amazon Echo Show 11: also consider

If you're not sure the Amazon Show 11 is the right Alexa smart display for you, here are further options to consider from Amazon:

How I tested the Echo Show 11 (2024)

• I tested it at home for a week
• I tested its smart home features and sensors
• I performed our standard audio and movie streaming tests

To test Amazon’s Echo Show 11, I tried all of the advertised features over a week of testing, from Alexa queries to Omnisense monitoring and automations to streaming.

I played music from a variety of genres, as well as the spoken word, to test the speakers and examine how well the Echo Show 11 replicates sound, and also watched movies and TV through streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, as well as Amazon Prime Video to test out the display’s performance and general user experience.

I’ve been testing smart speakers and other smart home devices for years, and my home runs on an Alexa-based setup. While well-acquainted with Amazon’s system and its features, I’ve also tested other ecosystems to learn the differences, strengths and weaknesses.

Two-minute review

Amazon announced its new Echo Dot Max alongside the new Echo Studio, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 in September 2025, heralding a new generation of its mid-range smart speakers and smart displays with a focus on better audio, Alexa+ compatibility, smart-home connectivity and a fresh new design-led look that brings them closer in terms of appearance to competitors from Google and Apple.

Although its name suggests that it succeeds the 5th-generation Echo Dot released in 2022, technically, the Echo Dot Max model replaces the 4th-generation Echo speaker, which is quietly phasing out across global markets. Regardless, Amazon is pitching the Max as more of a ‘Pro’-grade improvement to the Echo Dot than a direct follow-up, and it's gearing up to be one of the best smart speakers in Amazon's current line-up.

So, what does the ‘Max’ moniker get you versus the standard model? According to Amazon, a two-way speaker system that offers three times the bass, faster processing thanks to the new AZ3 chip, and a stylish re-fit – oh, and it’s twice the price.

Broadly speaking, these upgrades all pay off in one of the best Alexa speakers I've tested: music is noticeably more bassy and carries more weight, Alexa is quick to respond, and the design looks more chic than the rather basic base model. Each of these points comes with a caveat, though: yes, the audio is decent with some smart features for home theatre fans, but still not enough to satisfy audiophiles, and I wouldn’t argue that audio is always strictly “better” than the regular Echo Dot. The speaker’s processor is clearly superior, but without Alexa+ to put it to the test, that difference is hard to notice. The redesign is lovely, but the front-facing controls are a little awkward to use.

All in all, given that the Echo 4th-gen offers a solid audio experience and is only marginally larger, and that Amazon didn’t bring back the 3.5mm jack it removed between the 4th and 5th-generation Echo Dot, calling this Echo Dot a ‘Max’ model feels only partially justified, and it’s hard to tell quite who Amazon has made this speaker for at times.

If ‘Max’ denotes its Alexa+ compatibility, well, that service is still in Early Access and exclusively available in the US as of writing, with no firm plans for global rollouts. From what we do know so far in the US, reception has been mixed. If ‘Max’ denotes audio performance, then yes, the speaker is impressive for its size, but it's still far from audiophile-approved.

Still, I enjoyed my time with the Echo Dot Max, and it's exciting to see this new direction for Amazon's smart speakers take form.

Echo Dot Max: Specs

Echo Dot Max: Design

• New, more premium materials
• Neat and petite
• Control placement isn’t great

The Echo Dot Max, along with the new Echo Studio, features a new design language – a chunkier knit-fabric exterior, new front-facing controls, and a slightly larger frame than the standard Echo Dot.

Star Wars fans will surely delight in this Death Star-esque design refresh, but if you regularly use touch controls on your Echo speakers you might not love the new button placement. Prodding the controls leads the speaker to scoot across the surface, so you have to hold onto it during use – not a deal-breaker, but a little annoying.

The iconic blue Alexa ring has also moved to surround the control panel, and as with some more recent Echo speakers, it can also show the volume percentage and provide other status cues like notifications, connectivity issues and mute mode. Under the hood, the Echo Dot Max packs a 0.8-inch tweeter and 2.5-inch woofer as well as the new AZ3 chip.

On the rear is a single power port, and just like the last-generation Echo Dot, there’s no 3.5mm jack on this model. That feels like a slightly more glaring omission; this is a really useful utility for streaming music through a better home audio system via the Echo, and while its removal from the 5th-gen Echo Dot could just about be excused given its price and positioning, it’s unfortunate that it hasn’t made a return in this pricier model.

While I do like the new fabric-mesh coating and control panel, overall the Echo Dot Max redesign ends up being more inconvenient in manual operation, and it really is a shame that Amazon opted not to include the 3.5mm jack. The heavier, more robust Echo Studio suits the new form factor quite nicely, but the Echo Dot Max, especially in the purple colorway I tested, isn’t quite as convincing in its Death Star-ness.

• Design: 4/5

Echo Dot Max: Performance

• New two-way speaker system
• Decent audio features and performance
• Alexa is zippy

Amazon’s new Echo Dot Max is a solid all-rounder, with iterative upgrades to the 5th-gen Echo Dot, but it generally comes in just below the 4th-gen Echo base model.

The Echo Dot Max is the first Echo Dot from Amazon with a two-way speaker system. There’s a single 20mm tweeter and a 6cm woofer, meaning your favorite playlist will fill the room better than ever before. However, it’s marginally less powerful than the 1.73-inch speaker found in the 5th-gen Echo Dot, and the Echo 4th gen’s 3-inch woofer and two 20mm front-firing tweeters offer a better all-around audio experience. It’ll be a matter of taste, in some cases, as well as positioning that determines if the Echo Dot, regular Echo or the Echo Dot Max is technically ‘better’ for your audio needs, but it’s nonetheless impressive.

The Echo Dot Max can be surprisingly loud, with lovely clear vocals and highs. Laufey’s Falling Behind is plenty warm and rounded, and while you lose the crispness on the syncopated acoustic guitar hits, the vocals still poke through well. Tracks with less complexity in the rhythm and bass come out quite cleanly, and at times fare better than when played on the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 I tested alongside the Echo Dot Max. Jeff Buckey’s Last Goodbye is an excellent example of this, with his dulcet tones ringing out gorgeously, and Bowie’s vocals are also beautifully clear on Heroes, even as the intensity amps up throughout the track.

Other tracks feel far flatter through the Dot Max, which can’t always deliver a rounded, powerful bass; Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain is missing the punchy drive of the drums and feels weaker all round, and the same goes for Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush, where what should be the driving, insistent rhythm lacks the force to lift the emotion of Bush’s chirping vocals. Glory Box by Portishead is far less muddied and clipped than when I played it on the Echo Show 11 and 8, though it still feels compressed too much into the mid-range, and can’t deliver the nicely rounded bass I love in the track. For its size and price, it’s still impressive, and I can forgive its weaknesses, but I wouldn’t say it quite delivers the ‘Max’ experience I’d expect based on audio quality alone.

However, the Echo Dot Max redeems itself with the audio smarts it packs under the hood, including Lossless High Definition and Automatic Room Adaptation. In practice, that means the speaker is able to adapt its audio to wherever it’s placed, and it’s the first time we’ve seen this tech in an Echo Dot. I really value immersive sound over and above a speaker’s power, so these audio smarts make the Echo Dot Max much more to my liking.

Soon, the Echo Dot Max will gain another feather to its audio cap; you’ll soon be able to connect up to five Echo Dot Max or Echo Studio speakers plus an optional Echo subwoofer to Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd-gen), Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd-gen), or Fire TV Cube (3rd-gen) to use Amazon’s new Home Theatre feature. Simply set it up using the Alexa app and Amazon’s voice assistant will automatically configure the placement and tune the sound using its spatial awareness sensors for an immersive surround sound experience. This setup will support Dolby Atmos from selected streaming services, and you’ll be able to control volume with voice commands or a Fire TV remote.

The Echo Dot Max has the same temperature and ultrasound motion sensors as the Echo Dot (4th gen), but also adds a new Wi-Fi sensing capability. All of these worked well on test, and are great for setting up even smarter Alexa Routines. For instance, I set up an automation that turns on my smart lights when I enter a room as well as one that turns on my electric heater when the temperature drops too low for my liking.

When it comes to the more standardized Alexa features, the Echo Dot Max performs as expected. If you’ve used more recent Echo devices, you likely won’t really feel the speed boost from the AZ3 chipset, but it’s a marked difference compared to older models. Alexa responds in rapid fashion, pulling up information and executing commands quicker than ever; it’s unlikely that the base version of Amazon’s voice assistant can actually get much quicker without pre-empting your query – and given that Alexa on the Dot Max actually cut me off once or twice, we should be careful what we wish for here.

Of course, all that new computing power is really in service of powering Alexa+, which, at the time of writing, is not available in the UK, where I’ve been testing the Echo Dot Max. We’ve got a full review of Amazon’s agentic AI platform coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that or check back here for updates.

Personally, I enjoyed my time with the Echo Dot Max. Along a similar vein to my verdict on the design, I'm not sure its performance improvements justify the price increase, and the fact it won't quite be good enough for audiophiles yet still offers better audio makes it hard to place in Amazon's line-up of Echo Speakers.

• Performance: 4/5

Echo Dot Max: Price and availability

• List price: $99 / £99 / AU$199
• Released November 2025

The Echo Dot Max sits in the mid-range of Amazon’s Echo family, positioned as a step up for Echo Dot fans who want a slight boost to audio, and better AI experiences when Alexa+ is eventually available to them. It’s available in black, white, and a bold purple colorway.

It’s $50 / £50 / AU$100 more expensive than the 5th-generation Echo Dot, which for the foreseeable future, is still available for purchase. For that extra cost you do get some decent improvements, but it still can’t beat the 4th-generation full-size Echo for audio, which sold at a similar price point.

For me, the differences between the Echo Dot and Max models aren’t quite enough to justify the jump in list price; and especially not when one of the key selling points – that being Alexa+ compatibility – is only available in Early Access the US at the time of writing, and costs more on top – unless, of course, you have an Amazon Prime subscription. I probably wouldn’t buy this at list price, but as we all know, Amazon loves a juicy discount around sales events.

• Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Echo Dot Max?

Buy it if...

You want room-filling audio

While I’m 50/50 on whether or not the Echo Dot Max’s audio performance can be considered truly “better” than the regular Echo Dot, it’s certainly better at filling a space thanks to the addition of Lossless High Definition, and Automatic Room Adaptation.

You’re upgrading from an older Echo speaker

More recent Echo smart speakers pack fairly similar specs and performance, but the AZ3 chip brings a marked improvement.

Don't buy it if...

You are an audiophile

It’s impressive what the Echo Dot Max does within the boundaries of its size and price point, but the speaker is still far from perfect and won’t render your favorite tracks perfectly.

You don’t like Death Stars

I’m being a little tongue-in-cheek here, but the design won’t be for everyone - especially if you’re a fan of using the manual controls, which, when pressed, can push the speaker across surface.

Amazon Echo Dot Max: also consider

If you're not sure the Amazon Dot Max is the right Alexa smart speaker for you, here are further options to consider from Amazon:

How I tested the Echo Show 15 (2024)

• I used the Echo Dot Max as part of my personal smart home setup
• I played lossless audio through Spotify
• I tried the standard Alexa and other advertised features.

I tried all of the advertised features of the Echo Dot Max (barring Alexa+, which is not currently available in the UK) to examine its value for money, performance and how successfully Amazon’s redesign accounts for user experience.

In addition to using Alexa for a variety of tasks like browsing, searching and connecting to third-party apps and services, as well as controlling smart home devices, I also used my Echo Dot Max as a speaker for lossless tracks streamed through Spotify. I tested a range of genres of music and different moods to see how well it represented some of my favorite tracks and testing playlist.

I’ve been using Alexa speakers for years, and professionally testing smart home devices for 3+ years. In addition to my at-home Alexa setup, I’ve also used both Google and Apple devices to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the most popular smart home ecosystems.

• Amazon has shifted the deadline for the launch of the web version of Alexa+
• A company spokesperson told The Washington Post that it’s still fine-tuning Alexa+ Early Access before rolling it out widely
• Despite delaying its release, the reasons for this decision remain a mystery and an exact launch date is yet to be revealed

When Amazon announced the AI-upgraded Alexa+ voice back in February, the company promised a lot of new improvements, including new listening powers and wider compatibility with smart home devices – but once again, Amazon has pushed back one of its biggest features.

Amazon had previously revealed that a web-based version of Alexa+ would be among the slew of new upgrades for the voice assistant. However due to a last-minute change on the company’s part, the launch date for the rollout of Alexa.com has been extended, despite the app version of Alexa+ already being available to early-access users in the US.

According to The Washington Post ($/£), which had access to documents from inside Amazon, the company may have “underestimated the work needed to launch Alexa.com”. Now, according to the company documents, the web version of Alexa+ will arrive “no sooner than July 31”, meaning that test users are going to have to wait a little longer for it to drop.

Despite this claim, Amazon spokesperson Lauren Raemhild told The Post that Alexa.com hasn’t been delayed, and “will be available with Alexa+ Early Access this summer”, which suggests by the end of August. She added that Amazon is “continuing to fine tune the experience as (we) expand to more customers”, referring to the wider Alexa+ Early Access, but an official date still hasn’t been announced for its web version.

The push-back remains a mystery

This latest delay to the wider Alexa+ rollout means more frustration for Amazon customers waiting to try the new smart assistant. The company claims to have released “90 percent of the features announced in February.”, and as of June, Alexa+ has been rolled out to over one million test users in the US.

If the launch of Alexa.com has been delayed, and if the reason for the delay is indeed related to the sheer amount of work and testing required to get Alexa+ fully off the ground it wouldn’t come as a surprise, as we’ve seen this happen with Apple’s plans to launch its AI-enhanced Siri voice assistant.

As mentioned, an official launch date for Alexa.com has yet to be announced, but if we were to guess at a timeframe we’d expect it to arrive no later than August 31 – that’s if Amazon keeps its promise that the rest of the Alexa+ Early Access features will arrive before the end of the summer.

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• The Alexa+ rollout is finally happening – here's what early testers love and hate about it
• Still waiting for Alexa+? Here are 3 ways to make your Echo speaker smarter today

Google’s plans to completely retire its Google Assistant software is officially under way following last week’s announcement that its AI-advanced Google Gemini will replace Google Assistant in Android smartphones by the end of 2025. This news doesn’t come as a huge shock to us, as Google has been phasing out some of its Google Assistant tasks since October 2024, however we’ve come to learn that it’s not just the best Android phones that are getting the Gemini treatment.

As well as smartphones, Google’s line of smart home assistants which includes the best smart speakers and best smart displays are also going through some changes, implying that they too will also receive a Gemini facelift. Since Gemini started supercharging Google Assistant on smart displays and speakers late last year, we could only guess that it would be a matter of time before this evolved into a complete Gemini takeover, and now it’s looking that way in light of Google’s recent decision to disable certain Google Assistant features from its smart home devices.

In order to get the ball rolling with Google’s big transition, the company is eradicating traces of Google Assistant bit by bit to make room for its more advanced Gemini software, which we guess will be fully rolled out by the end of 2025 - at least to Android smartphones. It may take a little longer for the case of Nest devices, but now that Google has removed functions such as Live Translation and Family Bell, it’s already got a leg up on making smart devices more Gemini-friendly. This isn’t to say that Gemini will have less functionality than Google Assistant, it’s simply a case of Google slowly removing one to make room for the other.

Google Photos capabilities

You’ll no longer be able to use voice commands to ask Google Assistant to favorite or share your photos, or ask specific questions regarding when and where they were taken. With that said, you’ll still be able to share them through the Google Photos app, and use your smart display to see where they were taken.

Smart display ambient screen settings

To enable photo frame settings or ambient screen settings on your Google smart display, you’ll have to refer to the Smart Display app to change these manually as Google Assistant will no longer support the voice command.

Live Translations

Since Google Assistant introduced its useful Interpreter Mode function in 2019, users have been able to translate live conversations from one language to another. This is no longer the case following Google’s decision to axe it from Assistant’s functions, however it’s still possible to translate singular words or phrases.

Birthday reminders with Routines

Routines is Google’s version of a personal task assistant which can automate tasks and actions by voice commands such as turning the lights off, playing music, or sending you notifications of important birthdays in your calendar. Google has now disabled the latter, but you can still use the Assistant voice control to set reminders about upcoming birthdays.

Family Bell announcements

Google’s Family Bell function was helpful for the whole family, allowing you to schedule reminders or announcements so that everyone in your household would be in the loop with family events.

As part of Google’s transition to integrating Gemini with smart home devices, you can no longer use Assistant to create or read your previously scheduled announcements. This was a favorite among Google smart home users, now Routines is its alternative.

Daily updates

This is a basic function, but a rather useful one that Google has just terminated. Just like you can set Alexa to give you daily updates, Assistant will no longer support voice requests such as ‘send me the weather everyday’. Instead, you’ll have to manually schedule updates when you create a custom Routine.

Google Assistant on car accessories

Google has disabled the ability to use Assistant on car accessories that support Bluetooth connection or have an AUX plug.

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• Multiple hands-on Google Pixel 9a videos have emerged, days ahead of the likely launch
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• Details of an upcoming SwitchBot Hub 3 have appeared online
• The new hub will have a physical dial for controlling smart home devices
• SwitchBot has yet to announce the Hub 3, and there's no release date yet

SwitchBot, maker of some of the best smart home devices, is preparing to launch a new hub that will make controlling them all easier than ever thanks to one major addition: a programmable physical dial.

SwitchBot's gadgets (such as the little SwitchBot Bot switch pusher, and the SwitchBot Lock) are particularly smart because they don't require you to replace anything in your home. Instead, they attach to the electronics and objects you already own, whether that's your curtains, your door handle, or the power button of your coffee maker. That makes them a particularly great choice for renters who can't easily replace the items in their home, and want smart-home devices they can easily take with them to a new house or apartment.

Personally I use a trio of SwitchBot Blind Tilts to open the three small blinds in my bedroom in the morning, and close them automatically at night. SwitchBot now makes a smart roller blind, but the Blind Tilts are cheaper, work well, and took 10 minutes each to install.

Joined-up thinking

Your devices are connected to your home Wi-Fi network via a SwitchBot Hub, and there are currently two different models available. If you're just controlling a few devices in a relatively small space (like me) then the SwitchBot Hub Mini will fit the bill, but if you have a more complex system then the SwitchBot Hub 2 is a better choice thanks to its greater range, ability to control A/C systems, humidity and temperature sensors, LED display, and touch buttons to start custom scenes. It also supports the Matter smart home standard, allowing you to integrate your SwitchBot devices into a multi-platform ecosystem.

Now, HomeKit News and Reviews has spotted details of a forthcoming SwitchBot Hub 3 on the website for the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the organization behind Matter – and it should give you even more control thanks to the addition of a physical dial.

Post by @homekitnews

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The dial will let you control your A/C system, as well as media playback via services including Apple TV and Spotify.

The new smart hub will also have a motion-activated screen, similar to many of the best smart thermostats, which should prevent unnecessary light disturbing you at night. It will be able to show temperature and humidity in your home, and draw on third-party weather services to show current forecasts. It can also show the real-time status of SwitchBot smart locks

SwitchBot itself has yet to announce the new hub, so we don't yet know when it will be released or how much it will cost, but hopefully we won't have to wait much longer.

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• This renter-friendly smart lock fits over your existing door hardware, and costs less than you might expect
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• Advantage, Alexa – Apple's smart home hub reportedly 'postponed' due to Siri slowdown

Two-minute review

The Echo Show 15 is back, with some moderate hardware upgrades and quality-of-life improvements that make for a slightly more rounded offering. The original Echo Show 15 sat a little on the periphery of Amazon’s smart display range, with the more popular Echo Show 8, Echo Show 5 and the more snazzy Echo Show 10 taking center stage. So, does the new Echo Show 15 (2024) earn a place alongside its siblings on our list of the best smart displays you can buy today?

The first Echo Show 15 found itself on the sidelines following a slightly lackluster launch and early performance – at least that was the case until Amazon released a Fire TV update. Despite its weak sound and underwhelming display, that upgrade made the Echo Show 15 a far more interesting proposition as a smart display for kitchens, offices and other rooms where even a small TV might be too obtrusive.

The 15-inch smart display has always suffered from a bit of an identity crisis, having been designed to cater to the relatively small niche market of “small TV-shaped smart hubs” by offering app support for various streaming services in addition to the standard array of music streaming platforms supported by the best smart speakers, as well as some basic smart home controls.

However, following the release of the Echo Hub in early 2024, which arrived rocking a new user interface and features specifically designed for smart-home control, I had high hopes that some improved smart-home… well, smarts, from the Echo Hub’s user interface would make an appearance in the second-generation Echo Show 15 as well as the all-new Echo Show 21.

Sadly, that’s not the case. Instead, the Echo Show 15 once again serves the dual purpose of being an entertainment and smart-home hub, this time made complete with built-in Fire TV at launch, widgets, and an Alexa Voice remote and a few added hardware upgrades. It also totes an improved camera, display and audio, as well as connectivity supporting Matter, Thread and Zigbee, all in response to customer feedback from the first generation and to ensure that the hardware meets current smart home and entertainment needs.

By and large, Amazon has addressed the bare minimum upgrades needed to make the Echo Show 15 a more attractive option; unfortunately, not enough has changed for me to recommend the device as a must-have smart display. Especially with the release of the all-new Echo Show 21, the Echo Show 15 doesn't even have "being the biggest Amazon Echo Show" going for it anymore. It is, however, a nice-to-have screen that might fill a relatively small gap in your smart-home ecosystem, and is plenty capable for what it is.

Echo Show 15 (2024): Design

• Simple picture frame design
• Super easy setup
• Includes Fire TV remote

The design of the Echo Show 15 (2024) is suitably unassuming for a device that’s intended to be functional rather than being a centerpiece, retaining the simple, picture frame-esque form of the original model. The main frame is black, with a white matte surrounding the 15.6-inch screen.

It’s wall-mountable out of the box, with a super easy sub-five-minute setup – or, if you owned the original model, you can switch it straight out as it uses the exact same frame – and it’s also compatible with standardized VESA mounts, which are widely available. It can be set up in either a horizontal or vertical orientation, but you’d need to re-fit the included bracket to do change the orientation. It’s a nice option, though I’d imagine most users would opt for horizontal to use its screen for TV and film, and you can opt to buy a third-party rotating wall mount if you regularly want to switch between the two.

A variety of stands are also available, including the official stand made by Sanus (sold separately for $33 / £34; it’s not yet sold in Australia) which allows you to use the Echo Show 15 in tabletop mode. Whichever way you set it up, the main thing to consider other than visibility is the camera field of view – this has seen a significant upgrade in the newer model, but if you want to make use of Vision ID and video calls you’ll need to make sure the camera is unobstructed and has a good view of the room.

Along the top edge are the manual controls: a physical switch for the camera’s privacy shutter, as well as volume and mute buttons. At 15.8 x 9.9 x 1.4 inches / 40 x 25 x 3.5cm, its footprint is considerable, and that only increases if you opt to use the tilt stand, which adds a further 7.5 inches / 19cm to its depth. Along the top edge (in horizontal orientation), the camera is seated centrally in the white matte instead of in the top-left corner per its predecessor.

Also included is the Alexa Voice Remote, which can be used to control the new Fire TV interface – this is just a standard Alexa remote, which you’ll be familiar with if you own one of Amazon’s Fire TV sticks.

Echo Show 15 (2024): Performance

• Bright and vivid screen
• Improved audio and camera specs...
• ... however audio quality is still lacking

Thanks to some moderate hardware upgrades, performance is the area where the Echo Show 15 (2024) stands above the first-generation device, although unfortunately not by enough to make it a meaningful upgrade if you already have the original Show 15.

Let’s start with the display. It’s bright and clear, and the 1080p resolution is perfectly passable for a screen of this size, and is well-suited to streaming, web browsing and reading from any distance. However, the lack of HDR is something we had a complaint about in the original model, and, unfortunately, Amazon didn’t deign to upgrade the display specs for the second generation to boost contrast and color saturation. Still, black levels are plenty good enough, and given that this isn’t the kind of screen I’d expect users to have their eyes glued to, it’s a forgivable omission.

Audio specs saw a significant upgrade in the second-generation Echo Show 15, with the newer model housing dual 2-inch woofers in addition to two 0.6-inch tweeters, versus the original model’s two 1.6-inch full drivers.

Does this change have a noticeable impact? Absolutely – the new Echo Show 15 is certainly louder than the first-generation model, and the bass is more pronounced. However, it suffers from issues that seem common to many of Amazon’s speakers: a lack of detail in the highs, muddy bass that’s lacking in dynamics, and boosted mid frequencies which mostly serve to create considerable distortion at high volumes.

Listening to Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain, there’s a whole lot of bass – enough to overpower the already-subdued vocals – but the audio lacks the drive and meat needed to compliment the track. Complex and textured tracks like Radiohead’s 15 Step are all too easily muddied, with the Echo Show 15 lacking the fidelity and stereo separation to handle the mix. The scratchy electric guitar strums and bass sit right up front alongside Thom Yorke’s mournful vocals for much of the track, which would be fine were it not for the fact that the rest of the track feels muddy and directionless, with dull highs and flat percussion letting down the Echo Show 15.

While its handling of music might not be the most balanced, I will say that the Echo Show 15 is well suited to the spoken word, and in this regard it’s again leaning into its role as a small smart TV rather than a smart display. Still, I’d have hoped to see a little more improvement and bang for your buck in this second-generation model, and a little more range.

Also upgraded in this new model is the now-13MP wide-angle camera, which is primed for improved Alexa video calls, using Amazon’s Drop In feature, as well as for calls using Zoom or Skype. It’s a notable step up from the previous model’s 5MP camera, especially thanks to the new auto framing and 3.3x zoom, and as with all camera-equipped Echo devices the Echo Show 15 doubles as an in-home security camera that you can check in on when you’re away.

Echo Show 15 (2024): Software

• Quick and clear Alexa responses
• Fire TV support out-of-the-box
• Customizable widgets make smart home control quicker

Alexa’s responses are zippy, offering all the usual Alexa Skills and commands we’ve come to expect from Amazon’s smart speaker and displays thanks to its Octa-core AZ2 system-on-chip. Much like other available Echo Show devices, by default the Echo Show 15 displays a customizable widget control center, framed by a rotation of content from default images to your own photos, news, and content suggestions.

In a similar vein, the screen UI is pretty clean and runs smoothly, benefitting from years of Echo Show software development despite using the same hardware as the original Echo Show 15. By comparison, the Echo Hub’s newer, smart home-first interface was a little on the buggy side, but I would still have much preferred to have the option to switch to a more smart home-device-oriented alternative.

The included Alexa Voice Remote is a nice touch that serves to drive home the fact that this screen is well suited for streaming, but a slight niggle I have is that it can only control the Fire TV interface and music. Especially during the evening, when I don’t want to quarrel loudly with Alexa, I prize manual control features that don’t involve me standing; I’d love if the remote was configured to control the entire UI, inclusive of smart-home devices to this end.

However, the remote is handy for Fire TV navigation, especially given that the display doesn’t always play ball with touch controls. The Echo Show 15 comes pre-loaded with many of the best streaming services and support for a wide range of platforms, but Amazon again misses a trick hereby not leaning further into its smart TV functionality and incorporating Miracast/WiDi support for screen mirroring.

Widgets are great, but once again they’re underutilized in Amazon’s smart display interface. With woefully few customization options to reshape, resize, configure or create your own widgets, this feature still feels half-baked. Amazon’s first-party widgets are naturally the most useful, and there are a decent amount to choose from, but it’s not the magic bullet the Echo Show 15 very much needs for its smart-home offering.

However, I really appreciate the option to customize widgets and interfaces based on user profiles, meaning whole families and households alike can benefit from the assistive tech on board the Echo Show 15. During my testing, I switched out with my partner several times in an hour, and Vision ID correctly identified each time who had just walked in, showing them their personalized content suggestions.

Echo Show 15 (2024): Price and availability

• Release date: December 2024
• Price: $299 / £299 / AU$549

The Echo Show 15 is available from Amazon in the US, UK and Australia for $299 / £299 / AU$549 respectively. That’s a small price increase over the original model, and while you do now get an included remote and slightly better specs, I’m very much ‘whelmed’ by Amazon’s efforts here, in terms of value for money.

That’s especially true of the stand situation; it would have been perfectly reasonable, given the volume of customers who don’t have the option or desire to wall-mount their screens, to include a small, stable kickstand. Instead, you have to opt for either the official Sanus stand (sold separately for $33 / £34. It’s not yet sold in Australia) or for one of the many alternative – and often pricey - VESA mounts.

Should I buy the Echo Show 15?

Buy it if...

You want a small, smart TV

If you fit into the relatively small niche of people who want a smart entertainment hub that also houses Alexa, this is the screen for you.

You mostly want to stream video

Between its moderate audio and display specs and the included Fire TV remote, the Echo Show is well suited to streaming TV shows and movies.

Don't buy it if...

You want to upgrade your original Echo Show 15

Unless you’re really desperate, not enough has changed nor improved from the original model to justify this upgrade.

You want a smart-home-first display

The Echo Show 15 leans more towards entertainment than it does granular, accessible smart-home control.

Amazon Echo Show 15: also consider

If you're not sure the Amazon Echo Show 15 is the right smart hub for you, here are further options to consider:

How I tested the Echo Show 15 (2024)

• I used the Echo Show 15 as my primary smart home hub for one month
• I tested its display, audio, and camera specs with real-world testing
• I used all of its various smart-home control features

To put the Echo Show 15 through its paces I tested all of its significant feature and hardware upgrades against the first-generation model, other Echo displays and speakers in my home, and Google Nest devices.

I watched and listened to a variety of media to test the range and performance of the smart display, as well as trying out all of the various features and unique selling points. I incorporated the Echo Show 15 into my wider smart home ecosystem, which is also populated with smart security cameras, lights and appliances, and used it to control my home.

I’ve been testing smart-home devices for three years and using them personally for even longer, during which time I’ve learned everything there is to know about what makes a good smart display or speaker. I use Alexa and other smart assistants every day to run my home.

Amazon Echo Show 21: two-minute review

The idea of combining a smart speaker with a flat screen is certainly not a new one for Amazon. Amazingly, it’s over seven years since the first-generation Echo Shows launched, and three since the original Echo Show 15 first arrived in homes. At that time, its 15-inch display made it the largest Echo device inside Amazon’s stable. But not anymore. That accolade now goes to the newly-launched Echo Show 21.

Essentially, the Echo Show 21 is a larger version of the latest Echo Show 15, complete with Alexa, built-in Fire TV, and an Alexa voice remote. It even features the same mounting bracket as the Echo Show 15, which is handy if you have multiple devices you want to swap over. Capable of being installed in portrait or landscape orientation, it’s best to think of the Echo Show as a rather large web tablet (albeit one with much better speakers). So, in the same way you might use an iPad to display a recipe in the kitchen or control your home’s heating, so you might use an Echo Show to do these things.

It’s much more than that, though. Once you’ve gone through the setup process, pairing the Echo Show with your home’s Wi-Fi and the Alexa voice remote, there’s the option of customizing it all. Usefully, because the Echo Show 21 has Fire TV built in, you can use it much like you would a smart TV. Buttons are provided on the Alexa voice remote for accessing Prime Video, as well as Netflix. Alternatively, you can press the app button to access other apps you have downloaded to your device such as Apple TV, Disney+, and YouTube. You also have the option to display images from your Amazon photo library when the device is not use.

However, the Echo Show really comes into its own with all the other widgets you can add. Just swipe down from the top of the display and hit ‘widget gallery’. There you will find everything you need to help you organize your life, from sticky notes to shopping lists and from calendars to daily reminders. It can also display local weather, so you're fully prepared when you leave the house.

Once you’ve made your choice, each of the widgets is then displayed on the home screen. And if you want more details, you only have to touch the screen to bring up more information. For example, while the weather widget shows the temperature for the next four hours, you can find out more information (such as the likelihood of rain and whether you need an umbrella) by pressing the weather option on the home screen to bring info up across the entire display.

Want to control connected devices within your home, such as your smart thermostat, lights, and home security cameras? There’s a ‘smart home favorites’ widget for that. Not only will this allow you to control options such as the temperature of your property, it will also do things like display footage from a connected video doorbell if someone comes to the door. Support is provided for Matter and Thread, which means you can use the Echo Show 21 as a Zigbee Hub.

Finally, also on board is the Echo Show 21 is a 13MP selfie camera (complete with privacy shutter) for video calls. This includes Alexa Drop Ins, which lets you get in touch via video or voice using other connected devices in the household. It’s particularly handy if you want to tell the kids that dinner is ready and they’re not responding to yells from the kitchen because they are on their devices.

Amazon Echo Show 21: price and availability

• $399/£399.99 without stand, $100/£100 extra with stand
• Available now
• Available in the US and UK

Released in November 2024, the Amazon Echo Show 21 costs £399 or $399 direct from Amazon for the standard wall-mount installation (at the time of writing it's not available in Australia). However, if you want a desktop/counter stand you will have to pay an additional $100/£100 on top of that. That makes the Echo Show 21 the most expensive device in Amazon’s line-up, at $100/£100 more than the smaller Amazon Echo Show 15.

It’s not an excessive amount of money for what it is, but it's not an absolute bargain either. A decent 43-inch smart TV will now set you back less money, so it does seem a little pricey.

That said, the Amazon Echo Show 21 is much more than a smart TV. It offers much greater functionality and interactivity for starters, including the ability to control your smart home, music and calendars, as well as being able to stream content from video services.

Importantly, it also feels very solid and well made, with an attractive wooden frame around the outside. It certainly makes a nice addition to the kitchen, living room or office, especially if you are looking for all of the features of an Echo Show device, but with a bigger screen.

• Value score: 3.5 / 5

Amazon Echo Show 21: specs

Amazon Echo Show 21: design and installation

• Mounting bracket for portrait/landscape orientation
• Solid design with black wooden frame around 21.5-inch screen
• Alexa voice remote

Designed to be mounted on the wall, the hefty Amazon Echo Show 21 comes with a metal bracket in the box (alternatively, you can buy a desktop stand but our review sample didn’t include one). This means you will need a drill, a level, and hammer for installation. Four screws and four wall plugs are provided in the pack, as well as paper wall-mount template that helps you drill holes into the right places.

Once the bracket is installed, you simply slide the Echo Show 21 into place in either landscape or portrait orientation. I used it extensively in both modes, but personally preferred it in portrait because I found it better for displaying the widgets. Around the actual screen is a white background and around that is a black wooden surround, giving the Echo Show the look and feel of a large photo frame. Large speakers are built into either side of the display and on top (in landscape mode) are buttons for volume up/down as well as two pinhole microphones.

For privacy, there’s also a button that switches the microphones on and off (this glows red when activated) and a privacy shutter that covers the 13MP camera. The power cable needs to be inserted into a recess on the back of the display before it’s mounted to the wall, but at 1.5m it’s not overly long, which could limit your options when it comes to positioning it. Finally, you will need to pair the display with the Alexa Voice Remote (it is the same as the one you get for Amazon Fire Sticks).

This can only be paired with one device at a time, and can’t control skills and services outside the Fire TV experience. Also, while some video streaming services such as Amazon Prime can be fully controlled using the touch screen display, other services such as Netflix provide only limited functionality without the remote.

In addition to the circular navigation pad and usual forward/rewind and home buttons, the remote includes an Alexa option with a pinhole microphone for use instead of the smart display’s far-field microphones. As with other Alexa devices, you can change the wake word of the Echo Show 21 – handy if you have several Amazon devices near to one another.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Amazon Echo Show 21: performance

• Crisp 1,920 x 1,080 display
• Maybe a little too bright
• Much improved sound system and onboard 13MP camera

The largest display in Amazon's Echo series, with nearly double the viewing area of the Echo Show 15, the Echo Show 21 certainly cuts an imposing figure once mounted on the wall. In fact, it seems more like a much larger smart TV than a glorified touch screen display with built-in Alexa, especially when mounted in landscape mode.

Boasting a highly reflective 1,920 x 1,080 display, the Echo Show 21's picture quality is excellent, delivering crisp, bright images. However, it’s arguably a little too bright especially when watching video content. The first thing I had to do once I switched the display on was to swipe down from the top to turn the brightness down. However, switching adaptive brightness does help a little, automatically adjusting brightness levels based on the ambient light levels in the room. Turn down the room’s lights and the screen will dim too, turn them up and the screen will brighten.

Also on board is a proximity sensor, which adjusts what’s on the screen when you aren't actively using it. When no one is nearby, it closes the control panel and rotates through a variety of screens. For example, it could display various content suggestions such as jokes or football scores or act as a large photo frame, cycling through images in your Amazon picture library. It will also support multiple users, switching between different profiles using facial recognition when the camera is active or via voice recognition instead.

One of the criticisms of previous Echo Show devices was the poor quality of the onboard camera. Thankfully this has been addressed with the Echo Show 21. Supporting auto-framing, 3.3x zoom and noise reduction technology, the built-in 13MP camera works extremely well – whether you're using Alexa Drop In to tell the kids that the dinner is ready, or calling someone for a business meeting. However, if you are worried about privacy you can always cover up the camera using the Camera Shutter button on top of the display, as well as switch the onboard microphones off.

Some reviewers thought sound from the first Echo Show 15 was poor, Amazon has decided to improve it considerably on the new generation smart displays (both 15- and 21-inch versions). In fact, sound on the latest 21-inch model is surprisingly punchy, thanks to reasonably large side mounted speakers complete with two 2-inch woofers and two 0.6-inch tweeters (the previous Echo Show 15 only had two 1.6-inch tweeters).

Over a period of three weeks, I listened to a range of music from various streaming services, including Spotify and Amazon, and found the experience really enjoyable. However, it’s fair to say that the Echo Show 21 still only offers sound quality as good as a modest smart TV, so if it’s a high-quality home cinema system you want, you're best looking elsewhere.

In summary, when it comes to performance, the Echo Show 21 comes highly recommended. And while I think it is rather more successful in portrait mode as a touchscreen home hub, it also doubles as a pretty decent smart TV in landscape mode for sitting back and watching streaming video content.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Amazon Echo Show 21?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Amazon Echo Show 21: also consider

If you're not sure the Amazon Echo Show 21 is the right smart hub for you, here are a couple of other options to consider:

How I tested the Amazon Echo Show 21

• I mounted on the wall in my home office for three weeks
• I used it in both landscape and portrait modes
• I tested it both as a home hub and smart TV

To get a good grasp of what a product like the Echo Show 21 can do, you really need to spend as much time with it as possible. That’s because it offers so much functionality! Even after three weeks I’m still finding apps I can download and new things I can do with it.

As I installed it in my home office, I used the Echo Show 21 mostly for listening to classical music while I was working and for features such as the checking the weather before taking the dog out for a lunchtime walk. But I also used it for other things too, including watching video content, turning the heating up and down and viewing images from Amazon Photos.

Personally, I preferred it in portrait mode, although using it landscape mode might work better if you have it installed in the living room or a bedroom. However, you ideally need to use the Echo Show for its advanced smart home control features to get the most out of it. Read more about how we test.

First reviewed February 2025

During Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, its SmartThings division unveiled new AI technology that could be set to supercharge the smart-home experience – provided that you have a Samsung-based ecosystem, that is.

The new tools will fall under the banner of Samsung's Home AI, and include 'ambient sensing', a feature that gathers insights from connected devices around your home and adapts to your everyday life to make your smart home more efficient.

We don't have a confirmed release date yet, other than a broad 2025-2026 rollout window, which means there's plenty of time to kit your smart home out with SmartThings-enabled hardware; just bear in mind that it's likely most features will be exclusive to Samsung's devices, at least in the short term.

Here are the answers to all your burning questions…

What is ambient sensing?

Chief among these new developments is ambient sensing, whereby SmartThings devices will be able to leverage advanced sensor technology such as motion and sound detection to monitor your daily activities and create the perfect environment for every moment.

Many of Samsung's devices feature such sensors, from the new Bespoke JetBot Combo AI robot vacuum to Samsung's large appliances and the Samsung Music Frame, meaning you just might already have a few devices in your home that will benefit from the new ambient sensor technology.

What will Samsung's ambient sensing do?

Samsung provided a few examples of what its ambient sensing technology will be capable of:

• Human Detection and Activity Monitoring: SmartThings will be able to use sensors to detect different activities like push-ups, sleeping, or even working at your desk. This information will be used to recommend better routines and improve your environment.
• Health Insight and Lifestyle Recommendations: It's not just your devices that SmartThings will adjust; to help you keep healthy, SmartThings will provide real-time feedback such as reminding you to move around if you've been sitting for too long.

So what might this look like in practice? For example, while you're working out, Samsung says SmartThings will be able to detect which kind of exercise you’re doing, offering guidance on your form and giving recommendations for how to up your gains by changing the length of exercise.

If you've just hopped in the shower, the sound and motion made as you dry your hair could trigger your robot vacuum to collect any hair you shed in the process, or create a more ambient mood as you approach your favorite reading chair by switching on the nearby lamp and adjusting the room's temperature.

Or, if you've got a particularly fluffy friend at home that emits wafts of fur as it jumps up on furniture, SmartThings could even recognize this and activate your air purifier to remove allergens from the air.

Indeed, it's a development I discussed with a number of executives at CES 2025, though I couldn't quite get a sense for how soon these features might manifest; now I know, and I'm delighted that it's set to happen so much sooner than I'd anticipated.

Generative AI Map View

The fun doesn't stop there; SmartThings is also set to upgrade its AI Home arsenal with Generative AI technology, namely by adding further personalization to your Map View.

Now, Samsung says you'll be able to use your phone camera to capture images of furnishings around your home to make Map View more accurate to your styling.

That in turn means you'll have a better user experience when it comes to navigating around and interacting with your smart home, as Map View will know where your furniture is, and be capable of leveraging the new ambient sensing technology based on proximity.

Will SmartThings keep my home data secure?

The short answer is, Samsung says, yes.

The longer answer is that Samsung will store all information locally on your network, offering privacy by keeping the data within Samsung's appliances and devices instead of being dependent on the cloud. That means, Samsung says, that your data won't be accessible to third parties without your consent.

Samsung is, frankly, light years ahead of its smart home competition, owing to its combination of wide-ranging product categories across home and lifestyle devices, its worldwide popularity, and its various partnerships with the likes of Google for its AI tools as well as its collaboration with the Connectivity Standards Alliance on Matter.

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• Forget AI, there's only one thing I want from Philips Hue this year

• A 6.7-inch OLED screen is predicted
• This fits with other competing smart displays
• The device is rumored to be launching in 2025

We still don't know what Apple is going to call its first smart display, but it seems that some kind of HomePod-meets-iPad device is almost certainly on the way – and we just got a bit more information about its screen in a new leak.

According to South Korean outlet Seoul Economic Daily (via @Jukanlosreve), the OLED display on the upcoming smart home gadget is going to be fitted with low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) technology.

That's not quite as advanced as the low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) version of OLED – which enables variable refresh rates and always-on displays on the best iPhones – but it's good enough for a smart home display, and it's also cheaper to manufacture.

We get one more tidbit out of this report: the screen size is apparently going to be 6.7 inches. That would make it smaller than the 6.9-inch display on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the 8.3-inch display on the iPad mini 7.

Taking on Amazon and Google

That screen size is perhaps smaller than you might have imagined based on something like the Amazon Echo Show 10, but it's in line with previous predictions, as well as fitting in with what Amazon and Google are doing.

The Echo Show is available in a variety of different sizes, while Google has the 7-inch Nest Hub and the 10-inch Nest Hub Max. With that in mind, Apple's offering would be towards the smaller end of the smart display scale.

There's been talk that the display will be on a movable arm (think the old iMac G4), attached to a rounded base. A smart home controller screen from Apple – without a speaker fixed to it – has also been rumored.

After years of rumors, it would seem that a launch is now approaching. We recently heard that the launch date had been pushed back to the second half of 2025, though it's possible we might get some kind of reveal earlier in the year.

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• Amazon has launched its biggest-ever smart display – the Echo Show 21
• It combines a 21-inch screen with new features like improved audio
• The Echo Show 15 has also been upgraded with the same new features

If you like the idea of having a wall-mounted smart display for video calls, photo sharing, and family organization, Amazon has just launched two tempting new options – an upgraded Echo Show 15 and its biggest-ever smart screen, the new Echo Show 21.

The Echo Show series is already available in bewildering array of screen sizes, starting with the Echo Show 5. But these two new models are unique – not only are they Amazon's largest options, with 15-inch and 21-inch screens respectively, they're also designed to be wall-mountable. That makes them particularly suitable for busy kitchens with cluttered worktops.

The original Amazon Echo Show 15 launched in September 2021, but it's been updated with several upgrades, which are also in the new Echo Show 21. The first of those directly addresses one of our main criticisms of the first Echo Show 15, which is improved audio quality. Rather than two 1.6-inch tweeters, the displays combine dual 2-inch woofers with two 0.6-inch tweeters for a bassier sound.

Combined with some new noise reduction tech and improved auto-framing skills, this should make the Echo Show 15 and 21 much better for video calls. Amazon also says that both displays now offer double the field-of-view compared to the first Echo Show 15 and "65% more zoom", although this is presumably still just digital zoom.

The final two improvements should boost Echo Shows' streaming and smart home powers. They now have Wi-Fi 6E, which offers better speeds and lower latency compared to Wi-Fi 6. Depending on your router, that should boost the streaming experience from YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video.

Lastly, the Echo Show 15 and 21 have a built-in smart home hub with Matter support. The original Echo Show 15 already supports Matter, but connecting to your various smart home devices should be easier thanks to direct support for Wi-Fi, Thread, or Zigbee protocols. Both are powered by an octa-core processor with Amazon's AZ2 neural network engine.

On the downside, the price of getting a large, wall-mountable Echo Show has gone up since the original Echo Show 15 was launched. The new Echo Show 15 costs $299 / £299 (around AU$460) – a $50 increase from the original – while the Echo Show 21 will set you back $399 / £399 (around AU$615).

We'll update this story when we get the official Australia pricing – and we'll also be testing both soon to let you know if they're new contenders for our best smart displays guide.

Analysis: The battle for your wall space heats up

We've seen rumors grow in recent months that Apple is planning to launch a wall-mounted smart display in early 2025 – and it seems that Amazon has pre-empted that by launching its new Echo Show 21 and refreshing its Echo Show 15.

Both of these new displays are built on the same idea as Apple's rumored Apple Intelligence-powered screen – namely, letting you easily video call family, watch YouTube, and control your smart home from one unobtrusive kitchen hub.

As our Amazon Echo Show 15 review noted, the original kitchen nerve center wasn't perfect. Our main complaints were the disappointing speakers, average display with weak colors and brightness, lack of resizable widgets, and the fact that the tilt stand was sold separately.

Amazon certainly seems to have addressed the criticisms of audio quality in these new Echo Shows. But while they do both come with an Alexa Voice Remote, you still need to buy the pricey stand separately (for $99 / £99).

The other big unknown is the future state of voice assistants on these devices. The upgraded Alexa AI seems to be perpetually delayed, Apple won't be meaningfully upgrading Siri until iOS 18.4 in 2025, and Google is being characteristically non-committal with its smart home plans, despite our pleas for it to upgrade its aging Nest Hub.

Still, Amazon certainly has the most experience in making big, wall-mountable smart home displays – and on paper, the Echo Show 15 and 21 look like its best efforts yet.

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Google Home sales can be a lifesaver for anyone kitting their home out with a virtual assistant. Whether you're after a series of smart displays or more discrete speaker systems, you'll be glad to know that we regularly see Google Home deals across a range of devices. Knowing where to find these offers is often the hardest part, which is why we're rounding up all the best prices across the full range right here. 

The Google Home family of smart speakers are amongst the most popular smart speakers on the market that tap into the convenience of voice control. And don't tell Alexa, but Google Assistant has proved to be considerably smarter at answering our requests. The Google Home and Google Home Mini are roughly on par with the Amazon Echo range in terms of audio quality for music, but the newer Google Home Max frankly thrashes any of Amazon's Echo speakers for music fans who want to feel every beat.

More features and apps are being added all the time, but right now, you can stream music from Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, or your phone. There are smart home tech features to pair it with, too, so watch in awe as your smart lights and thermostats are told what to do. Even the basic features prove incredibly handy, such as adding items to shopping and to-do lists or setting alarms – finally, no more burnt pizza!

Today's best Google Home deals

There are some modest upgrades found in the Google Nest Mini - the long-awaited follow up to the Google Home Mini. As far as the visual design goes, nothing has changed though, which is a little disappointing in all honesty and certainly won't have many people trading in their older model an immediate upgrade.

The Nest Mini has slightly improved capacitive control features for volume and playback, with sensor-activated LEDs guiding your hand to the correct control spots. While the Google Nest Mini is still powered by Google Assistant, it now utilizes onboard machine learning to fine-tune your queries and speed up response times over the Home Mini. There's also a new slot on the underside of the device that will let you hang the speaker on a wall.

The speaker is supported by an improved bass, and an overall larger speaker system housed in the same chassis. We found the original version to be surprisingly loud for a cheap music player and the extra bass is appreciated here. The Nest Mini has the same starting price as the Home Mini but the older device is often on sale for much less and we expect the Nest Mini to follow suit to keep up the pace on Amazon's Echo Dot series.

The Google Home Mini is a smaller cheaper version of Google Home, first unveiled in 2017. Instead of a pricey £129/$129, like its bigger older brother, you pay $49 in the US and £49 in the UK for the Home Mini but you can get it for much less at regular intervals throughout the year.

Naturally, the Google Home Mini comes with Google Assistant, meaning you ask it questions by simply starting with, "Ok, Google." And with the power of Google search engine behind it and now a super low price to match, Alexa's time may be up.

Color options include chalk (grey), charcoal (black) coral (pink) and the newest entry is mint (light green). At such a cheap price point, you may be tempted to get more than one, especially for family homes as a new Broadcast app allows you to talk to any Google Home device in the house.

Google Home Mini deals have been strong of late as Google is keen to catch up to the Amazon Echo Dot sales, so you'll rarely have to pay the full RRP. Check out our full Google Home Mini review for the full rundown on the diminutive smart speaker.

The standard Google Home was the first smart speaker Google released. It costs a fair bit more than the Home Mini, but the more powerful speaker can be worth it if you want to play louder music. It's a great middle option between the choice of three speakers and considerably cheaper than the high-end Google Home Max.

So, how much is the original Google Home? Prices started around the $129 / £129 mark, but retailers are slowly getting more competitive nowadays. We're seeing more discounts to keep the price well below this. Need to know more? Then check out our full Google Home review.

Ok, so you're after some serious boom for the tunes? Then you'll want to take a look at the monster-sized Google Home Max. This large-speaker houses two 4.5-inch woofers for high-fidelity music playback along with the Google Assistant tech that's proved so popular in the Google Home range of smart speakers. Technically, this speaker is what we'd call super smart as it'll adjust its music playback automatically depending on room-size and placement. The microphone has been improved too and is more than capable of picking up your requests from the other side of the room even with music blaring out at significant volume.

The Google Home Max prices tend to match the name to with a $399/£399 pricetag. That being said, prices have started to drop more recently, so you should be able to get a better deal as seen above. If you'd like to see the full rundown, be sure to take a quick look at our Google Home Max review.

The Google Home Hub has now been renamed Google Nest Hub. It's taking a while for retailers to update their listings though. The two items are actually exactly the same, it's just a name change. So don't be alarmed if the retail box simply has a sticker over the old name.

We've been waiting a while for a screen on one of Google's smart speakers and late in 2018 we finally got one with the Google Home Hub. With a RRP of just $149 / £139 / AU$219, the Nest Hub is much cheaper than the similarly-sized Amazon Echo Show. 

The Google Nest Hub naturally supports a huge range of smart home products like Hue bulbs, Nest thermostats and so on. Unlike the Amazon Echo Show, you're getting full YouTube support, which is great for watching music video, trailers, cooking videos, how-to content and so on - a huge advantage over the rival device. We frequently find the voice-activated Google Assistant outperforms Amazon's Alexa at pretty much every turn too. 

The Nest Hub doesn't have a camera built-in, so you can't use it for video calls. If that's something you really want, we've rounded up the latest Amazon Echo Show prices for you too or take a look at the Google Home Hub Max below. For more details on this one though, take a look at our Google Nest Hub review.

Want something a bit larger than the Google Nest Hub (aka Google Home Hub)? Then you might want to take a look at the newest member of Google smart speaker family as it comes with a 10-inch display.

Unlike the smaller version, there is a camera on this version too giving you the option of video calls via the free Google Duo app which is also available on smartphones and PCs. There's also a switch on the device to turn the camera and mic off for added privacy.

A built-in Chromecast allows you to stream content directly to the screen too if you're able to place the Nest Hub Max close enough to enjoy watching on its 10-inch screen as it's not exactly designed to be held in your hands. The new gesture controls are a handy extra option for controlling media playback without raising your voice or touching the screen too.

If the camera features, gesture controls and larger display aren't key points for you, then the smaller version is seriously cheaper than this one and might be your better option.

What are Google Home bases?

The bottom part of the original Google Home speaker can be swapped out for different 'bases' to replace the default grey one. They're not cheap though and the official ones are only available from the Google Store at the time of writing.

Fabric bases are the cheapest at $20/£18 and come in Mango (orange), Marine (green) and Violet. Metal bases are $40/£36 and come in Carbon (black), Copper and Snow (slightly grey). We might just have to splash out for that Violet one though.

We've seen some third-party sales and knock-offs, mainly leather-style ones, at Amazon and eBay, but nothing particularly tempting so far and the prices aren't that much cheaper either.

Apple is re-launching its Homepod Mini in a Midnight black. This brings the smart speaker in line with its second-generation HomePod which is also available in the same shade. In fact, Midnight is an almost identical shade of black to the previously available Space Gray.

Apart from the color switch, it doesn’t appear anything else is changing. It’s still the same Homepod Mini from 2020. The announcement states the device “offers big sound” from its compact frame. Standing at 3.3 inches tall, Apple’s speaker can fill a whole room with audio or the entire house with multiple Homepods. The outside is covered in a transparent mesh (made of recycled materials), and on the top is a backlit touch surface.

As before, the Midnight Homepod Mini is capable of controlling other smart home devices through Siri. Apple goes on to remind people in its blog post that you can create automations, get notifications whenever a smoke alarm goes off, check the temperature in a room, and more “hands-free.” 

The HomePod Mini in Midnight is available to order for $99 from Apple’s digital storefront along with blue, yellow, white, and orange models. The shipping date is set for July 17. If you prefer to get it in person, you can buy the smart speaker at Apple Store locations in the US, Canada, and 30 other global regions on the same date. 

If you’re curious to know, the image above shows the Homepod Mini in Space Gray on the left and in Midnight on the right. There is a slight difference between the two, although we wouldn't blame you if you don’t see it.

Analysis: Next-gen refresh soon?

Right now, you may be asking, “Did Apple really just re-release the Homepod Mini?” The answer to that question is yes, as far as we can tell. The company’s announcement doesn’t mention any new features or upgrades. It's an identical piece of hardware.

The real news story, in our opinion, isn’t what’s being announced, but rather, what’s not. One online comment we saw pointed out how this re-release could be Apple preparing for the second-generation Homepod Mini. It has been four years since the device’s 2020 launch, so it’s high time for an update. The Midnight black refresh could be the company attempting to offload excess product.

However, don’t expect the next-gen smart speaker to come out anytime soon as the tech giant could be using the refresh to hold over users until it's ready. That is just our pet theory. Things can always change at any time.

Be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best smart speakers.

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Amazon is reportedly working on an upgraded and AI-powered version of its ubiquitous Alexa personal assistant – and you might have to pay for it. 

At its Device and Services event in September, Amazon announced that the Alexa voice assistant will be getting new generative AI upgrades to improve its communication abilities. 

Business Insider reports that the upgraded version of Alexa is referred to internally as ‘Remarkable Alexa’, and will be launched as ‘Alexa Plus’ – suggesting that it will be subscription-based. The company is said to be eyeing June 30 as the launch date for the service.

The report comes as other companies begin to roll out AI integrations. Microsoft revealed a subscription service to its AI assistant Copilot, which is set to be integrated into Windows 11 keyboards. And Google is blending two voice assistant services into one, with Assistant with Bard expected to arrive this year.

Amazon hasn’t commented on the report, and we don’t have any information on how much a subscription might cost, or how it will be rolled out to Alexa devices.

According to Business Insider, the upgraded version of Alexa will have exclusive AI features, allowing you to hold more natural conversations with the assistant, similar to ChatGPT, and offering a more personalized experience – for example, Tom's Guide reports that Alexa Plus will have the ability to distinguish between pauses in speech and the speaker completing a request.

However, right now Alexa Plus is said to be far from the finished product.  The report says it’s currently being tested by 15,000 people, and these trials have identified several flaws in Amazon’s new take on the voice assistance service. 

For one thing, the quality of Alexa Plus’ voice recognition may not be living up to expectations. While the voice assistant offers more personalized conversations, its responses are reportedly deflective and include inaccurate information, problems that could mean a delayed launch. 

These issues are said to be connected to disagreements over the direction of the Alexa upgrade, with several people who developed the original Alexa, referred to internally as ‘Classic Alexa’, reportedly insisting that their work is incorporated into the upgrade. 

According to Business Insider, the key to bringing the new AI features to Alexa Plus is a new large language model (LLM) codenamed Olympus, and the requirement to combine old and new Alexa technologies is “resulting in a more bloated technology stack while creating internal politics for the team”. 

Tech complexities aside, some within Amazon are said to have raised questions about charging for Alexa Plus, noting that Amazon subscribers who are already paying for services such as Amazon Music may not want to pay extra for the upgraded voice assistant.

Amazon recently launched a range of new generative AI apps for Alexa, including a chatbot from Character.ai, which allows you to have conversations with various characters and personas, and Splash Music, which lets you create your music tracks using voice assistant. 

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AI has been front and center in many of the biggest announcements at this year’s CES 2024 tech expo in Las Vegas, and Amazon is among the many tech brands that have unveiled plans to integrate AI into their products and services. Its next step? Alexa generative AI experiences. 

Amazon hasn’t been shy about sharing its AI plans for Alexa. During its September 2023 device event it announced that Alexa will get a new large language model (LLM), alongside new tools to make it easier for developers to build conversational experiences with generative AI. 

Now, Amazon is bringing the first of those developer-built AI apps to the voice assistant to take advantage of Alexa’s upgraded LLM and enhance the user experience, and you can start using the new features right now. The new generative AI apps can be downloaded through the Amazon Alexa Skill Store. 

The first of these is the integrated Character.ai chatbot, which adds an element of playfulness to the voice assistant. Character.ai allows you to have conversations with a long list of characters and personas, to get information, or just for fun.  

You might, for example, want to have an inspiring chat with a personal trainer, or receive book suggestions from the AI’s designated bookworm, Librarian Linda. If you’re in the mood for an intellectual conversation, Character.ai can generate AI versions of historical figures such as William Shakespeare and Socrates. 

In addition to chatbot fun, AI is set to enhance the way you connect with music via Alexa. In collaboration with AI music-creation software Splash, you can create custom songs by using your voice, and gun for the next Record of the Year Grammy award. To use it on an Echo device, just say “Alexa, open Splash Music”. 

From there, you can put your music production skills to the test to create songs, experimenting with pop, rock, electronic, and countless other genres – you could say “Alexa, create a classic rock indie folk song”, for example. You can add lyrics and sing along to your generated track, and even ask Alexa to send a mobile link so you can download your songs. 

When you’re not trying to become the next hot music producer, you can take a break with Alexa’s new AI voice game. Developers at Volley, an AI voice-game creator, have collaborated with Amazon to bring another fun Alexa skill to your Echo devices, called ‘Volley’s 20 Questions’. 

It’s a version of the classic game in which you have to guess who or what the person who’s ‘it’ is by asking questions that they answer with yes or no. Volley’s Alexa integration is a modern revamp that “marks a major milestone in gaming” according to Volley CEO Max Child.

You need to say “Alexa, open Volley Games” to get started. The game allows a natural conversation to flow between you and the AI Riddlemaster. To play, you simply ask questions such as “Is it an animal?” and the voice assistant will answer yes or no, and even give you hints if you get stuck. 

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Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen): Two-minute review

If the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) isn’t proof-positive that smart speakers are on their way out, then I don’t know what is. Smart displays not only allow you to connect and voice-control your smart home devices but also provide many other functionalities that even the best smart speakers and best Alexa speakers just aren’t equipped for. 

This latest version of Amazon’s 8-inch model might also be the best smart display for most people – though budget-minded folks might prefer the much cheaper Echo Show 5, which has its own advantages – having a generous display and more functionalities. I’ve been using the second generation of the Echo Show 5 as my main smart display, and honestly, I’ve always found it a tad lacking. That is, it’s well suited for quick access to things but doesn't meet all my needs.

Upgrading to the Show 8 was a revelation. Suddenly, watching movies on Prime Video in my kitchen while cooking isn't a practice in the art of squinting, listening to Taylor Swift while doing the dishes is a better experience in audio, and video calls to friends and family don't feel like a game of hide and seek when you’re moving around and doing things.

The Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) is, of course, capable of much more than that, which I’ll get to in a second, but my point is that it’s a wiser choice as your home’s main gateway to your smart home devices and more. 

There are things that I do feel Amazon could have done better. The display still has those thick bezels that now look outdated. The 13MP camera it inherited from its predecessor is just sufficient. Then there's the price bump, making it a less affordable proposition – though, luckily, Amazon regularly offers discounts on its devices.

None of those things would deter me from purchasing the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen), however, and they shouldn’t deter you either. If you’re serious about smartening your home, this is one of the best smart home devices to invest in. 

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen): Price and availability

• How much does it cost?  $149.99 / £149.99 (about AU$230) 
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and the UK

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) has gotten a price bump, sadly. At $149.99 / £149.99 (about AU$230), it’s $20 / £30 more than its predecessor, the Echo Show 8 (2nd gen). I don’t consider it that big of a price increase, however, especially considering the improvements that come with it. And, with Black Friday deals starting to trickle in, there’s no doubt it’s going to get a discount soon.

Bear in mind that it is pretty pricey if you compare it to the Echo Show 5. The Echo Show 5 (3rd gen), the latest version of the 5-inch model, is much cheaper at $89.99 / ‎£89.99 (about AU$140). So if you’re on a tight budget, I'd say get that one or save up for the Echo Show 8 if you can wait.

While US and UK customers can get it now, Australian customers will have to wait a little longer as it’s not yet available at the time of writing.

• Value: 4 / 5

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen): Specs

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen): Design and features

• Solid build, made of recycled materials
• Great display with unfortunately large bezels
• Some design updates like a centered camera

Setting up the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) is easy, so easy, in fact, that there’s really not a lot of thought involved. This is true for all of Amazon’s devices. However, with added functionalities on the Show 8, there are some things you need to decide on, including Vision Accessibility, your choice of Photo Display, home monitoring, and more. You’ll also be asked to set up your Visual IDs. 

The whole setup shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes in a single-person household. However, if you’ve got several people to set up Visual IDs for – the process requiring each person to stand in front of the camera and then follow the prompts – it’ll obviously take longer.

If you’d rather skip creating Visual IDs for every single person, you may do so, but I'd advise against that as this feature detects whenever a “registered” individual is near and personalizes content and even the displayed information on the screen based on their history, preferences and more. That essentially gives every single person in your household their own virtual Echo Show 8, which is pretty nifty.

Before finishing setup, I also suggest setting up Adaptive Content, which uses what Amazon calls "on-device computer vision technology" to adjust the screen's content based on how close or far you are from the device. 

If you own the previous generation Echo Show 8, you might notice the lack of a design overhaul here. This looks a lot like its predecessor, but it does have a few small-ish changes. For example, the back is different, in that the sides and corners of the speaker cabinet aren’t flush with the display. That’s not necessarily a bad or good change, looks-wise; it just depends on your personal preference.

You’ll also notice that the camera has been moved from the right side to the center, which should be advantageous for video calls. It’s ever so slightly lighter at 1.034g instead of 1.037g. And, finally, the display now has edge-to-edge glass, which does make it sleeker looking up-front.

If you were hoping to get a camera and a display upgrade, however, you'll be disappointed. You’re getting the same 13MP camera and the same 8-inch 1,280 x 800 display as before, including those large bezels around it that make it look a little dated. The 2-inch neodymium stereo speakers with passive bass radiator are also the same, although Amazon did improve the sound quality with better sound frequency representations, which I will talk about below.

I’ve only tested the Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) for a week so I can’t speak for its build quality, but I can tell you that it feels very well-made and robust. It’s also made from 29% recycled materials. It’s not as green as Apple’s slew of devices, but at least it’s getting there.

A lot of people are uncomfortable about having security cameras inside their homes, so if you'd like to enable home monitoring but still have the option to turn it off – or not have video on when you’re on calls – the camera privacy shutter is still there within quick and easy reach. And next to it are the mic/camera on/off button and the volume buttons.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen): Performance

• Fast and responsive
• Great features that work well, including Adaptive Content
• Booming audio, great display

At launch, Amazon said it’s powered with an octa-core SoC with Amazon’s AZ2 Neural Network Engine. This improved processor is supposed to be 40% faster than its predecessor when it comes to executing requests and Alexa’s responses.

While I couldn’t make a direct performance comparison with its predecessor as I haven’t tested that myself, I can tell you that after putting up with the Echo Show 5’s (2nd gen) slow processing for at least a year, this Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) felt like a game changer. This thing delivers fast responses, whether I’m asking Alexa to translate something to another language, turning on my smart lights, or calling a friend for a video chat. It even pulled up and started a movie on Amazon Prime Video very quickly, within a couple of seconds, when it normally takes my Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) at least a minute to do so.

The touchscreen display is just as responsive. Tapping buttons and links on my Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) usually means a few seconds of waiting. Sometimes, it doesn’t even respond to my taps. But that isn’t the case here. Every tap is registered and responded to quickly.

Speaking of the display, it may not have gotten an upgrade, but it’s not really necessary in this current version. Its visuals are crisp and clean, and the screen is incredibly bright, allowing me to enjoy movies and shows or see my security camera footage very clearly without the need to squint. I just wish it wasn't so reflective, but the brightness helps offset that.

New features like the Visual ID and Adaptive Content are fairly fast as well. It does take a second or two for the camera to process what it's seeing and react accordingly, but not so long that you’ll get impatient. I quite like these two features as they specifically cater to your visual needs, though I did find that the Adaptive Content doesn’t usually switch to Minimal (the large image and text format) until I’m a little more than five feet away. And there’s no way to change that in the settings.

The one thing I wished Amazon had upgraded, though, is the camera. It’s the same camera that’s on the previous generation, and while it delivers decent footage, I wouldn’t consider it crisp in this day and age. Not that most people would be using this for the type of video calls that require high-res audio, like business meetings, but having that option would have been nice. 

Also, it keeps the same auto-framing feature as its predecessor, which means it’ll follow you around the room, panning and zooming as necessary, when you’re on video calls, but that also feels slightly slower than on many webcams I’ve tested. Again, it’s not too bad, in fact, it's very intuitive. I’m impressed by how appropriate its framing is based on your proximity and position. When I’m a little further away, for example, it actually not only zooms out but centers me, so there’s not a lot of space above my head. However, it’s still a tad slow to operate.

The sound is impressive. The speakers can get pretty loud – one-bedroom apartment-filling, actually – but even at 50% volume, they’re powerful with great frequency representation. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it an audiophile experience, but it’s better than the massive soundbar I have in my living room. And, it’s got decent bass response as well, so you can use it as your main speaker if you’re throwing a party.

Basically, what you've got in the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) is an all-in-one solution for not just your smart home but also your home needs.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen): Also consider

If the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) isn't for you, why not consider other smart displays?

How I tested Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)

• I tested it for a week
• I used it as my main smart display at home
• I made sure to put its features and functionalities through their paces

Testing the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) for a week, I used it as the main smart display (and smart speaker, for that matter) in my apartment. I used it to manage and control my smart home devices, including smart lights, cameras, and more. 

Setting it up in my kitchen, I also used it to pull up recipes, watch movies, and listen to music, as well as video-call friends. Naturally, I tested its features, paying close attention to the new ones, and performance to see how they measure up in the real world.  

I’ve been testing and reviewing vacuum cleaners, home appliances, and smart home devices for different digital publications for years. Currently, I’ve taken on the role of Interim Homes Editor for TechRadar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed November 2023

Redesigned "from the outside in", the new Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) boasts a whole lot of new features to give users a more seamless experience. And, if you haven't thought about investing in one of the best smart displays before, you may want to now.

The Echo Show 8 was announced during Amazon's September device launch event, which also saw a slew of other new releases – check out our Amazon September event live blog for details of everything that was unveiled. The new smart display comes with a tweaked design, and special features like custom-built Spatial Audio, room adaptation technology, and Adaptive Content.

The only snag is that the new device comes at a higher price point than its predecessor, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen). If you want these upgrades, you'll have to shell out $20 /£30 than for the previous model. Are they worth the uptick in price? Keep reading to find out… 

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2023): cut to the chase

• What is it? The 3rd gen Echo Show 8
• When is it out? Available for pre-order today, shipping next month
• What will it cost? $149.99 / £149.99 (about AU$230)

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2023): Price and release date

The new Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) will set you back $149.99 / £149.99 (about AU$230), which makes it a bit more expensive than the previous generation. The Echo Show 8 (2nd gen), released more than two years ago back in June 2021, and costs $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199. So, if you're looking for a cheaper smart display, that one is a good alternative, and still available on Amazon.

If you want all the new features, however, the Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) is available now for pre-order, with shipping commencing in October.

Amazon is also releasing the Amazon Echo Show 8 Photos Edition, which comes with an additional photo-forward mode, in Q3 2023. That's a little pricier still at $159.99, with that price including a six-month subscription to Amazon's PhotosPlus service. You have the option to cancel after six months, but if you want to renew after that, it's $1.99 per month. We have yet to confirm if this special edition will be available to customers outside the US.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2023): Design

David Limp, SVP of Amazon Devices & Services, introduced the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) as "redesigned from outside in," meaning that its plethora of new features comes with upgraded design elements as well.

To start, it comes with edge-to-edge glass and soft curvatures, and its camera (13MP as the 2nd gen) is now located in the center of its top bezel, as opposed to the corner-placed one on the previous generation. That's about it, however. Other than those changes, this smart display is going to look a lot like its predecessor.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2023): Features

It's in its new features that the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) really shines. 

The first of those upgrades is that Amazon's engineers have upgraded the audio to make it better at minimizing background noise and at deliver better audio quality with improved clarity and bass. It now also fitted with custom-built spatial audio, which senses acoustics around the room and delivers a more customized sound performance.

But that's just the beginning.

It comes with an improved processor to make it faster in operation, and is running a new model that enables Alexa to response and execute your requests faster – apparently 40% faster. That includes controlling your smart home devices.

Speaking of which, the Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) comes with a built-in smart home hub to make it easier and faster than ever to control your smart home devices (at least the compatible ones). It includes support for smart home standards like Zigbee, Sidewalk, Thread, Bluetooth, and naturally, Matter.

The most exciting upgrade by far, in our opinion, is Adaptive Content. This new home screen features what's called an "on-device computer vision technology" that allows it to adjust your screen's content based on how close or far you are from the Echo Show. It detects where you are in the room and your proximity to the device, and makes the content displayed on the screen bigger, or smaller and more detailed. And if you're enrolled in visual ID, that content will also be personalized based on your history and preference. 

Adaptive Content will be available to all Echo Show 8 devices next month and will roll out to Echo Show 5, 10 and 15 devices early next year.

Today's best Echo deals

What looks like and acts like a TV is now an actual TV. By way of a new software update, the Echo Show 15 now supports Amazon Fire TV, allowing you to watch your favorite shows from various streaming services. 

Platforms like YouTube, Disney Plus, and Paramount Plus have a new home on the Show 15's interface. If you don’t mind smudging the 15.6-inch Full HD display, you can use the newly developed virtual remote to navigate the menus. This is especially helpful since not all of the video apps are touch-enabled. However, if you plan on using or you already have the display in your kitchen (Amazon already knows you do), it does work with the third-generation Alexa Voice Remote so you can keep it smudge-free. Or you can use the Fire TV app; it's all same.

In addition to the Fire TV support, the Echo Show 15's audio is getting an update, adopting from Echo Studio the company’s “custom-built spatial audio processing technology.” That doesn’t mean the Show 15 is getting spatial audio itself as the display is probably incapable of that. Still, any improvement is worth having if it means a more immersive sound. The device’s audio performance, including lackluster bass, is one of its biggest downsides.

None of the smart home features are being cut in any way. You can still use the Echo Show 15's original smart home features like controlling other devices or tracking packages.

A glimpse into the future

What's interesting about the Echo Show 15 is that back in September, Amazon revealed that over 70 percent of device owners use it to watch something off Prime Video. With that in mind, you could argue Amazon has given the display a more sustainable purpose in midst of rough financial times for the company. 

If you’re not aware, Amazon’s Worldwide Digital unit, which is the part of the company that handles Alexa and Echo devices, is on track to lose $10 billion, according to a report by Business Insider. Apparently, the devices don’t sell well enough. They're popular among their audience, but not enough consumers are interested beyond that core group.

These trials don't mean Alexa or Echo hubs will stop working overnight. Far from it. If anything, we might see Amazon pulling out all the stops to ensure these devices continue getting support or potentially new buyers. More people may pick up the Echo Show 15 because of the Fire TV support. Either way, it'll be interesting to see what the future holds for Alexa and the devices that support it. 

If you're interested in an Echo, be sure to check out TechRadar’s recent collection of the cheapest Amazon Echo deals for the month of December. 

There may be an excellent reason to buy your family an Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids this season. And it all comes down to silliness.

For decades, it was a time-honored tradition, driving cross country with only Mad Libs to keep a family laughing and sane. Before digital, we had notepads full of silly story frameworks. They were really just skeletons and the note-taker would call out prompts from the page that asked for a person, place, thing, animal, feeling, etc. The goal was to generate the most absurd story possible, which the designated transcriber would then read to the hysterical wails of the family.

However, the more trips you took, the fewer unfilled pages there were. Analog Mad Libs had its limits.

Recently, I test-drove Amazon's Mad Lib-style efforts on an Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids edition. This is very much like the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) we reviewed in 2021, but with built-in parental controls and content filters. It's also home to Amazon's Create with Alexa beta, which the company announced in Sept and is rolling out officially today (Nov. 29).

When I heard about these AI-powered story-creation skills, I didn't think much of them. In fact, I may have dismissed them since AIs are currently writing some of the online news prose you read and, to be honest, this rubs me the wrong way.

Create with Alexa — even in its beta form — isn't the kind of cold-impersonal AI content generator that burns my shorts. It's a kid and adult-friendly story builder that blends the essence of Mad Libs (no official relation to the brand) with the power of AI but in a way that puts you in control.

To get started, we told Amazon's voice assistant Alexa, "Let's make a story." This launched the creative AI beta and its kid-friendly interface. It walked us through choosing a handful of story settings and character details:

• A place: I chose space
• A character: I made mine a monkey
• A character name: "Twiggy" sounded good to me
• Type of person: I went with "lazy."

Like Mad Libs (there's no official affiliation with Amazon), the prompts were designed to help push the story along in increasingly bizarre (but always kid-safe) directions.

The prompts are curated and offer a relatively limited set of options and themes that include underwater, enchanted forest, and space exploration, as well as just four customization choices (story hero, hero name, descriptive word, color). Whatever doesn't fit inside those pre-defined prompts is ignored by the system. In other words, you can't build a whacky story built out of your personal details (name, address, etc.)

Amazon told me that the system uses three different AIs to construct a whimsical story. It uses a language model trained on human-written stories. Second, it uses an AI scene generation model to build the background, properly places objects and story subjects in the scene, and even give characters facial expressions. You might call the third AI "The Conductor," as it generates what Amazon calls "complementary music" for your story.

All those AIs raise the variability level of each story, which means that even with the same prompts, you might get a different tale.

This is all well and good but from what I can tell, these AIs may also be comedians. The resulting story was just as ridiculous as any Mad Lib we created on the ride from Colorado to Florida.

Here's a sample passage:

"Twiggy used the blue, star-filled Sun to broadcast their Jokes to all the stars and moon. The audience loved what they saw and Twiggy did not get tired of being funny as they watched him."

Where Mad Libs ends and Create with Alexa potentially takes off, though, is in the system's ability to retain these silly story details and the character you co-built with it to, eventually, power other stories. Essentially, Twiggy can, with a future update, be my lead space money in an unlimited number of AI/human co-authored tales. 

Your original stories are all stored in your personalized, in-skill, media gallery, so you can view and replay them at any time.

What I like about this concept is that it's not just a child or anyone staring at another screen, waiting for it to tell them another story and entertain them. Creative AI is, by design, a co-creation effort. The story doesn't develop or go anywhere without input from your child or you (or the two of you together). It's a smart way of using AI without letting it take over.

The experience is designed to work on all Echo Show devices. When Amazon lowers the price of the Echo Show 5 for Kids this holiday buying season, I think Create with Alexa could be the reason you go after that deal.

Is Apple preparing to shake up its lackluster smart home lineup?

As first reported by Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, the tech giant is supposedly working on “at least four” new smart home products – with a HomePod 2, an updated HomePod mini and several never-before-seen devices expected to be among that number. 

Not all of the in-development devices will make it to market, Gurman suggests, but it's thought that the new HomePod and HomePod mini will be joined by a kitchen-based smart display and a living room device designed to connect an Apple TV, camera and HomePod. 

The first of the latter two devices is described as being a smart speaker bearing a screen “resembling an iPad” – which sounds, to us, like it could be Apple’s attempt to rival Amazon’s flagship Echo Show home assistant. 

Gurman’s report marks the first time we’ve heard either device mentioned in detail online – though rumors of a speaker-sized Apple TV have been swirling for several months now – and he writes that at least one of them could arrive late next year or in early 2024.

As for news of the HomePod 2 (codenamed B620), Gurman had previously joined Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in reporting its ongoing development. The device is expected to run the same S8 chip as the Apple Watch 8, and is slated to arrive towards the end of this year. 

It remains unclear what upgrades might be headed the way of a refreshed HomePod mini, though we’d anticipate a form factor redesign and the addition of Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio support (a feature boasted by its larger sibling).

Apple discontinued the HomePod proper in March of last year to focus on the upkeep of the mini, which (it’s presumed) enjoyed far stronger sales in the year following its October 2020 launch. It therefore came as a surprise to hear that the original HomePod might be getting an upgrade before the mini – though both devices now appear in line for a successor.

As mentioned, the HomePod 2 (or whatever Apple ends up calling it) is expected to arrive either late this year or early 2023. For everything we know so far about a sequel to Apple’s flagship smart home device, head over to our dedicated hub. 

Ikea has unveiled its new smart home hub, and it’ll support the soon-to-launch Matter industry standard for smart home devices, which is designed to make it easier to connect gadgets from different brands.

The Dirigera hub and app are designed to make managing your smart home devices much simpler by connecting them over one centralized platform – whether they were made by Amazon, Google, Apple or Ikea (via The Verge). This will be possible thanks to Matter, a new connectivity standard that will soon be adopted by many of the biggest brands in the smart-home space.

The Dirigera hub is a small disc that’s 2.7cm tall and has a diameter of 11.2cm. It’ll interface with a new Ikea Home app, and, when it becomes Matter-certified it’ll support all of Ikea’s existing smart home devices, as well as those from other brands that support the Matter standard.

We don't yet know how much the Dirigera hub will cost when it releases, but Ikea's current Trådfri Gateway hub sells for $40 / £25 / AU$59. The new device is set to launch in October.

What is Matter?

Matter is what’s called an interoperability protocol. In less jargon-heavy terms, it means that smart home devices from manufacturers that sign up to the standard will be able to work across ecosystems. 

So, rather than having to run different smartphone hub apps on your phone for all your different peripherals from Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung and others, you should be able to consolidate and control most of them through a single interface.

Once Matter rolls out you also won’t have to worry as much about whether a certain smart home device is exclusive to Google or Amazon’s ecosystem – although some older gadgets won’t be upgraded to support Matter, so you will need to check compatibility.

At Google I/O 2022 the company announced that its Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Nest Mini, Google Nest Hub, Google Nest Hub (2nd generation), Google Nest Hub Max, Google Nest Audio, and Google Nest Wifi devices will all support Matter.

Meanwhile, Amazon has confirmed that its Echo 4th gen smart speakers as well as any model other than its original Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Tap will receive the Matter update. Additionally its Eero Pro, Eero Beacon, Eero Pro 6, and Eero 6 will gain Matter too.

Matter doesn’t have a firm roll-out date – it’s expected to launch later this year – but you can expect that various smart home device makers will be keen to let you know which of their tech supports the standard when it does finally launch.

Will Matter matter to you? 

Probably not right away. If you’re like us you’ve most likely based a lot of your smart home purchases on what’s compatible with the gadgets you already own. If you use an Amazon Echo smart speaker you'll most likely have bought a Ring device over Google’s Nest Doorbell, for example.

You’ll notice the difference when you next go to expand your smart home setup, as your list of compatible devices will be a little longer than it was before. Whether you’re after a smart speaker, TV, thermostat, or light bulb, you’ll find at least one that supports Matter.

As we mentioned above, you’ll still need to double-check that the tech you’ve got your eye on is Matter-certified – even Ikea’s own Symfonisk speakers (made in partnership with Sonos), such as the Table Lamp and Picture Frame, aren’t confirmed to support it yet, but the list of partnering brands is well over 100 now.

Not only will this help you find the tech that best suits your needs, it also means that you may be able to save money by shopping around for devices, as you won't be confined to single brand's ecosystem.

• Speaking of bargains, check out the best Amazon Echo deals we can find

I love smart speakers. My house is full of them. As well as the four (four! Count them!) Amazon Echo Alexa speakers I have permanently set up in my home (a regular Echo, an Echo Studio, a 10-inch Echo Show and, the newest addition, an Echo Show 15), I have a constant procession of smart speakers in and out of my set up for review purposes.

From Sonos speakers to the Apple HomePod, I’ve basically tried all the ones worth trying – and some cruddy ones too.

However, the smart speaker market feels a little stagnant right now. Amazon hasn’t put out a significant audio upgrade to its Echo line up since the Echo Studio, the Show 15 is an improvement over the standard Show line but not a generational leap, and the HomePod line (currently at least) is resigned to be a sideshow as the HomePod Mini does the heavy lifting for Apple’s in-the-home audio ambitions.

That's why I’m particularly intrigued by a rumored update to the Google Nest Hub line up. According to the usual “sources in the know”, an upcoming Google Nest Hub 3 is making a dramatic – but sensible – change from the smart display norm.

A double whammy

According to sources speaking to 9to5Google, a third generation of the Google Nest Hub will see the smart display become a two-in-one convertible device.

Where standard smart displays are essentially static, connected screens, tethered to a plug socket and giving a visual interface to the smart speaker experience, the Nest Hub 3 would instead let a user detach the screen portion and take it around the home with them.

Beyond the broad concept, not much is yet known, or even ready to be whispered, about the Google Nest Hub 3. There’s no talk of screen sizes (the current Nest Hubs come in seven and 10-inch variants), nor whether the device would use full-fat Android or the Cast software that is at the heart of the Nest Hub 2.

Regardless, the sources are pointing to a 2022 reveal for the device and, though it’s relatively soon, Google I/O 2022 in mid-May would be the perfect stage for it to break cover. 

Sensible flexibility

Either way, Google has been lining up a change like this for a few years. Back at IFA 2019, the company announced the Google Assistant Ambient mode, an underutilized feature that would see Android devices enter a stripped-back hands-free voice control mode when docked for charging. When undocked, the devices then spring to life with full-fat Android, as seen in the Lenovo Smart Tab M10.

Smaller similar changes have been made to existing Nest Hub devices too, with swipes revealing shortcuts to web-based games and applications that expand the functionality of the smart displays.

The proposed Nest Hub 3 seems like a sensible refinement and combination of these collected ideas over the years. When smart displays initially launched, many wondered why you wouldn’t just use a tablet for the same functionality – indeed, the mobile operating systems of tablets often had far deeper functionality than the leaner OSes of smart displays. But smart displays, at least those of larger sizes like the Nest Hub 2 and rotating Echo Show 10, would always beat a tablet in terms of audio capabilities.

And so a smart display that effectively doubled up as both portable tablet and smart speaker seems like the logical approach to smart displays that, arguably, should have been the first step the then-fledgling product category should have taken.

It’s a more efficient use of devices from both a green and financial perspective – why have both a speaker and a portable tablet when one device can do both? A docked tablet would always be charged and ready for on the go use (with wireless charging liberating compared to the finicky docking ports of speakers of yesteryear), but also be smart enough to handle any hands-free voice requests a dedicated smart speaker could. It could even have additional mics in its speaker base for improved voice recognition – not to mention the audio improvements an actual speaker cabinet could bring to the audio experience over a solo tablet’s built-in speakers.

For the cash strapped or space conscious, a 2-in-1 device like this could really maximize the utility of a living space – think a student’s dorm room, or the ability to have a kitchen speaker that doubles up as an ereader when disconnected and taken to bed. If Google could get the best of Assistant Ambient mode and full-fat Android working seamlessly alongside a speaker dock, it could be one of the hardest-working pieces of tech in a family’s gadget arsenal. And with Apple rumored to be considering something similar, this proposed device is a throwback to the days of the speaker docks of old.

• Best smart speakers: from HomePod to Echo

We haven't seen a new Google Nest Hub since March 2021 when sleep sensing capabilities were added to the smart display. If a new report is to be believed, the next generation of the device could come with a detachable screen that doubles up as a tablet.

That's according to sources in the know speaking to 9to5Google. The upcoming third-generation Google Nest Hub is apparently slated to break cover at some point during 2022, although at this stage we don't know too much more about it.

We don't know what the screen size will be (the current Nest Hub options are 7 inches and 10 inches), and we don't know how much this is going to cost. However, the new information does fit with earlier rumors that Google is reinvesting in tablet technology.

Software options

If Google is indeed planning a new Nest Hub with a detachable display, it poses the question of what software the device is going to run. The recently unveiled, tablet-friendly Android 12L could be one option, and would enable full Android app support.

Alternatively, Google could stick with the simpler Cast software that runs on the current 2nd-gen Nest Hub and which has been given several upgrades recently. Another possibility is that the next device will come with the fledgling Fuchsia OS – that operating system is currently used by the first-gen Nest Hub.

Another question is when Google is going to make this next Nest Hub official. It's worth keeping an eye on the Google IO 2022 event for developers – it has been used as a new hardware showcase in the past, and this year's show starts on May 11.

Analysis: smart speakers continue to evolve

First came the smart speaker, driven by the launch and the subsequent popularity of the Amazon Echo. Next came the smart speaker with a screen, and again it was Amazon leading the way with the Amazon Echo Show in a variety of sizes.

There has been talk that Apple could fit the next HomePod with a display, just like the Amazon Echo Show and the Google Nest Hub. That would mean all three of the big players in smart speakers would have a smart display to their name as well.

While the original appeal of the smart speaker was its simplicity, the addition of a screen does enable a lot of extra functionality – not least being able to tap on the screen to select options and features rather than using your voice.

A detachable screen takes everything another step further too, enabling users to control their smart home from any room. The extra appeal is obvious – and if Google could pull it off it would give them an advantage on the smart device market.

• Why the 2nd-gen Google Nest Hub isn't suited to those who share a bed

The best smart display changes the way you interact with a voice assistant - it allows you to see, as well as hear, the information being served. Amazon was the first brand to launch one of these smart speakers with a built-in screen back in 2017, with the original Echo Show boasting a 10.1-inch display. 

Since then, Amazon has expanded the Echo Show range with new iterations of the 10.1in form factor, the most recent of which is the Echo Show 10. 

It has also launched several smaller smart displays, such as the Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) and the Echo Show 8 (2nd gen). However, it’s never attempted to launch a bigger smart display...until now. 

The Echo Show 15 went on sale in late 2021, and in a departure from previous Echo Show smart displays, the Show 15 is designed to be wall-mounted. It can be used as a freestanding unit, but requires a stand that comes at extra expense.

Given that the two smart displays have the same price tag of $249 / £239.99 / AU$399, is bigger really better? We pitted the Echo Show 15 against the Echo Show 10 to find out, so you can confidently choose the smart display that suits you.

Best Amazon Echo Show 15 and Amazon Echo Show 10 deals 

Read on to find out just how these smart displays compare – or, if you know which Alexa smart speaker and screen in one  you want, check out the best prices right now for both products below:    

Price

The Amazon Echo Show 15 and the Amazon Echo Show 10 will both set you back $249 / £239.99 / AU$399 - making them the most expensive smart displays the brand offers. 

The Echo Show 10 is available worldwide, but while the Echo Show 15 is currently on sale in the US and the UK, in Australia it’s still being billed as ‘coming soon’, and Amazon was unable to confirm to us the exact date it will be made available for purchase. 

As we’ve already mentioned, while the Echo Show 10 is freestanding, the Echo Show 15 is designed to be wall-mounted. An optional stand is available so it can be used on a surface or side, but this is priced at $29.99 / £29.99 / AU$49.99, making the Echo Show 15 slightly costlier if you don’t want it freestanding, or you live outside without any walls.

When it comes to rival smart displays, the Google Nest Hub Max, which also has a 10-inch screen, is slightly more affordably priced at $229 / £219 / $349. However, Google doesn’t offer any bigger smart displays that rival the Echo Show 15.

Design

The screen sizes aren’t the only thing that differs between the Amazon Echo Show 15 and the Echo Show 10  - they actually look dramatically different. The Amazon Echo Show 15 is a rectangular smart display that can be used in either portrait or landscape mode. 

In a style similar to a picture frame, the Show 15 has a thick black bezel, while the 1980 x 1080 15.6-inch display is positioned in the center of a white surround, with the camera lens located in the top right-hand corner of the screen (if it's used in Portrait mode). 

As we’ve mentioned already, the Show 15 is designed to be wall-mounted but an optional stand is also available so it can be placed on a countertop for example. 

The Show 10, meanwhile, is a freestanding smart display, with a cylindrical base wrapped in grey mesh fabric. The 10.1-inch screen, which has a resolution of 1280 x 800 is positioned on top of the base and can be titled to ensure it's at the best angle for you to see no matter where it's placed.  

Given the large screen size, it's no surprise that the Amazon Echo Show 15 has a bigger footprint too, measuring 15.8 x 9.9 x 1.4 inches (w x h x d) compared to the Echo Show 10  which at 9.9 x 9 x 6.7 inches is more compact. 

Both devices are mains-powered and when it comes to sound, the Echo Show 10 has two one-inch tweeters and a three-inch woofer, all of which are contained in the cylindrical base. 

The Echo Show 15 doesn’t quite have the same audio capability and relies on two 1.6 inch speakers, which can be found in the back of the smart display.   

The pair also differ when it comes to their built-in cameras too. The Echo Show 10 has a 13MP camera that will automatically pan and zoom, and the screen also rotates to ensure you’re always in the center of the frame during video calls, even when moving about the room. 

The Show 15 doesn’t offer the same camera-tracking capability - the sensor is lower quality at 5MP and doesn't offer the same pan and zoom functionality. 

However, both smart displays offer a privacy shutter that cuts the power to the microphone, while covering the camera lens for those that want the peace of mind that their every move isn’t being watched. 

Features

When it comes to the most basic tasks you’d use a smart display for, the pair are evenly matched. 

Alexa is built into both, obviously, and on the test we had the same responses to the questions we posed to the voice assistant, although the  Show 15 has Amazon’s latest processor - dubbed the AZ2 Neural Edge, which can recognize voices better meant. This meant we found requests were picked up a second or two faster than when using the Echo Show 10. 

On test, the Show 15 also didn’t pick up nearly as many false activations (when Alexa starts listening without you saying the wake word) as the Echo Show 10. 

Both smart displays also offer a visual interpretation on screen of any responses Alexa provides to your queries,  as well as offering the ability to listen to music streaming services including Spotify and Prime Music or watch Netflix and Prime Video on the screen. 

However, while the Echo Show 15 screen is higher resolution, which results in a sharper picture than on the Echo Show 10, neither is good enough to replace your TV for entertainment. 

The Echo Show 15 is the only one of the two smart displays to offer widgets. These small blocks of information such as upcoming appointments, an update on how long your commute is for the day, a TV show you’re watching or even a to-do list for everyone in the household, can be added to the screen so they can be viewed at a glance. There are around 12 widgets available at present, although more are expected in the future.  

However, we found that you weren’t able to adjust the size of the widgets, which meant, as they vary in size, some were not always immediately visible. 

Widgets ensure the Echo Show 15 can double as a family hub - or digital pinboard that allows everyone in the household to see digital sticky notes, to-do lists or other information, at a glance.

As we’ve already mentioned, the Echo Show 10 is only one of the pair that has a moving screen. As you move around the room, it will follow you so it’s always within your gaze, so whether you’re following a recipe when cooking in the kitchen or staying in touch with friends and family by video call, the screen will never be out of your sight. 

Verdict

When it comes to choosing between the Amazon Echo Show 15 and the Echo Show 10, as both smart displays perform the most basic tasks equally and cost the same, it really comes down to how you plan to use it as to which you should opt for.  

For those that want a smart display that offers the biggest screen possible or can be wall-mounted, the Echo Show 15 is the best choice. It’s also the better option for those that want a family hub, offering a way for everyone in the home to see important information such as the chores for the day, shopping lists, or even reminders about after-school clubs, parties, and other appointments. 

However, for those that want a freestanding smart display for a countertop or other surface, or prefer a smaller device, the Echo Show 10 is the one to choose. This smart display is also ideal if you plan to make a lot of video calls on the device or use it in the kitchen to follow along with recipes, as the rotating screen will ensure it’s always in your eye line even when you move around. 

Whichever Amazon smart display you plump for, it’ll be sure to make life a little easier, meaning you can see information at a glance rather than relying on sticky notes - whether that’s reminders, recipes or other information. 

• Consider investing in a Ring Video Doorbell to go with a smart display? Then check out the best Ring Video Doorbell deals. 

Two-minute review

The Amazon Echo Show lineup has always held a key spot in the house – each model is both the brains of Alexa and the nervous center of the smart home. Depending on how big of a brain you needed, there were always a few different models to choose from, but none of them have been as big – or as feature-rich – as the new Amazon Echo Show 15.

At nearly five inches bigger than the already large Amazon Echo 10 and just a tad more expensive at $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$399, the Echo Show 15 is essentially everything you liked about the slowly stagnating Show lineup boosted by a ton of new organizational features to keep everyone in your home on the same page.

Mostly, this is done through the new widgets that can be added to the main screen the same way you add widgets to your homescreen on iOS and Android, and they can show you how long your commute will be, for example, or show a shared to-do list for the house. There are more than a dozen of these widgets already available to pick from, and more will likely be added in the coming weeks, months and years.

That said, we did find a few issues with the Echo Show 15's performance. For one, those widgets that we just talked about only come in one size for the most part, and can't be resized. Any extra widgets you have installed beyond the available screen real estate, get pushed off to the side and aren't immediately visible. As of right now, that means you have to pick which widgets you want carefully.

Sound and video, while both acceptable in this slim form factor, didn't really wow us. The screen is a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD display, but there's no HDR, which makes movies and shows look a bit duller than on a 4K HDR TV that can be had at almost the same price. Similarly, the sound can get loud, but never reaches full immersiveness – the highs and mids are fine, but there's no real soundstage to speak of and bass response is nearly non-existent. 

In the end, we found a number of reasons to make the Amazon Echo Show 15 the stunning center of our Alexa-based smart home as well as a ton of room for Amazon to improve on future models.

Price and release date

The Amazon Echo Show 15 was released in early December 2021 in the US for $249.99 and in the UK for £239.99. Eventually, the smart home hub will come to  Australia for AU$399,  but it's not available there quite yet.

The hardest pill to swallow about the price is that it's over double the cost of an Amazon Echo Show 8 – a perfectly fine smart home hub that performs nearly the exact same functions as the the Echo Show 15. The Echo Show 8 sounds better thanks to its dedicated passive bass radiator and has a higher mega-pixel camera built-in, too. 

Ultimately, you'll get access to a few more features by upgrading to the Echo Show 15 – widgets and the new AZ2 Neural Edge processor among them – as well as a larger screen with a higher resolution but it's still a rather large gap in price that currently feels a bit too wide to be justifiable. 

Design

• Beautiful picture frame-like appearance
• Easily wall-mounted...
• ...but the cord is hard to hide

Because it has an almost picture frame-like appearance, Amazon built the Echo Show 15 to be wall-mounted – which is very easy to do, thankfully. All you need to do is hold the plastic frame flat up to the wall and screw in four screws. We had ours up in a matter of minutes, and the process felt more painless than other previous wall-mounting attempts as we just hooked it onto some drywall in the kitchen.

Of course, that was the easy way out. You can drill into a more solid material if you have a drill bit for it, and Amazon even includes wall anchors inside the box. 

However, without advanced DIY skills, you won't be able to mount it over an outlet as the power cord terminal juts out from the wall. That's going to irritate folks who want the cleanest look possible without a cord marring their clean aesthetic.

Amazon does provide another option for folks who don't want to wall-mount the Amazon Echo Show 15 by selling a separate stand – however, one doesn't come inside the box and will cost you an extra $29.99 / £29.99 (Australian pricing yet to be confirmed) if you want the device to stand on its own. 

So where should you mount it? Well, we chose the kitchen at around eye-level – though we could see it working in pretty much any room. Choosing the right level can be tricky, however. If you place it high up on your wall, it’s hard to hide the cord, but placing it too low could make it hard for people to see you when video chatting. Amazon recommends putting it within reach of everyone in the house, at or around eye level.

Features

• Widgets are a game-changer for organization
• The 5MP camera is nice but could be better
• The AZ2 Neural Edge processor is a big upgrade

The other advantage of having it at that point is for the built-in 5MP camera to detect you when you’re interacting with the device, as that’s how you get personalized content.

For us, right out of the box, that content included weather, cooking recipes and jokes, though that can theoretically be different for everyone. If you want to add some spice to your homescreen, however, you can add those widgets we mentioned earlier.

As of right now, there are more than a dozen to choose from and in the end we ended up installing pretty much all of them at one point or another. The bad news? There's no way to resize them at this point, which means you'll only see around four or five of them on the main screen with the rest hidden.

In terms of the widget selection, though, we were pleasantly surprised. While we didn't need the notes section for ourselves living alone, it's easy to see how that could be helpful to a family of four all on different schedules. Speaking of schedules, having a built-in calendar always in eye's view made seeing the next meeting easy, and the grocery list reminded us what we needed to pick up on the next run to the grocery store. 

As for that 5MP camera, you can use it for video calling as well, or to drop in on another Amazon Echo Show device. Unfortunately the 5MP camera can't really compete with the 13-Megapixel camera we got on the Amazon Echo Show 8, but it's still nice to have. 

Another improvement as we've mentioned is the new AZ2 Neural Edge processor that Amazon's installed inside the Echo Show 15. It processes requests faster – often in under a second or two – and doesn't pick up nearly as many false activations (when Alexa starts listening without you saying the wake word) as before.

Finally, as the center of a smart home, the Echo Show 15 handles its job with aplomb. We were able to get all of our smart home devices hooked up in under an hour, and had a fully functioning smart home by the end of the day. Having the option to see the most-used devices on the homescreen was immensely helpful, and we really had no problem with the any of the devices over our multiple weeks of testing.

Audio and visual performance

• Both audio and visual performance could be better
• Audio lacks bass response
• Video loses color saturation when viewed off-axis

While the new UI feels like a big improvement over the rest of the Echo Show lineup, performance has taken a real dip with the Echo Show 15. 

For starters, all audio from the device is fired out of the side of the display by two 1.6” full-range drivers. That's a significant step down from the two 1.0” tweeters and 3.0” woofer found on the Amazon Echo Show 10, and it's directly the cause of the Show 15's inability to force out any real bass response. 

That's not to say that the Echo Show 15 is all bad when it comes to audio reproduction or that it can't get loud – neither of which are true. The Echo Show 15 instead has a clear focus on the midrange and nicely enhances dialogue for listening to podcasts and your daily news briefings. It filled our kitchen with sound while testing, but the sound from the display never felt as robust as the sound that comes from our nearby portable Bluetooth speaker.

It's a similar story for the Echo Show 15's 15.6-inch display. It doesn't need a higher resolution than 1920 x 1080 at this size, but it's missing a number of key features that would make movies and TV shows really pop. Among them is HDR support that would boost contrast and color saturation. Without that, and without any panel technology to widen the field of view, color quickly loses its saturation when you watch the screen at an angle.

Should I buy the Amazon Echo Show 15?

Buy it if...

You want to replace post-it notes, to-do lists and calendars on your fridge

There's nothing wrong with using simple tools to communicate with your roommates and family members, but the Amazon Echo Show 15 allows you to replace pretty much everything on your fridge – including your photos – with a single elegant solution that sits right up on the wall.

You want a better brain at the center of your smart home

Thanks to the AZ2 Neural Edge processor the Amazon Echo Show 15 has fewer false positives when it thinks it hears its name being called. It processes requests faster – often in under a second or two – and has a favorite devices widget that allows you to see your most frequently used gadgets at a glance.

The picture frame aesthetic is eye-pleasing and works for your budget

It's not cheap, but we do have to say that the aesthetic of the Echo Show 15 is truly outstanding, and looks significantly better than the traditional Echo Show devices. There's a trade-off in performance versus the Amazon Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 10, but the Echo Show 15 is a definite show-stopper in terms of design.

Don't buy it if...

You want robust audio and picture performance

The Amazon Echo Show 15 really isn't the best bang for your buck in terms of audiovisual performance. The dual 1.6” full-range drivers really don't do a good job of putting out immersive audio, especially in the sub-bass range, and without HDR, shows and movies don't look their best.

You want the perfect-looking installation

Installing the Amazon Echo Show 15 is easy. But if you want it installed in such a way that the cord doesn't show, well, you're going to need a contractor. 

You'd rather have Google Assistant or Siri as your smart assistant

Nothing against Alexa, but Amazon's smart assistant isn't for everyone. If you've tried Alexa before and weren't impressed by how smart Amazon's smart assistant was, you'll probably want to go for a Nest Hub Max or a HomePod Mini instead.

• Amazon Echo vs Google Home: which is the smart speaker for you?

The best smart display offers a way to see as well as hear the information being served up by a voice assistant. Right now, Amazon has two versions of its 8-inch Echo Show smart display – the original iteration, which launched in November 2019, and the Echo Show 8 (2nd gen), which launched in June 2022 – on the market.

Both smart displays are regularly discounted, and when looking at the Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st gen) vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen), you’re probably wondering what the differences are and just which of these two 8-in smart speakers with built-in screens you should be buying? 

Will spending $20 / £20 / AU$30 more on the list price of these smart displays really make a difference to your experience at home? We pitted the Echo Show 8 (1st gen) against the Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) to find out.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st gen) vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen): Price

When it comes to cost, the two 8-inch displays don’t vary dramatically. The above Prime Day deals notwithstanding, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st gen) is priced at $109.99 / £99.99 / AU$169, while the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) will set you back $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199.

As smart displays go, both the Amazon Echo Show 8 models are slightly more expensive than their closest rival from Google, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen), which costs $99 / £89.99 / AU$98. However, this is understandable given both models of the Amazon Echo Show 8 have a built-in camera for video calls – not something the Google Nest Hub offers. 

Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st gen) vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen): Design

On the surface, the two Amazon Echo Show 8 models look very similar - the 8-inch display, which has a 1280 x 800 resolution, is positioned at an angle on the front of the device, while the wedge-shaped back, which houses the speakers, is covered in either mesh fabric. In the case of the Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st gen) there’s a choice of Charcoal (a dark grey) fabric or Sandstone, which has more of a cream hue about it. 

Meanwhile, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) is available in Charcoal or Glacier White, which is, well, white. Both smart displays have the same compact footprint that means it fits neatly on a shelf or window ledge, too. 

However, under the hood, the two devices differ slightly. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st gen) has a paltry 1MP camera, while the Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) has the same upgraded 13MP camera found on the Echo Show 10, that’s one of the best we’ve seen on a smart display to date. 

The second-gen Show 8 uses the newer, faster MediaTek MT8183 processor, compared to the MediaTek MT8163 chip found in the original Echo Show 8. This means the smart display should be smoother when swiping through settings or using Alexa, however in real life it's unlikely you will notice the tiny difference.  

You’ll also find a privacy cover for the camera, which also mutes the four microphones located in the smart displays, microphone, to quell any fears the privacy-conscious may have, on both devices, along with 2-inch dual speakers with passive bass radiator.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st gen) vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen): Features

When it comes to the most basic tasks you’d use a smart display for, the pair are evenly matched. Alexa is built into both, obviously, and on the test we had the same responses to the questions we posed to the voice assistant, and they were delivered at the same speed. 

As well as offering up the information audibly, it’s also displayed on screen with additional detail. For example, when we asked for the weather report, Alexa told us the current temperature, while on-screen an hour-by-hour breakdown was displayed along with the wind speed and real-feel temperature. 

Both the Echo Show 8 (1st gen) and the Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) offer the ability to listen to music streaming services including Spotify and Prime Music or watch Netflix and Prime Video on the display. As we’ve already mentioned, the upgraded processor provides a minuscule jump in speed, but in everyday use, it’s just not obvious. 

However, the camera is what really sets the two smart displays apart. During the test video calls, we made on the Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) the recipients remarked on just how clear and sharp we looked compared to when we used the Echo Show 8 (1st gen). 

We also stayed in shot, even when moved during the call, because the second-gen’s camera automatically pans and zooms to follow you - again not something the Echo Show 8 (1st gen) offers.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st gen) vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen): Verdict

When it comes to choosing between the Echo Show 8 (1st gen) and the Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) as both smart displays perform the most basic tasks equally, the first-gen smart display is a clear choice here. 

Well, unless your sole reason for investing in the smart display is for video calls. If you’re a regular at keeping in touch over video with friends and family, the upgraded camera of the Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) will be well worth the additional investment. 

• Consider investing in a Ring Video Doorbell? Then check our the best Black Friday Ring Video doorbell deals to ensure you can grab a hefty saving 

Owners of Amazon's Echo Show 10 smart display will soon be able to make use of a nifty new feature in that of Conversation Mode. This new setting will allow users to have longer, less awkward conversations with Alexa, forgoing the need to repeat your voice assistant's wake word for each singular request.

As reported by SlashGear, users can begin Conversation Mode by saying "Alexa, join the conversation." This will put the smart device in Conversation Mode, where users can continue making requests or asking questions to Alexa without saying the wake phrase ad nauseum.

The feature, which will roll out to Echo Show 10 devices over the next few weeks, still has some restrictions to keep in mind. The user must be in view of the Echo Show 10's camera, and must also be looking at the screen in order to engage in Conversation Mode.

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Of course, Alexa doesn't need to stay in Conversation Mode forever, if you don't want it to. By saying "leave the conversation," the voice assistant will revert back to its default state, requiring the wake phrase in order to issue requests.

And for those of you wary of any privacy concerns the come about as a result of the Echo Show 10's camera being active in Conversation Mode, Amazon has stressed that the only data being sent to its cloud are the requests you make to Alexa.

Analysis: A real conversation starter?

A feature like Conversation Mode has been a long time coming, and we're glad to finally see something like it arrive on Echo Show 10 smart displays. There may be times where having to stress the wake phrase each time you wish to make a request to Alexa can grow tiresome, and Conversation Mode is an adequate solution to that.

Conversation Mode could prove to be useful if you need to learn or record a lot of information on the fly. Say, if you're studying for a test, and you need to refer to Alexa at a moment's notice. With Conversation Mode, you can more casually ask Alexa any queries you might have, without needing to sound off the wake phrase every single time.

It's still bafflingly restrictive in some area, however. Needing to look directly at the Echo Show 10's screen to issue commands in Conversation Mode is arguably more obnoxious than just saying the wake phrase. 

That said, the restriction is understandable. It'll prevent any unnecessary requests being sent to Alexa as a result of background noise, and ensures it knows when and when not to respond to commands. It also stops Alexa from responding to absolutely everything you say. Ultimately, it's likely a necessary limitation, if a slightly awkward one.

• Today's best Amazon Black Friday deals: Fire TV Stick, Echo Dot and more

Quality over quantity seemed to be the mantra of today’s annual Amazon hardware showcase. 

Where previous years have seen the retail and technology giant rattle off dozens of product announcements for two hours, from Amazon Kindles to Echo smart speakers, the retailer company this year instead remained relatively reserved in the number of devices it revealed. Though just half a dozen or so brand new hardware products were shown off, what was previewed tended to be more noteworthy than mere line refreshes.

There’s no new Echo speaker to speak of, nor Amazon Fire TV device to gawp at, surprisingly. Instead, we got a look at a cool smart picture frame, integrated security systems, and (best and creepiest of all) a robot for your home.

Read on for the best on show at the Amazon 2021 hardware event.

Astro home robot

The headline act, and a relative surprise, the Astro robot is Amazon’s most ambitious device to date. It seems like a monster-mash of all of Amazon’s product innovations, across multiple categories, combining into a single unit. Astro, a shin-high droid that wouldn’t look out of place in the Rebel Alliance base on Hoth, has an Echo speaker’s Alexa voice activating smarts, an Echo Show 10’s rotating display (complete with eyes), and plenty of security features you’d find in a Ring system. Intended to be both an in-the-home helper and something like a robot pet, it can take family snaps, deliver reminders, set timers and even direct video calls with a periscope-like camera.

For those that already find Alexa a bit invasive, Astro will likely seem a nightmare. But there's an obvious application for the roll-along droid to be used in a remote care-giving situation – at least when the person it accompanies isn’t desperately vulnerable. Sure, we all felt a bit isolated during the pandemic, and Astro would likely have been a welcome presence for some. That's without considering the home monitoring and security aspects, too.

Not going up for general sale, but instead via Amazon’s invite-only Day 1 program, Astro will launch sometime in the near future in the US, with an introductory price of $999.99, set to rise to $1,449.99.

Amazon Echo Show 15

We had heard rumors of a large-screen Amazon Echo Show device in the weeks leading up to Amazon’s event and, lo and behold, the rumors were right. The 15-inch Amazon Echo Show 15 offers both traditional Echo Show functionality like the ability to stream content from Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Sling TV, as well as introduces a few new tricks of its own, like the ability to post custom notes for the family. Its larger form factor makes keeping an eye on calendar events a little easier than its smaller predecessors and can use the optional “Visual ID” profile feature that allows the Amazon Echo Show 15 to recognize a user standing in front of it and customize the content on the screen for that person. The Echo Show 15 launches later this year, priced at $249.99 in the US. It'll be £239.99 in the UK and AU$399 in Australia, with its launch date in the two territories TBC.

Amazon Glow

The Amazon Glow is something totally different and unique for the little ones. Glow basically combines a touch-compatible projector with an online platform that allows distant relatives to interact with your kids whenever and wherever they’re located through their tablet screen. Amazon Glow has a number of built-in games and apps that family members can complete collaboratively while the screen on the front of the projector has a live feed of the family member on the tablet. Importantly, the Amazon Glow allows parents to restrict who kids can call on the device and the device has a physical button that closes the camera and mutes the microphone. It’s going to be slightly pricey when it launches at $249.99 in the US, but it still looks like a neat way to connect family members across time zones when face-to-face interaction isn’t possible.

Halo View

Next on Amazon’s hit list? Taking the fight to Fitbit, it would seem. While last year’s screenless Halo fitness tracker from Amazon has us scratching our heads, the Amazon Halo View is a more traditional fitness wearable. The wristband features an AMOLED display and can track data including activity stats, sleep reports, and blood oxygen saturation. It will ping wearers with a haptic feedback system to alert you to smartphone notifications, and will also work with a new Halo Nutrition meal planner system – part of the overarching Halo fitness subscription service. Halo View will launch by the end of the year, priced $79 (about £60 / AU$110), with all purchases coming with a one-year subscription to Halo View. For now, Halo View is only set to launch in the US – we'll keep you posted should that change.

Hey, Disney!

It was only a matter of time before it happened, but Amazon and Disney finally consummated their marriage with the announcement of the new Hey, Disney! smart assistant that runs off the Alexa platform. Hey, Disney! will run on devices inside the Disney parks and hotels to give you information about rides, restaurants and bus schedules – even offering ‘customized’ messages from some of your favorite Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Olaf, and Dory. What’s unclear at this point is how much the service – if you can even call it that – will cost when you’re outside the park. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until Hey Disney! launches on the Alexa Skills store in 2022 to find out. No word yet on a roll out beyond the US, either.

Amazon Alexa Smart Thermostat

It’s not just Fitbit in Amazon’s sights, but Google’s Nest thermostats, too. The company took its annual showcase to also reveal its Alexa Smart Thermostat – priced incredibly competitively at  $59.99 (about £45 / AU$80).

Built in collaboration with Resideo, the makers of Honeywell Home thermostats, it’ll feature Alexa integration and make use of Amazon’s “Hunches” system to learn your preferred temperature settings, and whether or not you are home or away. Controlled via voice or app, select US energy providers will also offer a rebate meaning that the thermostat can be purchased for as little as $10, too, in certain US locations. For now, the Alexa Smart Thermostat is a US-only release.

Ring Alarm Pro

Two-in-one devices always get a space-saving thumbs up from us, so the Ring Alarm Pro has us intrigued. Not only is it a security device, but it also features a built-in Eero Wi-Fi 6 router too.

The Ring Alarm Pro needs the Ring Protect Pro subscription ($20 a month) to work, and provides the same Wi-Fi 6 coverage as an Eero home router – up to 1,500 square feet of coverage. It’s essentially a backup router then, making sure your security system is always online, should your primary router fail. With local video processing and microSD card support, you can pre-order now in the US for $249.

Ring Always Home Cam

Remember the fever-dream that was Amazon’s Ring Always Home Cam? You didn’t imagine it – Amazon’s in-the-home, fly-by security drone is real, and finally up for pre-order. Revealed at last year’s event, an invite list to pre-order the video-recording house drone is now open, priced at $249.99 in the US. There’s still no word yet on a wider international rollout, however.

Alexa Together

Quite a lot of new subscription services were announced during the Amazon Event – many extensions of their Halo wellbeing line up, or Ring security system updates. A more interesting addition was Alexa Together. Designed as an assisting tool for remote caregiving (as well as a simple way to keep in touch with elderly relatives), it will allow family members to set up smart routines and alerts based on a member’s activity. Alexa Together is designed to give caregivers reassurance that a distant relative is getting about their day without a worrying incident occurring, and offers hands-free, 24/7 access to the Urgent Response organization, a professional emergency helpline.

• The best Amazon Echo and Alexa speakers

Amazon has just unveiled an Echo Show 5 case that is designed to look like the iconic Disney mascot Mickey Mouse at its Amazon 2021 event. This reskinned device has been released to promote 'Hey Disney!' a new collaboration between Disney and Amazon.

Hey Disney! will add over 1,000 new interactions including trivia, jokes, and greetings inspired by the Disney characters we all know and love to Echo devices. It also sounds like you'll be able to interact with some characters too including Mickey Mouse, Olaf, and Dory.

The new integration will be added to Echo devices in Disney Resort hotel rooms at Walt Disney World too. Hey Disney! should help you organize your stay, find answers to your questions, and will meet your hospitality needs.

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This huge Disney collaboration follows on from one with Billie Eilish which was announced earlier this week. The singer will have her face printed onto an exclusive Echo Studio that's available for preorder now. We expect we'll see even more of these kinds of collaborations going forward too.

The new Mickey Mouse-inspired stand for the Echo Show 5 is available for pre-order today. It's currently only available in the US and will cost $24.99.

Hey Disney! will only be available to purchase in the US when it launches on the Alexa Skills store in 2022. Currently, we don't have any details on pricing, though the service will be available for free on Echo devices in Disney Resort hotel rooms at Walt Disney World.

• Dancing bears, drones, and clocks: the weirdest Alexa devices we've seen

Running out of shelves to store all your Amazon Echo speakers on? The tech giant has just revealed an all-new kind of Echo device during its annual hardware refresh – the Echo Show 15, a wall-hung smart screen that’s as much a picture frame as it is a connected gadget.

With a 15.6-inch touchscreen, the device can also be table mounted with a sold-separately stand. Powered by the AZ2 Neural Edge processor, Amazon sees it not just as a smart screen, but a family hub too, collating calendars, notes, shopping lists and picture-in-picture security cam features.

A built in camera will allow for an optional “Visual ID” profile feature, which sees the Amazon Echo Show 15 recognise a user standing in front of it, and tailor the information on screen to that user.

The smartest frame on your wall?

As with all Alexa devices, you’ll be able to use the “Alexa” wake up word to spring the screen to life, and ask the digital helper general knowledge questions, jukebox requests, smart home device controls and more. 

It'll also act a video streamer – the screen has a 1080p resolution, accessing movies and TV shows from Prime Video, Netflix and Hulu. All Echo Show devices, including the Echo Show 15, will soon have access to Sling TV, too.

Those using the cloud-based Amazon Photos service will also be able to set up the device to act as a slideshow picture frame, putting your best pics on a wall automatically, or pre-loaded art.

The Echo Show 15 launches later this year, priced at $249.99 in the US, and at £239.99 in the UK.

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Earlier this month, Amazon shared a story about a woman by the name of Kayla who used her Amazon Echo Show, Alexa and the Alexa Guard feature to prevent her home from burning down. 

According to her own account of the incident, the woman was out running errands when she got a notification from Alexa about an incident in the house. The alert said that her Amazon Echo device heard the sound of a fire alarm – which was obviously a worrying sign.

Kayla used the drop in feature on her Amazon Echo Show and saw that the room was completely engulfed in smoke. Once she realized what was happening, she quickly called the fire department to respond to the incident and ultimately saved her home from burning down.

“I had no intention of being home for at least two to three more hours,” Kayla told Amazon in a recent recounting of the story. “If it wasn’t for Alexa, we would have never known of the fire until returning home much later … One could only imagine what a few more hours could have done.” 

Analysis: Can Alexa replace a security system? 

It makes sense Amazon wants to highlight Kayla’s story – it’s a real-world use-case of the safety features Amazon has been implementing over the last few years.

Alexa Guard is the newest of these features to be implemented, but it holds the most potential as a replacement for more expensive home security systems. Its ability to determine which noises are potentially dangerous (see: fire alarms, broken windows, etc…) give it a distinct advantage over other systems that solely rely on movement to trigger. 

So can Alexa replace traditional security systems? Well, maybe not entirely – but it's on the right track. 

The advantage that traditional security systems have is human moderation. If you shell out for services like ADT and an alarm goes off, you'll get a phone call. If the situation is deemed dangerous, the company can dispatch emergency services – saving you the time and worry of explaining the situation yourself. Adversely, Alexa Guard requires at least some intervention from you, the user. 

The advantage Amazon has, though, is that it's significantly cheaper. The basic version of Alexa Guard is free with every Echo device and will automatically notify you if your device hears something suspicious. There's also Alexa Guard Plus that's a paid service that gives you access to 24/7 help line that can be accessed by saying "Alexa, call for help" that's only around $5 per month.

Ultimately Alexa hasn't proven to be as capable as its human security counterparts – but, as you can see from Kayla's story, it can still save the day when it's needed. 

• Not sure which smart ecosystem to get? Check out our Alexa vs Google Assistant guide

Amazon Echo Show owners will soon see their smart devices be more closely integrated with Alexa skills, a long-running feature of the voice assistant that adds a host of supplementary applications and uses to Alexa's repertoire.

On the Echo Show, certain skills can be displayed on the home screen based on your preferences and voice command trends. As reported by The Verge, Amazon is now opening the floodgates on Alexa skills, making the feature more widely available to third party developers. 

VP of Amazon Alexa Skills Aaron Rubenson contextualized the skills update, stating: “It’s open to everybody to raise their hand and say they want to be part of it. We’re letting developers raise their hand and say, ‘My skill can handle that request.’”

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Featured Alexa skill cards from third parties will soon be the norm on Echo devices, then, and it sounds like the skills that show up on your Echo Show screen will be determined by your voice command habits and preferences. For instance, if you ask your Alexa about recipes often, a featured third party skill card for a digital cookbook might show up.

Furthermore, Alexa skill developers will soon be allowed to sell products within their skill apps, so long as the products are available to buy on the Amazon website. Amazon’s last introduction to the skills family will be paid skills, which are locked behind a paywall before the user can utilize them, much similar to paid apps on Google Play or Apple’s App Store.

Analysis: Will featured skills help or hinder?

We see featured skill cards on Amazon Echo devices potentially being something of a double-edged sword. We actually really like the ‘we have a skill for that’ mentality, and it could introduce users to services they’d never have considered before. The potential for discoverability with skill cards is high, and it would be great to see smaller third-party developers hit their stride with a skill app that takes Echo users by storm.

On the other hand, featured skill cards might sound gravely familiar to anyone who’s used the internet for more than five seconds – as they sound a whole lot like targeted ads. 

Services like Google AdSense are able to so accurately tailor online advertisements to our individual preferences, and it’s possible that Amazon’s featured skill cards could use similar technology.

We’re also wondering how intrusive featured skill cards will be. Will they genuinely offer users unique solutions to their queries, or will they just be a fancy way to advertise Domino’s Pizza deals?

We’re cautiously looking forward to seeing how these Alexa skill cards evolve as Amazon makes the service more readily available to third-party developers. It could either be a revelation of convenience for smart home enthusiasts, or potentially just a hindrance that acts as a middleman between our voice commands and assistants.

• Best smart home devices in 2021

The Amazon Echo Show 8 hasn’t been around long, but in that time it’s really owned its role as the middle child of the Echo Show lineup. By providing more features and functionality than the Amazon Echo Show 5 at a significantly lower price than the Amazon Echo Show 10, the Amazon Echo Show has - in the past - provided heaps of value for the money.

Of course, we say that in the past tense because this year’s Show 8 is slightly more limited than previous years’ due to its lack of a 3.5mm out jack and lack of a built-in Zigbee hub. The display remains a lackluster 1280 x 800 resolution and speakers that can get loud, but lack resolution and depth. 

While those are all serious strikes against the Echo Show 8, it’s not all bad. This generation incorporates a new 13-megapixel wide-angle camera that digitally pans and zooms during video calls and an octa-core processor that helps the display switch between apps faster.

The result is a functional and aesthetically pleasing smart display that can make calls to family and friends and play your favorite songs and shows from services like Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Prime Video – though often not at their highest resolution. 

We wouldn’t upgrade from last year’s Echo Show 8 for any of the new features nor are we about to trade-in our larger Amazon Echo Show 10, but if you’re a newcomer to the smart home space and looking for a smart display, the all-new Amazon Echo Show 8 could be a good option for you.

Price and release date 

• Release date: June 9 2021
• Price: $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199

The Amazon Echo Show 8 became available on June 9, 2021 for $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199 in two colors, Charcoal and Glacier White. 

That’s significantly less expensive than the Amazon Echo Show 10 that costs $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$399.99, and only a bit more than the new Amazon Echo Show 5 (Gen. 2) that costs $84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119. The Amazon Echo Show 8 falls nicely in between those two, and is a nice middle ground in terms of price and functionality.

That said, we still like the larger Amazon Echo Show 10 for most tasks as well as the Google Nest Hub Max as well. Their larger screens look a bit better, and we feel their speakers offer a superior sound quality that you just won’t find on the Amazon Echo Show 8. They’re pricier, yes, but we’d recommend them over this year’s Amazon Echo Show 8. 

Design

• Similar design to the previous Echo Show 8
• New this year is a 13-Megapixel camera and MediaTek MT8183 octa-core processor
• Same dual 2-inch speakers and 1280 x 800 resolution display as before
• No more 3.5mm aux-out port on the back

Admittedly, there’s not a huge difference aesthetically between the old Amazon Echo Show 8 and the new Amazon Echo Show 8 – the shells are pretty much identical as are the eponymous 8-inch 1280 x 800 resolution displays.

On top of the Echo Show 8 are the control buttons for volume up/down and Alexa, but there’s also the mute button that turns off the microphone and a slide to cover up the camera. It’s a non-negotiable for privacy enthusiasts, and it’s great to have it here. 

The big change this year is the new 13-megapixel camera that is a massive step forward compared to the 1-megapixel camera on the original Amazon Echo Show 8. The extra image resolution of the camera allows you to take some great selfies and makes video calls – especially ones where you’re sitting further away – a lot clearer. 

Of course, those meetings are going to require microphones and the Echo Show 8 (2021) also has the same four-microphone configuration as the previous iteration that work at a medium to long range and should be able to hear you over the sound of loud music – though, sometimes you might have to repeat yourself a few times for Alexa to hear you. 

Inside, the Echo Show 8 (2021) has the MediaTek MT8183 octa-core processor, compared to the current Echo Show 8, which has a MediaTek MT 8163. In theory, this should help the smart display feel a bit snappier than its predecessor. In practice, however, we found it hard proving that was the case – in fact, both are relatively nimble, though videos do seem to start a bit faster on the new Echo Show.

To play audio, there’s the dual 2-inch speakers that hide behind the mesh back of the Amazon Echo Show 8. These speakers aren’t the be-all, end-all of speakers (more on that below) but having two drivers is certainly better than one. 

The lackluster speakers wouldn’t be such an issue however Amazon actually removed the 3.5mm auxiliary jack on the new unit – i.e. there’s no porting audio from the display to a more powerful speaker via a 3.5mm cable. That’s not going to impact everyone, but those of us who really like and use the feature will be disappointed by its absence.

Instead all you’ll find on the back is a microUSB cable that can be used to connect the display to an ethernet cable if you buy an extra adapter, however it’s likely not necessary as the bandwidth required for the Amazon Echo Show 8 is relatively low.

Performance

• 13MP camera is a big leap forward for the Echo Show 8
• But its screen and speakers are disappointing
• Alexa is getting smarter, but still can’t answer complicated questions
• Lastly, it doesn’t have a built-in Zigbee hub

So what is the Amazon Echo Show 8 like to use? Well, it’s pretty similar to many of the other Amazon Echo Show devices. It’s a visual display - albeit one with a slightly lower resolution than we’d like - with tons of information about your day. The Show often will have messages on the screen about what Alexa can do (“Alexa, make a call”), or about events on your calendar, or facts and weather information for your area. 

Above all else, calling is what the new Amazon Echo Show 8 is all about, so it’s there you’ll find its greatest strength. With a 13-Megapixel camera, call quality should look significantly improved for you with very little grain even with bad lighting. The 13MP camera makes the picture look sharper most of the time, sure, but it also allows the Amazon Echo Show 8 to zoom in when you’re sitting further away from the camera - which is a neat trick if you can’t always sit super close to your Show. 

How much use you’ll get out of that feature depends on how much video calling you do (the Echo supports both Echo-to-Echo and Zoom calls now) but we do appreciate the extra attention Amazon has given to the feature at a time when we’re spending more time than ever on video calls.

We also have to point out the fun photo booth mode we didn’t even know the Amazon Echo Show series of displays had. Ask Alexa to take a photo, and you’ll be able to choose between single shots, multi-shots and a photo booth mode that takes four shots in quick succession and patches them together. The images are instantly saved to the cloud but you can also share them with friends and family as well. It’s a neat feature and one we haven’t seen on any other smart display, so it wins a few points in our books for that.

That said, we can’t talk about an Amazon smart device without talking about Alexa. Finding out what Alexa can do relies on you either having an Alexa device already, or by going through some of the basic tutorials. That said, Alexa’s functionality has grown so much over the years thanks to its ever-growing Skills library that it can do more than you’d ever imagine or learn from the tutorials. For example, Alexa can tell you how good the air quality is around you when you ask “Alexa, what’s the air quality like today?” or can tell you how to pronounce words in another language (though, it can’t translate conversations in real-time like Google). 

However, for every query Alexa can answer, there are a half-dozen more that it can’t – which can feel frustrating for folks who have a hard time understanding when a question becomes too complex for Alexa to answer (“Alexa, what’s Risk?” vs “Alexa, who goes first in Risk?”) and often requires you to remember Alexa commands verbatim.

As for the audio quality, the Amazon Echo Show 8 has definitely amped up the mid-range to make dialogue and conversations much, much clearer, but it has come at the expense of the high-end and low-end of the audio spectrum. Songs like Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo have exceptionally clear lyrics and driving bass, but snares get lost in the mix as do the background vocalists – especially if you compare it to the Echo Show 10 that has an absolutely ludicrous bass response for a speaker that’s nearly the same size.

The silver lining here? It’s incredibly easy to lump Alexa speakers together into groups that can then all play the same song in different rooms. That’s perfect if, say, you put the Amazon Echo Show 8 in a kitchen and have something more substantial like the Amazon Echo Studio in your living room both playing the same song. By itself, the Amazon Echo Show 8’s sound quality still leaves something to be desired, but when it’s part of a larger group, it doesn’t stand out as much from the crowd.

It’s a similar story for display, too. The Amazon Echo Show 8’s 1280 x 800 resolution display won’t blow you away - especially when compared to tablets or laptops - but it’s fine for watching a cooking tutorial video or a short show on Amazon Prime Video. The picture isn’t cinematic, certainly, especially without HDR support, and often you’ll still likely rather watch movies and shows on your phone that will have HDR support instead.

There’s also the elephant in the room – and that’s the lack of proper YouTube support. Sure, you’ll still be able to access the service through a web browser, but you won’t find a native app for the Amazon Echo Show like you would for Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. That’s a minor quibble, but it’s one more reason you might be better served by buying a streaming stick like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K or Amazon Fire TV Cube instead of a smart display.

Lastly, in terms of smart home features, it’s worth noting that the Amazon Echo Show 8 doesn’t have a built-in Zigbee hub. It can still connect to many devices over Bluetooth, but you wouldn’t want to buy this to be the brains of your burgeoning smart home only to find out that some of the lightbulbs, smart thermostats, smart cameras and doorbells will require longer setup processes because the Echo Show 8 doesn’t have a hub built-in. It’s another small point, admittedly, but the difference in difficulty between setting up devices with a Zigbee hub and without one can be pretty substantial in terms of total install time.

Should you buy the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021)?  

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

• Don't miss our guide to the best smart speakers

Two-minute review

The Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) is the new version of Amazon’s smallest smart display, arriving almost two years after the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2019). While it may look identical to its predecessor, there have been some incremental updates to the entry-level device, which enables you to both hear and see Alexa’s responses to your commands. 

The camera has been boosted to 2MP – that’s double the resolution of the previous iteration – which makes video calls look sharper and clearer, and there’s now a Deep Sea Blue color option, alongside Charcoal and Glacier White or Sandstone – depending upon which territory you’re in. 

As with any Amazon Echo device, Alexa is built in and offers a hands-free way to set timers, shop online, follow recipes, have your burning questions answered, and get the lastest weather and news. However, the addition of a screen means you can see the information Alexa serves up, and even glean a little extra information along the way. For example, if you ask for the weather forecast it’ll announce the day’s temperature but also display an hour-by-hour breakdown on-screen, along with the wind speed and real-feel temperature. 

Like the other Echo Show devices available, the Echo Show 5 still uses a ‘voice first, touch second’ approach, although shortcuts for making calls, announcements and drop-ins, as well as for playing music and video services, setting routines and controlling smart home gadgets, can be quickly accessed by swiping left from the home screen. 

When you’re not directly interacting with Alexa, you can choose what’s displayed on the screen: slideshows of pre-set illustrations or photos from your Amazon and Facebook accounts, or useful information such as upcoming events, weather forecasts, sports scores, popular recipes or reminders.

This is Amazon’s most affordable smart display, so the lack of features such as a camera that automatically pans and zooms –  you’ll need to upgrade to the Amazon Echo Show 8 for that – and the ability to double as a smart home hub are offset by the affordable price tag.

We’re impressed that the Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) is $5 / £5 / AU$15 cheaper than the first-generation Echo Show 5 was when it launched, and it’s a good buy for those on a budget, or if you want a secondary Echo with a screen for a room that’s not used very often. However, with few upgrades over the previous iteration, it’s not worth upgrading if you already have the Echo Show 5 (2019). 

Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) price and availability

• List price: $84.99 / £74.99/ AU$119 

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) is priced at $84.99 / £74.99/ AU$119, which is $5 / £5 / AU$15 cheaper than the first-generation Echo Show 5, which cost $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$235 when it launched in June 2109. The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2019) is still available for $79.99/ £64.99 / AU$99.

In the US, Amazon is also offering the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2021) Kids Edition for $94.99. This bright multi-colored version has parental controls enabled by default, and comes with one year of the Amazon Kids+ Family Plan, which offers access to thousands of child-friendly books, movies, TV shows, apps and games. 

Amazon also offers two other smart displays: the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd generation), which is priced at $129 / £119.99 / AU$165 and has a 13-megapixel that can pan and zoom so you’re always in the center of frame during video calls. This is joined by the Amazon Echo Show 10, which costs $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$399.99 and has the same camera as the Echo Show 8, along with a rotating display that follows you around the room, so it’s always within your gaze.

Design

• Compact 5.5-inch display
• 2-megapixel camera
• Lacks a 3.5mm headphone socket

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) retains the same compact footprint as the previous iteration, measuring just 5.8 x 3.4 x 2.9 inches / 14.8 x 8.6 x 7.3cm. The familiar wedge-shaped back houses the 1.6-inch speaker and is wrapped in a mesh fabric covering that comes in Charcoal, Glacier White, and Deep Sea Blue, while the 5.5-inch display, which has a 960 x 480 resolution, sits on the front at an angle.

The smart display features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, which can be used for video calls or even to check in on your home when you’re not there – that's twice as many pixels compared to the camera on the original Echo Show 5. On top of the device are physical volume buttons, a mute button for Alexa, and a shutter that can cover the camera for those concerned about privacy.

On the rear of the Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) is the power port along with a micro USB port. Disappointingly, the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) is missing the 3.5mm headphone socket its predecessor had, which enabled you to connect headphones for private listening.  

To ensure that the Echo Show 5 (2021) is as environmentally friendly as possible, Amazon has constructed the device entirely from post-consumer recycled fabric. It also boasts Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly badge – part of an initiative by the retailer that’s designed to make it easier for consumers to shop for sustainable products. 

Performance

• Video calls look sharper
• Camera’s live feed can be viewed in Alexa when you’re not home
• See and hear Alexa’s information

The big difference between the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) and the previous iteration is the upgraded front-facing camera. We put the Echo Show 5 to the test by making several video calls to other Echo Show devices in our household using Amazon's drop-in function, as well as calling Echo Shows outside of our home and using Skype to video-chat with others on smartphones and PCs. 

All of the call recipients reported a slight improvement in the quality of the video compared to when we called them on the first iteration of the Echo Show 5. However, the video quality doesn’t come close to when using an Echo Show 10, with its camera that can automatically pan and zoom to ensure you’re always in the centre of the frame.

Just like the other Amazon Echo Shows, the camera can also double as a home security camera, allowing you to check in on your home through the Alexa app when you’re not there, or keep an eye on the kids in the playroom when you’re cooking dinner by using another Echo Show in the house. 

As we’ve already mentioned, Alexa on the Echo Show can do everything it can on other Echo devices, from providing the day’s news and weather to updating you on the sports scores and setting timers and alarms. We found the screen particularly useful when we used the Echo Show 5 in the kitchen to follow a recipe on a cookery website, as Alexa read the ingredients and method out to us while also showing the information on-screen.

However, Alexa can’t change settings for you, and can only load the main menu, and not sub-menus. On top of that, unlike the Echo Show 10, the Echo Show 5 also can’t act as a Zigbee smart home hub.

Music and video

• Stream Prime Video and Netflix
• Audio is lacking powerful bass
• No YouTube app

As with all Amazon Echo devices, you can access a wide range of music services on the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation), including Apple Music and Podcasts, Deezer, Spotify and TuneIn, alongside, unsurprisingly, Amazon Music.

However, with just one 1.6-inch speaker on board, the sound quality is lacking – it didn’t go that loud in our tests, and the bass was weak. This certainly won’t be your go-to speaker when you want to enjoy your favorite tracks, but it will suffice if you just want to play background music or listen to podcasts while you’re cooking or doing the housework, and the voice integration for all of these services is smoothly executed. 

You can connect the smart display to your smartphone or tablet over Bluetooth to play music stored on that device through the Echo Show 5, but as we’ve mentioned there’s no 3.5mm socket, so you can’t use headphones for private listening – this is disappointing as the previous model did offer this feature. 

You can watch Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, as well as other video content, on the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation), but the resolution is low, and the viewing experience is similar to watching on your smartphone. As is the case with audio, if you just want videos running in the background the experience is fine, but this is never going to be your main screen.

There’s no YouTube app – instead, Alexa offers up videos from WikiHow when you ask it “How to chop an onion” for example. YouTube isn’t completely off-limits, however – Amazon’s Silk browser ensures that you can view websites, including YouTube, on the device; so you can watch YouTube videos this way, but it’s long-winded. BBC iPlayer in the UK, and Hulu in the US can also be viewed this way. 

Should I buy the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation)?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if...

First reviewed: June 2021

• Check out these great Amazon Echo deals

Thinking of buying an indoor security camera? Well just wait one minute, because if you have an Amazon Echo Show smart display you might already have everything you need.

That's because Amazon's Alexa-powered smart screens have a feature called Home Monitoring, which employs their camera – also used for video calls – as a security camera. A live video feed can be viewed from any compatible smartphone or tablet, and you can even ask Alexa to show your Echo Show's camera feed on your TV. 

So, while the best home security cameras are a great way to see exactly what's going on in and around your home, they can be pricey and most of us will require several of them dotted around our home to ensure every square inch is captured. Amazon's Home Monitoring feature means your Echo Show can work alongside any security cameras you might already have.

Granted, it doesn't record video and you can't mount it to the wall in the same way as a traditional home security camera, but it's still super useful for checking in on your home, pets and family members when you're away. Plus, our guide to the best cheap Amazon Echo deals means you can pick up one of these little beauties for a bargain price. 

It's worth remembering that, when you use your Amazon Echo Show as a home security camera, it will display a message that the camera is live and someone is watching remotely. So if you're wanting to discretely check in on your kids for example, this wouldn't be the best choice. 

Here's everything you need to know to use your Amazon Echo Show as a home security camera. And if you want to build on your smart home, check out our guide to the best video doorbells.

Tools and requirements

• An Amazon Echo Show smart display
• An Amazon Alexa account
• A smartphone or tablet

Quick steps for using Amazon Echo Show as a home security camera

1. Set up Home Monitoring
2. Use your Echo Show as a home security camera

FAQs

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Two-minute review

The latest Amazon Echo Show 10 smart display is unlike any other Amazon smart display as it can follow you around the room when you move. So the screen and camera are always within your gaze, whether you’re following a recipe, making a video call, or watching Netflix. 

The Echo Show 10’s 13MP camera pans with the screen, and also zooms automatically when you’re on a video call, making sure you’re front and center of the picture at all times. The camera can also be used for home security, with its live feed available through the Alexa app any time you want to check in on your abode. 

Amazon offers three different sizes of its smart display, with the Echo Show 10 sitting alongside the Echo Show 5 (second generation) and the Echo Show 8 (second generation), which has the same 13MP camera that pans and zooms as the Echo Show 10, but in our eyes the Echo Show 10 is the best smart display Amazon currently offers.

You can also watch Prime Video and Netflix through the 10.1-inch screen, or listen to a host of music streaming services on the Show’s powerful bass-heavy speaker. The screen quality won’t blow you away, but it's sufficient for watching from a distance.

The rotating display isn’t the only thing that’s new when it comes to Amazon’s largest smart display, it’s got a new look too. In keeping with the rounded design of the latest Echo and Echo Dot, which were announced at the same time as the Echo Show 10, the Show’s angular look has been ditched in favor of a cylindrical base with the 10.1-inch display attached to the front.

Like all Amazon Echo devices, Alexa is built in and offers a hands-free way to set timers, shop online, follow recipes, get your burning questions answered and get the lastest weather and news. As well as an audible response, the Amazon Echo Show 10 will offer up extra information on screen, too: ask for the weather forecast, for example, and it’ll announce the day’s temperature while on screen an hour-by-hour breakdown, along with the wind speed and real-feel temperature, is displayed.

Previous iterations of the Amazon Echo Show 10’s have had a ‘voice first, touch second’ approach. This is still the case with the newest model, although the reliance on voice has been reduced somewhat. Swipe left from the home screen and you’ll find shortcuts for making calls, announcements and drop-ins, as well as for playing music and video services, setting routines and controlling smart home gadgets.

The Show 10 can act as a Zigbee hub for your smart home gadgets so you can get several to work together at the same time, although these routines can only be set up through the Alexa app.

When you’re not directly interacting with Alexa, you can choose what’s displayed on the screen: slideshows of pre-set illustrations or photos from your Amazon and Facebook accounts, or useful information such as upcoming events, weather forecasts, sports scores, popular recipes or reminders.

At $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$ 399.99 it’s the most expensive smart display Amazon sells, but it’s certainly the most intuitive. The fact the camera can be used to keep an eye on your home, and the video calling experience has been improved, means it’s now more than just a way to access Alexa.

Amazon Echo Show 10 price and availability

•  List Price: $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$ 399.99 

The Amazon Echo Show 10 is priced at $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$399.99, making it the most expensive smart display Amazon offers. It’s a little pricier than the previous Echo Show, which was launched in 2018, but only by $20 / £20 / AU$50. 

The Echo Show 10 is Amazon's top-of-the-range smart display, but it also offers two others; the Echo Show 8, which will set you back $89.99 / £79.99/ AU$129, and its smallest smart display - the Echo Show 5, which costs $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.

Design

• Screen rotates so it’s always in your eyeline
• 10.1-inch display with auto-brightness adjustment 
• Privacy shutter block camera and cuts power to the microphone 

The Amazon Echo Show 10 is a complete departure from previous models when it comes to looks. Measuring 9.9 x 9 x 6.7 inches (25.1 x 23 x 17.2cm), the newest Echo Show fuses the cylindrical shape of the Amazon Studio, although it’s not as tall, with a 10-inch display that’s attached to the front. The rounder design is also in keeping with the aesthetic of the most recent Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot, and it’s got the same mesh fabric that comes in either charcoal or white. 

The round base of the Echo Show 10 holds dual, front-firing tweeters and powerful woofer encased in a wraparound grille, along with a motor that allows the smart display to rotate so its 10in screen is always facing you. We found this to be handy, particularly in the kitchen as we could always keep an eye on the recipe we were preparing. On the bottom of the cylindrical speaker is a power socket, as just like other Echo smart speakers and displays, it needs to be plugged in at all times. 

The 10.1-inch HD display has a 1280 x 800 resolution (the same as that of the smaller Amazon Echo Show 8), and can be tilted up or down so it’s at the best angle to be seen no matter where it's positioned. It’s not quite as crisp and clear as the screen found on many 10-inch tablets when viewed close up, but from a distance, it will suffice. The Adaptive Brightness feature automatically brightens or darkens the screen based on the ambient light in the room, although you can manually override this using the brightness controls by swiping the top of the screen. If you’re using the Echo Show 10 as an alarm clock, the Sunrise effect option will display dawn-type lighting 15 minutes before an alarm goes off.     

The Amazon Echo Show 10 also features a 13MP wide-angle camera in the top right-hand corner, which can be used for video calls to other Echo Show devices or Skype calls, and also doubles as a home security camera, allowing you to view a live feed from the Alexa app on your smartphone. 

On the top of the screen are physical buttons for volume, muting Alexa, and a privacy shutter for the camera, should you not want the smart display watching your every move. When activated the shutter also switches off the rotation feature. However, unlike the smaller Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8, the Echo Show 10 doesn’t have a micro USB port for charging other devices or a headphone socket for private listening. 

Performance

• Video calls look crisp and smooth
• Camera’s live feed can be viewed in Alexa when you’re not home
• Voice or touch control

The big draw of the new Amazon Echo 10 is that it can follow you around the room so that the screen is always in view, and you’re always on camera when you’re on a video call. The Echo Show 10’s camera identifies when a person is in its field of view, and sets data points representing shapes, edges and colors, which are used to rotate the screen into the correct position when the person moves. If there’s more than one person in the room, the Echo Show 10 positions itself so it’s at an angle that’s comfortable for the majority of people in the room. For those worried about privacy, Amazon stresses that the processing of these images is carried out on the device, rather than online, and none of the images captured by the camera are stored. 

We’ve been testing the Echo Show 10 for a few days now and we’re extremely impressed with the rotating screen. Not only does the screen rotate very smoothly, with no jerking or juddering, but it takes just a second after uttering “Alexa” for the screen to reposition itself within our gaze. Similarly, when watching Prime Video on the smart display, as soon as we moved and were no longer facing the screen, it automatically moved so the display was back within our gaze.  During testing, we deliberately moved around the kitchen, where the Amazon Echo Show 10 is located, often and sometimes in quick succession, but the smart display didn’t struggle to keep up at all, following as smoothly and as quickly as when we were only moving occasionally. 

Amazon says the brushless motor that enables the device to rotate is "completely silent", and we can’t disagree with this statement – we couldn’t hear the motor at all when the device was moving throughout all of our testing, even when there was no background noise at all. In fact, we had to position our ear as close to the Echo Show’s speaker as possible to hear the faintest hint of a sound. 

The motion feature is switched on by default, but if you find the thought of Echo Show 10 following your every move a little creepy, you can switch it off completely by swiping down from the top of the screen.

The screen will rotate whether you’re listening to music, watching videos or making requests to Alexa, but you can choose to only have it rotate during activities such as video calls, watching videos or following recipes, or set it to only move when you tell it, by using phrases such as  “Alexa, follow me” or “Alexa, turn right/left”. When you first set up the Echo Show you can adjust the maximum angle by which the device can rotate, which is handy if its positioned against a wall or there are objects next to it that would bump into when rotating. You can reset this at any time from the Settings Menu. 

While we found the rotating display useful when following recipes and catching up with our favorite shows on streaming services, it really came into its own for video calls. Using Alexa to chat with family and friends that also have Echo Show devices, we found the Echo Show 10 smoothly panned and zoomed so we were always in the center of the frame, just like the Facebook Portal does. 

We put the Echo Show 10 through heavy testing by making several video calls to various friends and family, using Amazon's drop-in function with other Echo Show devices in the same household, as well as calling Echo Show’s outside of our home and using Skype to video chat with others on smartphones and PCs. Many of the recipients of the video calls exclaimed how clear and detailed the image from the Echo Show 10 was, which is a testament to its 13MP camera.  The Echo Show 10 kept us in the center of the frame when we moved but did not reposition for small movements such as tilting our head or stretching our arm.  We also made several video calls from the Echo Show 10 with two people in the frame, and as Amazon promised when one person walked off during the call, the camera didn’t follow as the other person was still talking. It kept the remaining caller in the cent

The Echo Show 10’s camera can also double as a home security camera if you don't already have one. Amazon says you can view the live feed from the camera on another Echo Show, or via the Alexa app on your phone, and ask Alexa to rotate the Echo Show 10 so you can see around the room.

You’ll need to switch Home Monitoring on the Echo Show 10 first - you can do this from the Settings menu, under the camera section. To view a live feed from the Echo Show’s camera on your phone, open the Alexa app and select cameras from the top. Tap your Echo Show from the list and a live feed will be displayed on screen. We found the video was clear and detailed and we were able to swipe left and right on our phone screen to get the Echo Show 10’s camera to rotate, allowing us to see different areas of the room. The two-way talk was clear without distortion too. The Echo Show 10 also displays an alert on screen when the camera’s live feed is being viewed, so you’ll always be aware if someone is watching it. 

You can also use another Echo Show in your home to view the Echo Show 10's live camera feed. Just ask an Amazon smart display to "show me the..." followed by the name you've given the Echo Show 10. You can zoom into the picture on whatever Echo Show you're viewing the camera feed on, but you can't swipe to make the Echo Show 10 rotate.  

Music and video

• Bass-heavy audio with no distortion at full volume
• Screen is clear but suffers from some reflection in bright light
• Stream Prime Video and Netflix on the device

A wide range of music services can be played through the Echo Show 10’s dual 1-inch front-firing tweeters and powerful 3-inch woofer. Apple Music and Podcasts, Deezer, Spotify and TuneIn are all supported alongside Amazon Music, and the voice integration of all of these services is smoothly executed. 

The audio is bass-heavy, although an equaliser lets you adjust the levels if you want room-filling sound without the thud. At full volume there was no distortion, and as the screen moves the tweeters move with it, so no matter which way the screen is facing you get the same clear sound. 

A Bluetooth connection also means you can link the Echo Show 10 to your smartphone or tablet, and play music stored on your device through the smart display’s speaker.

You can watch both Amazon Prime Video and Netflix on the smart display, and while it’s not the sharpest screen we’ve seen, the quality is fine if you just want videos running in the background while you’re cooking, doing the housework or just pottering about – this is never going to be your main screen. Music videos are provided by Vevo, but there’s no YouTube app – instead, Alexa offers up videos from WikiHow when you ask it “How to tie a tie” or “How to chop an onion”. 

Amazon’s Silk browser and Firefox are installed on the Amazon Echo Show 10, so you can view websites and play videos from YouTube this way, but it’s long-winded, and somewhat at odds with Amazon’s ‘Voice first, touch second’ approach, as it requires several taps on the display. BBC iPlayer in the UK, and Hulu in the US can also be viewed this way. 

Alexa smarts

• Acts as a Zigbee smart home interface
• Further information to Alexa queries is displayed on screen
• Alexa can't open menus for you

Alexa is built into the Amazon Echo Show 10, and can do everything it can on other Echo devices, from setting timers and answering questions to providing the day’s news, weather and sports scores, while also offering up extra information on-screen. For example, as well as reading recipes from BBC Good Food aloud, the Amazon Echo Show 10 will display the ingredients and steps on the screen, and you can scroll through these. Where Alexa struggles is with opening menus and settings – it can load the main settings menu if you ask it to, but it can’t go deeper into the menus. 

Similarly, while the Echo Show 10 can act as a Zigbee smart home interface enabling smart home gadgets from different manufacturers to work together, you’ll need to set up the automations, known as Routines, using the Alexa app on a smartphone or tablet, rather than from the smart display itself.  

Should I buy the Amazon Echo Show 10?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if...

• Check out these great Amazon Echo deals

Smart displays are flooding the market, with devices from Google, Lenovo and JBL to choose from. But if you’d rather have Alexa at your beck and call – or at the tip of your finger – you’ve got three Amazon Echo Show's to decide between, with the Echo Show 8 sitting in the middle of the range. 

While this review is for the first-generation Echo Show 8, there is another version you may be considering - the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd generation). It features the same 13mp camera found on the Echo Show 10, and it can pan and zoom automatically to ensure you're always in the center of the shot when making a video call. It was released on June 9, 2021, and will set you back $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199.

This 8-inch smart display is flanked by the 10-inch Echo Show 10 and the much smaller 5.5-inch Echo Show 5, but being the middle child hasn’t hurt its prospects at all. The Echo Show 8 is the perfect size for pretty much any space and brings a mix of features from both its siblings. It can do everything the other Echo Shows can do, displayed on a screen it’s inherited from its bigger brother, while also offering the smaller Echo Show 5’s privacy features. 

Amazon obviously sees a lot of potential in its smart displays and, with the Echo Show 8, we see it too. You can shop online without raising a finger, use it to watch videos or listen to music, make calls, plenty more besides, all without it taking up too much space on your bedside table or kitchen counter. And perhaps the Echo Show’s most redeeming feature is that it doesn’t need an app to set up. It’s easy, it’s convenient and almost perfect.

Price and availability

• List price: $129 / £119 / AU$229

The Echo Show 8 will set you back $129 / £119 / AU$229 from Amazon directly, as well as other major retailers, and began shipping in November 2019.

 In comparison, the Echo Show 5 costs $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$129, and the Echo Show 10 is priced at $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$399.99.

Design

• Clear 8-inch display
• Physical camera cover
• 3.5 mm headphone socket for private listening

If you’ve seen or used the second-generation Echo Show (20218) or Echo Show 5, then the new 8-inch sibling will be familiar to you. It's identical to the Echo Show 5, camera and camera shutter included, just with an 8-inch display as opposed to a smaller 5-5-inch screen, and a slightly larger footprint. 

The Echo Show 8 brings over the same screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels from the 10-inch device. The same number of pixels on a smaller screen means you’re getting sharper, crisper image quality with the Echo Show 8 and a lot more detail.

The angled display, like with the other Echo Shows, is held in place by a fabric-wrapped base that makes it resemble a speaker from the rear. Round the back is also the smart display’s power port and, like its siblings, you’ll need to keep it plugged in at all times. Also on the rear is a microUSB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack in case you’d like to keep your listening pleasures private or blast it through a connected Hi-Fi system. The inclusion of the microUSB port, though, is a mystery to us. It’s available on the other Echo Shows as well, but there is no consumer value that we could find.

Coming round to the front, there’s a 1MP camera it inherits from its smaller sibling, along with the physical shutter that you can slide shut if you’re privacy-conscious. In fact, if you aren’t too keen on having Alexa eavesdrop on anything you say, you can keep voice activation switched off by pressing the leftmost button on the top of the device. The other two buttons beside it, as the icons indicate, are for adjusting volume.

Features

• The touchscreen is responsive but suffers from some reflection in bright light
• Handy auto-brightness adjustment feature
• No full-screen clock mode

As before, there’s no physical home button on the Echo Show 8. Everything you need is available on screen which, we have to say, is very responsive. The 8-inch display is sharp as a tack, no matter the viewing angle. 

The screen features adaptive brightness, meaning it automatically adjusts to ambient light, although you can adjust brightness to your liking by simply sliding downwards from the top of the screen to reveal the slider. Reflections can be a minor annoyance depending on the lighting conditions indoors but never so much that watching something on that 8-inch screen becomes a big issue.

Alongside the brightness slider is the option to change the device’s settings. From there you can change the wallpaper, decide what appears on the home screen, set up Do Not Disturb and more.

Swipe left to right and you’ll pull up a menu that offers easy access to a number of functions like listening to music, watching videos, setting up routines and making calls or announcements. Everything the Echo Show is capable of is available at your fingertips.

However, it’s abundantly clear that the smart display was built to showcase Alexa’s skills in response to voice commands. Unless you’re watching a video on one of the packaged services (like Prime Video or Sky News), there’s a high probability that you’ll see a suggestion of what Alexa can do for you, even if it’s a skill you’re aware of or have tried several times already. There are options in the settings to disable some of this but there’s no way to completely get away from it – so much so that it does get a tad annoying.

Unlike the Google Nest Hub Max, which has full-screen clock faces that can convert the smart display into a tabletop timepiece, there is no option to display the time in full-screen mode. That said, it’s not really a deal breaker unless you regularly need to check the time from across the room.

The Echo Show is also, of course, capable of controlling some of your connected smart home devices. Alexa has a different set of skills in different regions – while it can do a lot more in the US and the UK, skills in Australia are very limited. While it’s very easy to set up a connection with Philips Hue lights, we couldn’t find a way to connect our Nanoleaf Canvas setup in Australia. There’s also no Zigbee support (which you’ll find on the larger Echo Show) but that shouldn’t be a deal breaker for most people as there’s still plenty of smart devices that can be controlled via the Echo Show 8.

Video and sound

• Make video calls with the 1MP front-facing camera
• 2-inch speaker are loud but not punchy
• Stream Prime Video and Netflix on the device

As mentioned before, the Echo Show 8 only has a 1MP front-facing camera as opposed to the 13MP on the Echo Show 10, but we still found it offered a good quality feed for video calls., and can double as a home security camera if you want to check in on your property when you're not around. 

For a device with a footprint of just 200 x 135 x 99mm (7.9 x 5.4 x 3.9 inches), it packs a pair of two-inch speakers with passive bass, which can get loud. It’s not as punchy as the bigger brother as there’s Dolby-enhanced sound in that one, but the 8-inch device can hold its own if you like booming bass. If you don’t, you can always tweak it to your liking via the equalizer in the settings pane. The sound is room-filling and even does well within a large open-plan space (walls can reverberate sound, making it seem louder than it actually is).

While you can stream directly from Amazon’s own streaming services, you can link your Spotify or Apple Music account instead if you prefer. The Echo Show 8 is also Bluetooth-enabled, so you can pair it with your phone or tablet and play tunes you’ve got saved in a library on your handheld device.

Video streaming is also available offering up Netflix and Prime Video, with the latter taking center stage and only a tap or voice command away, at least in theory. However, that was the one service we couldn’t access, even after resetting the device. While we were able to ask Alexa to play trailers or news clips, the voice assistant kept saying “Sorry, there was a problem” every time we tried to access Amazon’s own video streaming service. Trying to use the Alexa app to set it up was also futile, although the Echo Show 8 was paired with our handset and appeared online on the app. Since everything else worked perfectly well, we’re guessing this is just an isolated incident and not a problem with Amazon’s device or service.

As before, there’s still no YouTube app here. However, Amazon’s Silk browser is available for all your YouTube or online shopping needs. Speaking of which, you can’t yet shop on Amazon via voice commands in Australia (like you can in some other markets), so if you happen to be living Down Under, then the on-board browser is the way to go.

As we mentioned before, you don’t need the Alexa app to either setup or use the Echo Show 8, although it does come in handy if you’d like to link other services which you can then access on the smart display. For example, iOS and Mac users can link their Apple Music account in the Alexa app, and then access it via a voice command or tap on the Echo Show.

If you happen to use Amazon Photos to store your images, your Echo Show can double up as a digital photo frame, although the Google Nest Hub Max is a better device for this purpose thanks to its ability to tweak color automatically.

Verdict

It’s fair to say that the Echo Show 8 brings nothing new to the table, but considering that it’s significantly cheaper than the Echo Show 10 and has a better set of features than the Echo Show 5, it definitely hits the sweet spot when it comes to value for money.

The 8-inch sibling has the best screen experience of the two smaller Echo Show devices and big sound to accompany the sharp display. In fact, it sounds better than the Google Nest Hub Max, although the latter does do a better job of displaying your photos. 

The Echo Show 8 is also remarkably easy to set up, and only needs the Alexa app if you need to connect smart home devices the smart display isn’t able to identify or to link non-Amazon streaming services. And even though we ran into trouble with watching videos on Prime Video, we still wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Echo Show 8 over either of its siblings, particularly when it’s usually possible to get the device at a discounted price on Amazon and, often, bundled with Hue bulbs, Ring Doorbells or even a smart plug.

• Check out these great Amazon Echo deals

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2019) is a shrunk-down version of Amazon's second-generation Echo Show, for those wanting a smaller and cheaper take on the increasingly common smart display.

The smallest of the three sizes Amazon offers the Echo Show in (the Echo Show 8, has unsurprisingly an 8-inch display, while the Echo Show 10 boasts a 10-inch screen), the Alexa smart assistant is built-in - just like in Amazon's smart speakers, such as the Amazon Echo Dot – allowing for hands-free voice commands, and a way to hear information about the day’s news, weather, trivia, or whatever you can think to ask. It's almost certainly likely to be discounted on Amazon Prime Day 2021, too. 

There is another version of this 5.5-inch smart display you may want to consider. The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) has an upgraded 2-megapixel camera with twice as many pixels as the previous version and comes in a Deep Sea Blue finish. 

Unlike an Amazon Echo speaker, these smart displays carry a touchscreen, for showing as much information, and in some cases more, as telling it out loud. Users can cycle through their own personal images, watch videos through an internet browser, or just keep up a handy clock face – because, let's face it, who has a real clock anymore?

Amazon is also pitching the Show 5 as a general home companion, something to call up how-to videos and recipes as much as setting alarms. Here's what we thought of the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2019).

• Echo Show 5 vs Echo Spot: which is the smart display to get?

Amazon Echo Show 5 price and availability

• List price: $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$129

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2019) retails for $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$129, making it the most affordable smart display Amazon offers. In comparison, the Echo Show 8 (1st generation) costs $89.99 / £79.99/ AU$129, and the top-of-the-range Echo Show 10 is priced at $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$399.99.  

The Amazon Echo Show 5 launched in June 2019 and is available worldwide from Amazon.

• Try Amazon Music Unlimited with a FREE trial: US | UK | AU

Design

• Compact 5-inch display
• Physical camera cover
• 3.5 mm headphone socket for private listening

The Echo Show 5 (2019) apes the design of the Echo Show (2018), except with a more compact 5.5-inch display, around the size of a smartphone screen – hence the ‘5’ labeling.

Whereas most smart displays are compared to tablets, the shape and size of the Show 5 – and its 960 x 480 resolution – means you're not getting much visually that you wouldn't from watching videos on your phone. It might be unfair to compare it to a handheld device, but the design choices here seem to be asking for the comparison.

The Show 5's screen is positioned on the front at an angle, while the wedge-shaped back, which houses the speakers,  is covered in the same mesh casing of the previous Show, with physical volume buttons, a mute button for Alexa, and a shutter you can physically slide over the camera lens, for the more privacy-minded among you.

Along the rear is a power port – like the rest of the Echo range, you’ll need to keep the Show 5 plugged in at all times. If you’re keeping it in one place, that won’t be an issue, though if you’re hoping for a smart display you can flexibly use across different rooms in the house, this isn’t it. 

You do also get a micro USB port on the rear, but its intended purpose isn’t immediately clear. While it’d be handy to be able to save a plug socket near your bed and charge, for instance, a phone from the Echo Show 5, it’s unlikely you’re going to have a micro USB to micro USB cable, or micro USB to Lightning cable with which to charge an external device. A full size, powered USB port would be more useful as a result.

A 3.5mm headphone jack, for more private listening, or linking up to more capable Hi-Fi equipment, sits on the back too.

Features

• Voice or touch control
• Stream Netflix or Prime Video on the screen
• Camera’s live feed can be viewed in Alexa app when you’re not home

The Echo Show 5 (2019) has the same functions offered by Amazon's other smart displays - it can be used to listen to music streaming services, watch Netflix and Prime Video, but sadly not YouTube, and even make video calls using the built-in camera or double as one of the best home security cameras so you can keep an eye on your property when you're not around. 

Thanks to Amazon’s simple layout, you’re never really being shown too much information in a small space, though heading into an internet browser can be a bit fiddly. 

We also found the interface could be frustrating to navigate at times. There’s no physical home button, and you need to pull down a menu from the top side of the screen to find a shortcut back to the home screen. The Alexa voice assistant also can’t jump to particular menus through voice commands, meaning you’re either hands-free or hands-deep, while the things you can do through the screen are quite limited.

The main feature is Alexa’s routines, which enables you to connect to other smart home devices and link them up into singular commands: such as boiling the smart kettle and playing a radio station when you get up in the morning, or dimming the lights when you’re settling in for the night.

You don't get the Zigbee smart home interface of the larger Echo Show 10, though Amazon's efforts at building up compatibility with other smart home brands means you're unlikely to find yourself unable to connect different products. You'll certainly be fine with multi-room setups with other Echo devices, and there are Alexa skills for the likes of Philips Hue light bulbs or Arlo security cameras.

While the Show 5 is hooked up to Vimeo for music videos, you can’t summon videos directly from YouTube, and the low-resolution screen isn’t particularly tempting for watching Netflix shows and the like. 

Overall, its size, form factor, and limited video capabilities make the Show 5 generally better suited as a bedside alarm clock than a kitchen companion, or as a replacement tablet. But it being tethered to one area means you’re probably going to be using it as one or the other: having to watch it go dark and then reboot every time we wanted to bring a recipe into another room was a hassle, and made us wonder why we weren’t just looking up information on our phone – which is essentially the same size, with higher resolution, and the ability to jump between apps more easily.

Sound

• Sound quality won't blow you away
• Alexa app lets you tweak the sound 
• Clear mid and high frequencies make podcasts and radio stations sound clear

You probably won’t be coming too much to the Echo Show 5 (2019) for your music needs. While the hands-free voice control for summoning songs, playlists, and radio stations is as handy as on any Alexa device, the output itself leaves a lot to be desired.

Like the larger Echo Show, the Show 5 uses rear-facing speakers behind the display, though with a somewhat smaller output: only 1.65 x 4W instead of the larger model’s 2 x 10W wattage. It doesn’t go very loud, and the volume it does achieve is hindered by a muddy bass presentation. Listening to Cough Cough (by Everything Everything) turns the track’s varied percussion into a solid slab of identical beats, as if replacing a whole drum kit with a single bass drum. 

You can alter the levels of bass, mids, and trebles in the Alexa app, but they feel like slightly blunt tools, and you tend to end up removing layers of the track rather than improving the quality.

The mid and high frequencies are generally clear though, making the Show 5 perfectly capable for playing podcasts, listening to radio stations, or chatting with Alexa herself.

Other smart displays to consider

It’s impossible not to compare the Show 5 to the competition: largely because most of the competition is the rest of the Amazon range. 

The Lenovo Smart Clock came out shortly before the Show 5, and we awarded it four stars for its strong sound and smart capability. Unlike the Show 5, it has a basic YouTube app (even if it only shows video recommendations via your Google account), and utilizes the Google Assistant AI instead of Alexa. It’s also slightly smaller at only four inches across, and doesn’t feature a camera for video calls or have an internet browser. 

But which of the two you’ll want to go for will depend on whether you have Alexa or Google Assistant devices already, whether you plan on doing video calls on something other than your smartphone, and whether you really want to scrawl the net yourself on a device not really suited for it.

Final verdict

So what did we make of the Echo Show 5? 

As a compact and affordable smart display, Amazon absolutely delivers. The Show 5 vastly undercuts its other screen-based siblings in price, and bundles in the full Alexa experience along with the beginnings of smart routines and a digital alarm clock.

Inevitably there are corners cut in the process. The Show 5 retains the bass-heavy presentation of the Echo Show’s speakers – at a lower volume – and doesn’t offer the app integration it needs to really feel like a necessary presence in the home.

But the fact remains that the Echo Show 5 is still one of the cheapest ways to get an Alexa device into your home – and bundled in with an alarm clock, basic smart home functionality, and the beginnings of some video apps, you’re getting a pretty big package for the price. This isn’t quite the definitive smart display, but it is one we can imagine in a lot of people’s homes.

• What are the best smart speakers you can buy?

Smart displays combine the handy features of a smart speaker with the flexibility of a screen, so you can see and hear the information you’re asking for, whether that's the news, a recipe or even just what the weather is like. 

Both Amazon and Google offer several smart displays with varying screen sizes, but now Google has added the Nest Hub 2 to the mix. This 7-inch smart display is priced at $99.99 / £89 / AU$149 and is the first smart display that can track your sleep. On top of that, it'll do everything you’d expect such as acting as a digital photo frame, displaying recipes, and letting you watch streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+.

If you’re considering investing in a smart display, but are wondering which one will suit you best, then we’re comparing the Google Nest Hub 2 and the popular Amazon Echo Show 8 – a similarly priced rival – to help you decide which model is right for you. 

UPDATE: Amazon has unveiled a new version of the Echo Show 8 (2021), which has an upgraded 13-megapixel camera. The camera sported by the Echo Show 10, it can pan and zoom to ensure you're always in the center of the frame during video calls. It's priced at $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199 - the same price as the current Echo Show 8 - and will go on sale on June 9, 2021. 

Best Google Nest Hub 2 and Amazon Echo Show 8 deals

If you’ve already decided which of the two you wish to buy, check out the best prices right now for both products below:  

 FAQ

 Design

Both the Google Nest Hub 2 and the Amazon Echo Show 8 are relatively compact smart displays. The Google Nest Hub 2 measures 12 x 17.74 x 6.96cm while the Amazon Echo Show 8 has an overall footprint of 20 x 13.59 x 9.91cm  - making it slightly larger than the Google Nest Hub 2.

In terms of  display size, the Google Nest Hub 2 has a 7-inch screen with a 1024 x 600 resolution, where the Echo Show 8 has an 8-inch display, with a 1200 x 800 resolution.

The Google Nest Hub has a ‘floating screen’ design that almost looks as though the display is suspended in the air, with the rounded base housing the full-range speaker with a 1.7-inch driver. It’s available in four colours; chalk, charcoal, sand, and mist  - a soft pastel blue. 

Meanwhile, the Amazon Echo Show 8 has a wedge-shaped design that can also be found on the Echo Show 5, it’s smaller sibling, and comes in a choice of charcoal or sandstone. Once again the fabric covered section houses the two-inch speaker with passive bass radiator. Both smart displays come with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections too.  

Microphone and camera

Both smart displays use microphones to listen for their relevant wake word and when they’re being used to make calls. The Google Nest Hub 2 has three microphones, while the Amazon Echo Show 8 has four. 

The Amazon Echo Show 8 also has a front-facing 2MP camera which can be used to make video calls to other Echo Show smart displays. Just like Google’s original Nest Hub, which was initially called the Google Home Hub, there’s no camera built-in to the smart display so it can’t be used for video calling. 

Handy features 

As we’ve already mentioned, there are several uses for smart displays, and the Google Nest Hub 2 and Amazon Echo Show 8 are pretty equal here. They can both play music and videos, with the Google Nest Hub 2 supporting Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube and the Amazon Echo Show 8 supporting Netflix and Prime Video. The built-in voice assistants can control the playback of music, find information on the web and automate your smart home gadgets. 

However, the Google Nest Hub 2 trumps the Amazon Echo Show 8 as it can track your sleep, if you use it in your bedroom. It has Soli radar technology built-in, which can already be found in the Google Pixel 4 smartphone and Google’s newest Nest smart thermostat, to analyze your movement through the night and create a report that can details how much sleep you had, and any interruptions caused by coughing, snoring or temperature or light changes in the room. This isn’t something the Amazon Echo Show 8 can do.

Privacy

Both Google and Amazon have taken privacy seriously with these smart displays. You can ask the built-in voice assistant to stop listening for the wake word at any point, and it’s possible to ask for recording the devices make, when you say the wake word, to be deleted. Alternatively you can erase them from their companion apps too. There’s also a physical switch that cuts the power to the microphones to prevent them listening. The Amazon Echo Show 8 includes a shutter for the smart display’s camera too.  

Price

 The Google Nest Hub 2 is priced at $99.99 / £89 / AU$149 while the Amazon Echo Show 8 is available now and is slightly more expensive costing $129 / £119 / AU$229. However, it’s frequently discounted and likely to be on sale during Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday later in the year.  

Verdict

The Google Nest Hub 2 and Amazon Echo Show 8 are evenly matched when it comes to design, the big difference lies in the lack of camera on the Google Nest Hub and the fact the Amazon Echo Show 8 can’t track your sleep. 

If you already have a smart speaker or smart display from either brand in your home, then it makes sense to opt for the same manufacturer as they’ll work together, for example creating a multi-room music system. 

If this is your first smart speaker or display, then it comes to what you value most; a device that can make video calls on, then plump for the Amazon Echo Show 8, while if sleep tracking without the use of a wearable appeals, then the Google Nest Hub 2 is your best bet. 

• The best Alexa smart speaker deals

Now that Amazon has launched all-new versions of its smart displays (the new Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5), we’ve been able to peruse the specs and see the key differences that exist between the two.

These models replace the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 released a few years ago, and come with a number of key upgrades too. We’ve got all the details you need to help you decide which one to go for while we wait for our full reviews to appear.

Best Amazon Echo Show deals

Don't fancy the new Echo Show smart displays? Then check out the best prices right now for Amazon’s other Echo Show smart displays below:   

Price

The new Amazon Echo Show 5 is Amazon’s most affordable smart display, costing $84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119 - this is actually $5 / £5 / AU$30 more than the price of the current Echo Show 5 when it launched in June 2019. 

The Amazon Echo Show 8 is priced at $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199.00, which is the same price as the current iteration of the Echo Show 8 when it first went on sale in September 2019. 

Amazon is known for discounting its own devices throughout the year, especially during Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, so we hope to see some discounts of these new smart displays later in the year. 

Design

 Both the new Amazon Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 retain the same design sported by the current versions: A color screen on the front, with a wedge-shaped back covered in fabric that houses the speaker. 

The Amazon Echo Show 5 unsurprisingly has a 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 960 x 480, while the Echo Show 8 has an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800.

The Echo Show 5 is Amazon’s most compact smart display measuring 14.8 x 8.6 x 7.3, while the Echo Show 8 is only slightly larger at 20 x 13.59 x 9.91 - both will comfortably fit on a bedside table, or under a lamp in the sitting room.  

The Echo Show 8 is available in a choice of different colored fabrics; Charcoal, which is a dark grey, and Glacier White that’s well...white. The Echo Show 5 comes in both these colors along with a dark blue option. 

Camera

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2021) retains the same 1-megapixel camera found on the first generation 5.5-inch Echo Show, while the Echo Show 8 (2021) has had a hefty camera upgrade and now sports a 13-megapixel camera - the same found in the Echo Show 10, in fact. 

The camera also has the same pan and zoom function as the Echo Show 10, which means during video calls you’ll always be in the centre of the frame, even if you move around during the call (a feature recently nabbed for the new iPad Pro 2021 as well).

Both the cameras on the Echo Show 5 (2021) and the Echo Show 8 (2021) can also double as a home security camera, allowing you to check in on your property from the Alexa app when you’re not there - another feature that first debuted on the Echo Show 10. 

For those that are privacy-conscious, both new smart displays also have a physical camera and microphone switches that cut to the power to these features.

Speakers and microphones

When it comes to sound quality, the Echo Show 5’s more compact size is reflected in the sound quality too - it's 1.65-inch speaker isn’t as powerful as the Echo Show 8’s dual 2-inch speakers with passive bass radiator.

However it’s unlikely either smart display will be used as the main listening device, so this isn’t really an issue and both speakers will suffice for some background music. 

The Echo Show 5 does have one ace up its sleeve - in the form of a 3.5mm audio out socket so you can connect an external speaker to boost the sound quality. Unfortunately there’s no audio out on the Echo Show 8, which is a little odd.

Verdict

When it comes to responding to your queries and commands, both the Amazon Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 are evenly matched as voice assistants. However, the size is the one key difference, and if you’re planning on using one of these models as a regular video calling device, the 13MP camera on the Show 8 is going to be a real draw, along with its much-improved speaker enhancement. 

FAQ

• Check our the best Echo deals

There’s nothing worse than the sound of a loud alarm shattering your precious sleep and waking you up with a start, and if you’re like us, you’ve probably come to resent the default alarm tone on your smartphone. Do you dream of being able to wake up more gently, feeling refreshed for the day ahead? 

You could purchase one of the best wake-up lights, which mimic the effect of the rising sun by gradually increasing the amount of light in your bedroom, which tells your body to decrease the amount of sleep hormones it’s producing while increasing hormones that promote alertness.

However, if you have a Google smart display, it has a built-in feature called Sunrise alarm, which works in a similar way. 

The Sunrise alarm is one of the handy sleep-related features on Google’s latest smart display, the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation), along with the ability to monitor how much sleep you get, and how restful or otherwise that sleep is – and Google has also made this feature available on the original Google Home Hub, which has been rebranded as the Google Nest Hub, and the Google Nest Hub Max.

Here’s everything you need to know about setting the Sunrise alarm on your Google Nest Hub.  

• Interested in Google's latest smart display? Find out what we love and hate about the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) 
• Check out our round-up of the best smart displays
• Build on your smart home with our best smart thermostats

What does the Sunrise alarm do

The Sunrise alarm gently brightens the screen of your Google smart display anywhere between five and 30 minutes before the alarm is set to go off. The colors of the screen reflect the shade of the sky at dawn, transitioning from black, navy, and purples hues to warm oranges and yellows, and some of the best smart light bulbs work with the Google Nest Hub too, so they can be set to slowly brighten during this period.

You can also opt for what Google calls a ‘Pre-alarm’, which plays a gentle tone reminiscent of wind rustling through the trees, punctuated by subtle bird song, before the alarm itself sounds. 

How to set a Sunrise Alarm on a Google Nest Hub

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and select the alarm icon, which looks like a clock, then press ‘Set an alarm’. Select the time you want the alarm to sound, and press ‘Set Alarm’. Now move the slider next to ‘Sunrise alarm’ to the ‘on’ position, and tap the arrow to enter the settings. From here you can choose the length of time the effect runs for, as well as optionally enabling the Pre-alarm, and choosing if you want smart light in your room to brighten as well.

Then just press Done, and you’re ready to hit the hay, and dream of the gentle wake-up call you’ll be getting in the morning. And don’t worry – if even a gentle sunrise and the sound of birdsong have you pulling the covers back over your head, you can always Snooze the alarm by tapping the screen. 

• Check out the best Google Home deals

Google’s latest smart display, the Nest Hub (2nd generation), has gone on sale – and while it may look similar to its predecessor, under the hood there have been a few improvements. Notably, the inclusion of technology that can track sleep, which may have left you wondering whether you should pick up one of the best smart displays for your home. 

Google has two of these speaker and smart screen devices with Google Assistant built in in its repertoire, ready to help with every command or question you fire its way: the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) and the Google Nest Hub Max. Aside from the screen sizes, you may be wondering just exactly what the differences are. We have all the details you need to help you decide which one you should pick.

Best Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) and Google Nest Hub Max deals  

Read on to find out just how these smart displays compare – or, if you know which Google Nest device you want, check out the best prices right now for both products below: 

 FAQ

Google Nest Hub (2nd generation)

The Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) is Google’s smallest smart display. It has the same floating-screen design as its predecessor, alongside a compact, oval-shaped base that's home to a full-range speaker with a 1.7-inch driver. The base is wrapped in fabric that's made from recycle bottles and is available in four different colors: Chalk (pale grey), Charcoal (dark grey), Sand (pink) and Mist (pale blue)

The 7-inch screen has a resolution of 1024 x 600. It has three microphones positioned along the top, so Google can pick up your voice from anywhere in the room. There's a mute button, too, to stop Google Assistant listening. You'll find a rocker switch for volume control behind the right-hand side of the screen. 

Google Nest Hub Max

A 10-inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 means the Google Nest Hub Max is the largest smart display Google offers. It looks similar to its smaller sibling, sporting the same floating-screen design. However, since it measures 7.17 x 9.85 x 3.99in, it has a larger footprint. 

The base is home to a stereo speaker system made up of two 10W tweeters and one 30W woofer for a room-filling sound. There’s also a 6.5-megapixel front-facing camera that can be used for video calls, or as a security camera to keep an eye on your home when you’re out – something the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) doesn’t offer. As you’d expect, the Google Nest Hub Max has an identical microphone array to the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) on top and volume and privacy switches, too. It's available in just two colors, though: pale grey or dark grey.  

Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) Vs Google Nest Hub Max 

The size of the screen and addition of the front-facing cameras in the Google Nest Hub Max are the most obvious differences between the two smart displays – if you plan to watch a lot of videos, you’ll likely prefer the 10-inch screen. However, these are the only differences.

Sound quality between the two devices also differs, particularly in terms of loudness and the greater power of the bass on the Google Nest Hub Max. And, if you prefer to make video rather than audio calls, then the Google Nest Hub Max is the smart display for you.

One feature that the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) offers that's missing from the Google Nest Hub Max is sleep tracking. As a result of radar technology built into the former smart display, it detect the smallest of movements – such as the rise and fall of the chest. 

As such, the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) will be handy for those wishing to track their sleep, but who don’t want to wear a smartwatch or fitness tracker. However, in our own tests we did find that the sleep-tracking feature wasn't as effective if you share a bed. 

Verdict

Both Google Nest smart displays excel when delivering content or responding to queries and commands via Google Assistant, and they perform equally well. As such, the one you opt for will depends largely on the size of screen you prefer, whether sleep tracking will be a useful feature, and the size of your budget.

Price and availability

The Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) costs $99.99 / £89 / AU$149 – and although it has only just launched, keep an eye out for deals, as it may be discounted. 

The Google Nest Hub Max costs $229 / £219 / $349, which is considerably more than the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) – but, again, it may well be discounted later in the year, particularly around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

• Check out the best Google Home deals

Google’s newest smart display, the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation), went on sale this week, and it’s the first smart display on the market that can track your sleep. The smart display includes Soli radar technology – already present in the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones – to monitor your breathing and movement, while the built-in microphones and ambient light and temperature sensors will detect coughing, snoring plus light and temperature changes in your bedroom. 

All of this information is analyzed by the device to help you understand how much sleep you’re getting and what, if anything, is impacting its quality. But just how accurate is this sleep data when it’s captured by a device that isn’t attached to you, and is it the same as using one of the best smartwatches or best fitness trackers? Following just over a week with the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) I’m disappointed with the results, and feel that if you share a bed then it isn’t the best option. 

• Check out our round-up of the best smart displays
• Not sure whether you want a Google or Amazon smart display? Find out by reading the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) vs Amazon Echo Show 8 
• Build on your smart home with our best smart thermostats

Two in the bed

The Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) monitors the length of time spent in bed, as well as the period of that time you were actually asleep and how consistent this is with your pre-defined sleep schedule. Most of the time, this data was accurate – we wore a Fitbit Sense at the same time, comparing the results from both devices. However, there were occasions that the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) failed to identify if I’d got up during the night; the Fitbit Sense logged these interruptions to sleep, however. Since I share a bed with my partner, it’s possible that the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) may have been detecting my other half breathing after I’d left the bed. 

When it came to sleep interruptions, the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation)’s microphone picked up snoring and coughing each night. However, it’s actually my partner who snores during the night. Unfortunately, this data was recorded in my Sleep Summary each morning as an interruption to my shut-eye, even though I’ve become used to his snoring and am rarely disturbed by it. Of course, this was always going to be an issue when enlisting a microphone for this purpose, but it still felt disappointing to see it.

The Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) can’t track sleep stages – it can’t determine the time that’s spent in light, deep, and REM sleep, which is something more wearables can. This is a shame because such data can be useful to identify patterns and variations in your sleep that you can discuss with your doctor. 

Disturbing my partner 

The Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) includes some handy features to help you wind down and wake-up gently (these are also available on the previous iteration, the Google Nest Hub, and the Google Nest Hub Max via a software update). One of these is the Sunrise Alarm, where the smart display’s screen starts to brighten between five and 30 minutes before the alarm sounds. I loved the idea of this feature – but my partner, who gets up later than I do, wasn’t impressed by the bedroom beginning to get brighter a good hour before he got up. As a result, I quickly disabled this feature. Once again, this reiterates the point that the Google Nest Hub doesn’t work so well if you share a bed and have different wake-up times to your partner. 

Useful sleep tips

Sleep-tracking did offer some handy insights into my nightly shut-eye, though. For example, on a day where we managed to get more sleep than is necessary, the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) provided quick access to information on the main screen of the smart display about the effects of sleeping in. It also encouraged me to stick to my schedule each day – but I can get almost all of the same information by using a smartwatch or fitness tracker to track my sleep. 

There are plenty of reasons to love the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation), such as quick gestures that let you play and pause music and movies by making a tapping motion in front of the screen, or support for smart home technology, Thread. However, for me at least, sleep tracking isn’t one of them.  

• Check out the best Google Home deals

Two-minute review

The Google Nest Hub 2, or the second generation as the tech giant is calling it, is Google's latest smart display, and like the previous version, which was called the Google Home Hub before the name was changed to Google Nest Hub, it’s billed by Google as the perfect bedside smart display.

While that claim was a bit of a stretch in the case of the original model (it was based in part on Google’s Hub not having a camera), Google may feel it’s got a stronger case this time around, because unlike any other smart display on the market, the new Google Nest Hub can track your sleep.

This smart display is the first from Google to feature Soli radar technology, which has already been used in the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphone, and which enables you to wave and ‘tap’ the air in front of the smartphone to activate certain controls such as playing or pausing music.

The Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) offers these features too, but the technology is also used to monitor the smallest of movements, such as the rise and fall of your chest as you breathe, to help the device monitor how much sleep you’re getting and whether it’s uninterrupted.

The Google Nest Hub 2 has the same ‘floating display’ design as the previous iteration, with a 7-inch screen set at an angle on an oval base, which comes in four different colors. An Ambient EQ feature automatically brightens or darkens the screen based on the ambient light in the room, so it won't be a shining beacon lighting up your room when you’re trying to sleep if you do decide to use it on your bedside table.

When you’re not using the smart display it will display a clock face, or it can be used as a digital photo frame, serving up your albums from Google Photos.

You can also watch Netflix and Disney+ on the 7-inch screen, or listen to various streaming services on its speaker. While Google claims the new Hub offers 50% better bass than its predecessor, don’t expect a thumping, room-filling sound – it’ll suffice if you’re using it for background audio though. Similarly, the screen quality won’t blow you away, but if you want a larger screen than your smartphone to run video in the background, it will do the job.

Google Assistant is built into the smart display, enabling you to set timers, get the latest weather or news headlines, and even control your smart gadgets like smart lights or smart plugs with your voice (you can also do all of this by swiping and tapping on the display). As well as an audible response to questions and commands, extra information will be displayed on the screen. Ask for the weather, for example, and as well as Google Assistant telling you the current temperature, an hour-by-hour breakdown will be displayed.

However, while the Nest Hub can be used to make audio calls, there’s no camera here – unlike on the Amazon Echo Show 8 – so video calls are off the menu. 

Google says this is for privacy, and to make users feel more comfortable about having the display in their bedroom, but at $99 / £89 / AU$149 this certainly isn’t the most affordable smart display on the market, and the lack of a camera is likely to put off some potential customers, especially those who would potentially use it in a room other than the bedroom, and for whom sleep tracking isn’t a major draw.

The addition of sleep tracking certainly makes the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) more than just a way to access Google Assistant and could be a welcome solution to those that don’t want to wear a smartwatch or fitness tracker at night. 

Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) price and availability

•  List price: $99 / £89 / AU$149

The Google Nest Hub 2 is priced at $99 / £89 / AU$149. It’s a little pricier than the first Google Nest Hub, which was initially called the Google Home Hub and launched in 2018, but only by $10/ £10 / AU$20. 

The Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) is available to buy now in the US, UK, and Australia. 

Design

• 7-inch display with auto-brightness adjustment 
• Privacy shutter cuts power to the microphone
• Fabric casing is made from recycled plastic bottles

The latest Google Nest Hub 2 is almost identical to the previous iteration in terms of design. Measuring 4.7 x 7 x 2.7 inches / 12.04 x 17.74 x 6.95cm (w x d x h) it’s slightly smaller than its predecessor, which wasn’t exactly bulky to begin with. The oval-shaped base, which is small enough that it can be held in the palm of a hand, contains the full-range speaker with a 1.7-inch driver. The base is covered in the same mesh fabric as on the Google Nest Mini smart speaker, which is made from recycled plastic, and is available in four colors: Chalk (pale grey), Charcoal (dark grey), Sand (pale pink), and Mist (pale blue). The 7-inch screen, which has a resolution of 1024 x 600, is positioned on top of the base.

On the top of the screen is a physical button for muting Google Assistant, along with three far-field microphones that listen for your voice. On the back of the screen, to the right, is a rocker switch for adjusting the volume. However, unlike Amazon’s rival, the Echo Show 8, the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) doesn’t have a headphone socket for private listening, or a micro USB port for charging other devices, which is disappointing considering this smart display is positioned as the perfect device for the bedside table. 

Towards the bottom of the device is a power socket; like other Google Nest smart speakers and displays, this one needs to be plugged in at all times. The Ambient EQ feature automatically brightens or darkens the screen based on the ambient light in the room, although you can manually tweak the brightness by swiping up from the bottom of the display and tapping the sunshine icon. 

As we’ve mentioned, this is the first Google Nest smart display to include Soli radar technology, which is used for Sleep Sensing, Google’s sleep tracking feature, as well as for the Quick Gesture feature, which lets you play and pause music and video by ‘tapping’ the air in front of the smart display. 

The Google Nest Hub 2 has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, alongside support for Thread (a networking technology that enables smart home devices from different manufacturers to communicate), although this isn’t active yet. Once activated via a software update, which Google says will happen soon, the number of different smart home devices from different manufacturers you can control using the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) will increase, and you’ll be able to control any devices that support Thread, even when you’re not connected to your home Wi-Fi network, as the Google Nest Hub 2 can be used as a Thread border router. 

Performance

• Sleep Sensing feature monitors how much rest you get each night
• Personalized sleep report offers tips to improve your shuteye
• Sunrise alarm illuminates screen slowly before alarm sounds

The biggest difference between the latest iteration of the Google Nest Hub and previous generations is the new Sleep Sensing feature. As we’ve already mentioned, the Soli radar technology can sense even the smallest of movements, such as the rise and fall of a chest when you’re breathing. The smart display also utilizes the built-in microphones, and ambient light and temperature sensors, to assess how much sleep you get, and whether coughing, snoring, and light or temperature changes in your bedroom interrupt your sleep. 

We’ve been testing the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) for just over a week, and we’ve found the sleep tracking to be mostly accurate when it comes to assessing the length and quality of our sleep. As well as using the Google Nest Hub 2, we also wore a Fitbit Sense during our testing, and compared the sleep statistics captured by both devices.

On one hand the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) and the Fitbit Sense offered very similar data for the time we fell asleep, the length of sleep, and if we were awake for any period during the night. However, on one evening during the eight nights of testing, the Google Nest Hub did fail to detect that we’d gotten up and gone to the bathroom in the middle of the night, while the Fitbit logged this awake time. The Google Nest Hub also doesn’t provide a breakdown of sleep stages, or how long was spent in REM, light and deep sleep, unlike the Fitbit Sense and many other wearables. 

The Google Nest Hub 2 also picked up the snoring and coughing from our partner, but attributed it to us, which affected our Sleep Summary. Each morning, your Sleep Summary can be viewed on the Wellness screen of the Nest Hub, and it breaks the sleep statics down into three areas: schedule, which includes the time we fell asleep after getting into bed, when we woke up and whether this is consistent throughout the week; how much sleep we actually got; and the quality of the sleep, which takes into account the respiratory rate, which is the number of breaths taken per minute during sleep, and the number of minutes spent coughing or snoring. These three factors are displayed are circles, which when you’re excelling at them, appear purple and are aligned, while if you’re struggling at one or more areas they’ll turn orange and be out of alignment. In addition to viewing your Sleep Summary on the Wellness screen of the Google Nest Hub, you can also access it in the Google Fit app on your smartphone.  

We liked that, on a day when we got more sleep than was necessary, not only did Google highlight that fact that we’d got into bed a little early, and suggest how we could amend our bedtime, it also provided some information on the effects of sleeping-in on the main screen. 

After seven days, the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) will provide you with a sleep report with personalized tips, as long as Sleep Sensing has been active on the smart display for at least four nights in that period, and you’ll continue to receive a sleep report every four days after that. After 14 days of consecutive sleep tracking, Google will offer a personalized recommendation for when you should go to bed, and when you should wake up, based on what Sleep Sensing has learned about your body clock and how you sleep.

You can pause Sleep Sensing at any time by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and tapping the bed icon, and you can also ask Google Assistant to pause Sleep Sensing, or delete your sleep data. Alternatively, it can be deactivated completely in the Google Home app. 

The Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) doesn’t only track your sleep, it also has a handy sunrise alarm, which illuminates the screen in colors that mimic sunrise between five and 15 minutes before your alarm is scheduled to sound, to help you wake up. The Nest Hub will also help you wind down ready for bed, by automatically switching the interface to a dark theme in the evening, and by offering shortcuts for setting your alarm, turning off or dimming the smart lights in your bedroom, and even playing relaxing sounds, either for a set period of time or all night, to help you drift off. 

Music and video

• You can watch Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube
• Control music and video by ‘tapping’ the air in front of the device
• Audio lacks powerful bass

A wide range of music services can be played through the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation), including Spotify, Apple Music and the free version of YouTube Music. You can control playback with your voice via Google Assistant, and we found this worked smoothly.

Google claims the Nest Hub (2nd generation) offers 50% more bass than its predecessor. On test, we found while the audio is room-filling and has a sense of bass, it’s certainly not booming and there’s some distortion when it’s at full volume. 

You can watch YouTube, Netflix and Disney+ directly on the smart display, and with Chromecast built in you can also cast other video services to the Google Nest Hub. It may not be the sharpest screen – and it’s certainly never going to replace your main screen – but the quality is fine if you just want videos running in the background while you’re doing other things.

As we’ve mentioned, the Quick Gestures feature lets you play or pause music and videos, as well as timers and alarms and Google Assistant when it’s speaking if you’ve heard enough, by making a tapping motion in mid-air in front of the device. 

Google Assistant smarts

• Additional info on Google Assistant queries is displayed on-screen
• Google Assistant can instigate voice calls, and make announcements in the home
• Google Assistant can’t access settings for you

Google Assistant is built in to the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation), and it can do everything it can on other Google Nest devices, from setting timers and answering questions to providing the day’s news, weather and sports scores, while also offering up additional information on-screen. 

Google Assistant can also help you keep in touch, either by placing voice calls to friends and family, or by making announcements on other Google Nest speakers in the home, either at set times or the day or on an ad-hoc basis.  We also loved that you can ask Google to show you photos that you’ve taken in particular locations, or snaps of certain people or pets, on the smart display’s screen – it’s easier than having to trawl through hundreds of pictures yourself.

However, Google Assistant can’t open the settings menu, or tweak any of the smart display’s features for you.

Should I buy the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation)?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Not long after Apple unceremoniously discontinued the original HomePod smart speaker, we're now hearing reports that the next HomePod could come with a screen like the Amazon Echo Show 10 and the upcoming Google Nest Hub 2.

The revelation comes from a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman on the recently discovered temperature sensors inside the Apple HomePod mini, which could improve the speaker's smart home integration.

In the report, Gurman says that, "before the discontinuation of the larger HomePod, the company had been working on an updated version for release in 2022. It has also been developing new speakers with screens and cameras, but such a launch isn’t imminent". 

• Read our Apple HomePod mini review
• The best smart displays of 2021
• Check out our Amazon Echo Show 10 review

It's not like Apple to discontinue a product before a replacement is announced, and it's not clear whether we'll see a 'traditional' HomePod model in the near future to accompany the HomePod mini. 

However, the news that Apple is potentially working on a smart display, could be a good indication that the company is renewing its focus on smart home compatibility.

Plus, as MacRumors' Steve Moser discovered in the tvOS 14.5 beta code, Apple has added FaceTime and iMessage frameworks, as well as a new AVFCapture framework related to capturing images. 

Apple uses tvOS as the basis for the software that runs on the HomePod, rather than iOS – and that means messaging and video calls could come to a future HomePod smart display, too.

A smart move

Apple has typically struggled in the smart home arena, with Amazon and Google dominating the market with their better-connected smart displays and smart speakers. 

The Apple HomePod has long had a place in our round-up of the best wireless speakers you can buy, but that’s mainly due to its excellent audio performance – in terms of smart home integration, it doesn’t measure up to the likes of the Amazon Echo or the Google Nest Hub Max. 

As we've speculated, that could be one reason for the speaker's abrupt discontinuation – and if Apple is planning on making a smart display, it will need to up its game considerably, particularly where Siri is concerned.

Siri is Apple's answer to Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa – but the voice assistant just isn't as clever as its rivals, and that means Apple's smart speakers aren't as easy to integrate into a smart home system as the competition. 

Adding fuel to the rumors that Apple is upping its smart home game is the recent discovery of latent temperature sensors inside the HomePod mini. According to Bloomberg, the sensors could allow “internet-connected thermostats [to] adjust different parts of a home, based on current conditions.”

The hardware could also let the HomePod mini automatically engage other actions depending on temperature – such as activating a fan – which suggests the device might see a host of functionality upgrades in future software updates.

At present, the HomePod mini is unable to perform the temperature and humidity-reading functions permitted by the sensor, so it seems likely that Apple will introduce this functionality in a future software update – perhaps giving the company a sneak preview of how a super-connected HomePod smart display would be received by consumers.

In any case, better smart home functionality could certainly give the HomePod mini a longer lifespan than its bigger, more expensive predecessor – whether Apple can take on the stiff smart display competition from Amazon and Google, remains to be seen.

• The Apple HomePod has been unceremoniously discontinued – but why?

The Google Nest Hub 2, Google’s rumored replacement for the Google Home Hub, has finally been officially confirmed with the 7-inch smart display available to pre-order now and will go on sale on March 31, priced at $99.99 / £89 / AU$149.

The Google Nest Hub 2 may look similar to its predecessor with a ‘floating display’ design, but it has some handy technology built-in that actually makes it Google’s most advanced smart display to date - not least because it can track how well you sleep without requiring you to wear a smartwatch or fitness tracker.

 It also has some handy features that can improve the amount and quality of sleep you get, such as dimming the display as the evening draws to a close and a Sunrise alarm that will slowly brighten the display before the alarm goes off so you’re not awoken with a start. These features are also being made available on the Google Nest Hub, previously known as the Google Home Hub, and the Google Nest Hub Max through a software update too.  

We've picked out some of the aspects that we love about the new Google Nest Hub 2, which could potentially make our list of best smart displays, as well as a couple that we were disappointed not to see included in Google’s latest smart display. 

• Find out about Amazon’s rival smart display – read our Amazon Echo Show 10 review now
• Check out our Google Nest Hub Max review
• Build on your smart home with our best smart thermostats

Sleep tracking

The Google Nest Hub 2 comes with Soli radar technology built-in, a tech that already features in the Google Pixel 4 smartphone and the company’s newest Nest smart thermostat. 

Providing the basis of its sleep-tracking functionality, the radar is able to detect when you’re awake, asleep or absent from your bed at night, while also monitoring your breathing, and any coughing or snoring. 

The device analyzes this data and provides a daily report that details how well you slept, and the cause of any interruptions you may have experienced through the night.

Quick gestures

The Soli radar isn’t only useful for sleep tracking on the Google Nest Hub. Similar to the way it's utilized in Pixel smartphones, it also enables the Quick Gestures feature, enabling you to play and pause music and video by moving your hand in front of the 7-inch smart display. This is particularly handy if you’re cooking and have greasy fingers, as you can still control the device without having to make the screen dirty.  

Wind down and wake-up gently

When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, the Google Nest Hub 2 doesn't just offer sleep tracking, it also has some handy features that will help you wind-down and wake-up gently. The display can be set to dim automatically as night draws in, while the ‘Your Evening’ page offers quick access to alarms, any smart lights you have in the room, and relaxing sounds playlists to make your bedroom as sleep-friendly as possible.

There’s also a Sunrise Alarm that gradually brightens the display and increases the alarm volume so you’re woken with a start. All of these features can also be found on the original Google Nest Hub and the Google Nest Hub Max through a software update.

However, the Google Nest Hub 2 has one extra feature here. As we’ve mentioned already, the Google Nest Hub 2 also features Quick Gestures, so as well as waving your hand in front of the display to control music and videos, you can also do this to snooze the alarm. That’s much easier when you’re half asleep than trying to find the right button to press to grab a few extra minutes of shut-eye. 

Better audio

We found the original Google Home Hub’s sound quality lacking when it came to a powerful bass, so we’re pleased to see that Google has improved the audio on the Google Nest Hub 2. The tech giant claims the new smart display offers 50% more bass than its predecessor, and we look forward to testing this out.  While the smart display won't be your primary way of watching TV, it may be your go-to speaker for the room it's located in.  If the audio experience isn't up to scratch when you're listening to music or watching videos, the device could end up languishing in the corner, leaving you feeling disappointed with it. 

Support for Thread

Google has included support for the wireless smart home protocol Thread in the Google Nest Hub 2. The relatively new technology allows smart home devices from different manufacturers to work together, without the need for a third-party service such as IFTTT, for example switching on smart lights if your smart weather centre detects it's a cloudy dull day. It also uses less power, so if any of your smart home devices are battery powered, they will last longer between charges. 

In addition, Google goes one step further, ensuring the Google Nest Hub 2 can act as a Thread Border router – this means you’ll still be able to control those smart home devices when you’re not connected to your home Wi-Fi network. So if you realise your smart lights are switched on but you’ve left the house, you’ll still be able to turn them off.

Currently there are only a handful of smart home devices on the market that support Thread, including the Nanoleaf Essential range of smart light's and Eve smart plug and connected weather station. However, more are expected to be made available in the future. 

Sustainable materials

Google has given the Nest Hub 2 some eco credentials, too: the smart display’s fabric base  is made from recycled plastic bottles. 

This is just like the Google Nest Mini 2, the tech giant’s most affordable smart speaker. The fabric is available in four colors: Chalk, Charcoal, Sand and Mist – a soft pastel blue that Google said was designed to give a calming presence in the bedroom. 

No camera

The original Google Nest Hub, or Home Hub as it was initially called, had one glaring omission – a camera for video calls. At the time of its launch, Google said it was protecting users' privacy by not including a camera. 

However, the company did add a camera to its bigger smart display, the Google Nest Hub Max. So, we’re disappointed to find that Google hasn’t included a camera on the Google Nest Hub 2. 

It’s a feature that all Amazon’s rival Echo Show smart displays offer, and would have been welcomed by those who want to use the smart display for video calls. 

Web browser

Currently, none of Google’s smart displays – including the new Google Nest Hub 2 – have a web browser built-in, whereas Amazon’s range of Echo Show smart displays do offer the ability to surf the web. 

We believe this would have been a handy addition to the Google Nest Hub 2: if you want to quickly search for something on the web, and you don’t have a smartphone or tablet to hand, you wouldn’t have to stop what you’re doing to locate your device. Sadly, Google didn’t feel the need to include a web browser on this updated device.   

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The Amazon Echo Show can seem confusing for those not used to smart home gadgets. At heart, it's a smart speaker, like the Amazon Echo, but also builds in a large screen – adding in video and touch functionality alongside the Echo's usual audio capabilities. 

A new update even extends its ability to make calls to mobile and landline phones to the UK, after a successful rollout of the feature in the US.

While this review is for the second-generation Echo Show, there are technically three other screen products you may be considering. For one, there's the new Amazon Echo Show 10, which comes with a new design, the ability to turn to face you as you move around the room, and Netflix support.  It was  released on February 25, and will set you back $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$399.

Then there's the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8: smaller Show models to fit tighter spaces. 

The 1st generation Echo Show was quite a hard sell at launch, shipping with an Alexa assistant that didn’t make the most of the bigger screen and having middling audio given both its price and its size.

This second-generation model saw Amazon iron out most of the issues we had with its predecessor. It well and truly went back to the drawing board. And it was worth it. Everything about this Echo Show – its design, screen and functionality – is better than before.

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Amazon Echo Show FAQ: quick questions answered

Price and availability

You can order an Echo Show 2nd generation now for $229, £219.99 or AU$349. 

It costs more than the smaller, Google Home Hub which has weaker speakers, but still undercuts the Lenovo Smart Display running Google Assistant.

Design

When designing the Echo Show this time around, Amazon has put the speakers on the back, making the Show’s front almost all screen. 

This move has added some depth, with the 2nd gen Show being around 17mm thicker than last year’s model, but it’s a great call that means Amazon can get a bigger screen onboard and, as we’ll come onto later, better sound too.

Ports and buttons are simple enough. At the top are volume controls and there's a privacy button, on the back is a DC power port, a microUSB port and a Kensington lock while on the front, it’s 10-inches of touchscreen goodness. 

There’s a front camera bookended by four dots. These are four of the Show’s eight microphones - which are excellent, while around the back is a fabric jacket over the speakers.

In a way, it actually looks a bit less weirdly wonderful than the old show, losing some of the marmite 70’s design-factor in favor of a more tablet-like design. From a functionality point of view though, the bigger screen is much more comfortable to interact with and easier to see from across the kitchen.

Screen

Speaking of the screen, it’s a 10-inch 1,280 x 800 resolution LCD panel that won’t blow your socks off up close, but looks absolutely fine at a distance - which is where you’ll likely always be viewing the Show from.

More importantly than the resolution, viewing angles are on-point and it’s super responsive. Sure, if this was a Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 OLED screen with inkier blacks and colors that jump it would have been even better, but the Show sports what we’d expect in terms of quality for the asking price.

Featuring adaptive brightness, the Show can detect the ambient light in the room and dial the screen brightness up or down automatically. As with most Android smartphones, there’s a familiar brightness slider, accessible by pulling down from the top of the screen for more manual brightness control. 

This feels sufficient for this type of product, but there isn’t more granular control over things like white balance or contrast in case you were wondering.

In the settings, you can also customise what appears on the screen, with pre-set illustrations, a slideshow of Prime Photos or a simple black background being the current three options available.

Talking to Alexa

Despite its screen, voice is still the primary way Amazon wants you to interact with the Echo Show. You can choose from a range of buzzwords to fire her up, and she can do everything an Echo Smart speaker can and more.

This means you get a great Zigbee smart home hub (a feature previously exclusive to the Echo Plus in the range) that can manage smart lights and plugs right through to compatible heating systems and locks. Set-up is a piece of cake with the help of the Alexa app on your phone, and in many respects, smart home management is where Alexa edges ahead of Google’s Assistant.

The benefits of the screen are obvious when you pair the Echo Show with visual smart home hardware like cameras and smart doorbells, even if you don’t touch it. You can see who’s at the door, for example, with a simple voice command.

If you’re in a household of Echo Shows, or indeed have friends with them, you can also video call or drop in on them, permissions permitting, by just saying “Alexa, call Sean” or “Alexa, drop in on the nursery”.

While the Amazon and smart home ecosystem are areas where the Echo Show shines, skills however vary wildly in terms of quality. 

Taking cooking as an example, we made a couple of recipes using the Recipedia app, the default search app for recipes, and it was infuriating. For example, it was unable to resume a recipe after I left it for five minutes despite multiple “Alexa, next step”, “Alexa, open Recipedia” “Alexa, next step” commands. 

That said, other apps like Daily Stretch are really simple, charming and nice to use, but that you have to wade through a lot of frustration to get to a skill that’s usable is a pain. Alexa also can’t search the web using voice commands, a simple task that a screen and web browser should make a no-brainer.

Touch functionality

Without interacting with it, the Show will cycle through trending stories automatically – full bleed pictures paired with captions. You can disable these, or enable additional home screen content easily in the settings, with options including sports schedules and scores, notifications for Alexa skills, upcoming event info and more.

The pulldown bar from the top of the screen gives you quick access to your home screen, alarms, smart home hardware and routines, as well as the settings. There’s also a brightness slider as well as a do not disturb function, which is different from the privacy function, accessible by pressing the hardware key atop the Show.

Amazon has resisted including an app drawer on the Show, or a list of all Alexa’s skills accessible by touch. Instead, it’s clear that the Show is meant to be voice first, touch second. 

Irrespective, the inclusion of a web browser is incredibly welcome. You have the option of either Amazon’s Silk browser or Firefox, and can interact with a full-sized keyboard or voice typing to search for stuff. 

This is a key area where the 2nd gen Echo Show takes advantage of the extra screen size on offer, and makes it feel like much more of a centrepiece when with friends than the original did. This also opens up YouTube to the Echo Show for the first time, which is something of a game changer.

Echo Show video services

Speaking of YouTube, if you want to search YouTube by voice, it’s out of bounds - you have to go through the browser. This isn’t necessarily Amazon’s fault (Google, we’re looking at you), but it is a sad fact. YouTube is also lower resolution than we’d like it to be, with the service recognising the Echo Show browser as a mobile device and tuning resolution accordingly.

You can now search Vevo music videos by voice which is great, but other services we would have expected to be onboard - Netflix for example - are inaccessible, even through the browser. 

In the UK, BBC iPlayer is available through a web browser, and in the US, there's support for Hulu, which could make all the difference if you're thinking about this as a media consumption device. 

If you’re not in either of these regions, definitely check what content is available to you locally.

Sound performance

Apple Music or Tidal fans can also forget about it from a music point of view, but thankfully, Spotify support is available across the Echo line and of course, Amazon Music is also supported, with both services working excellently with voice integration.

Default sound settings are massively bass-heavy, and this can make spoken word content sound a bit off, but this is easy to fix in the EQ that you can also control by voice.

If you’re using the Echo Show as a music device, the extra bass may also be welcome. The Show can fill up a room and make everything from classical piano music through to 90’s R&B sound banging with minimal distortion even at higher volumes.

What else you need to know

There were a few other little bits that stood out for us in our time with the Show.

Privacy mode, for example, results in an annoying thick red line that persists at the bottom of the screen while it’s on - visually strong-arming you to keep your mic on when watching content. Amazon, if you're reading this, just having the red LED illuminated up top would have sufficed. 

The camera and video calling capabilities are also only really useful if your family and friends have Echo Shows, with no support for other video services like Skype or Hangouts. Skype is said to be on the way though, so watch this space.

Verdict

The Amazon Echo show isn't perfect. And it's screen isn't likely to appeal to everyone. But the final word is a positive one: “Alexa, well done”. 

The new Show takes the Echo range’s excellent smart home powers and combines them with a fit-for-purpose design to create a great smart screen. 

There are still some niggling issues – there’s no Netflix support and some skills aren't as polished as we'd like them to be. But if you’ll be using this primarily as an Alexa device, radio, music/Prime Video player and occasionally as a YouTube watcher and web browser, it will nail it.

The latest version of the Echo Show is an evolving product, and we fully expect these services and Skills to improve over time. We look forward to revisiting the Echo Show in the coming months to see just how much better it could possibly become.

Image Credits: TechRadar

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The much-rumored Google Nest Hub 2, which can track your sleep, has finally been unveiled and will be released in the US, UK and Australia on March 31. It’s available to pre-order today, March 16, and costs $99.99 / £89 / AU$149.

The second generation of Google’s smallest smart display, the Google Home Hub, has Soli radar technology built-in, which can already be found in the Google Pixel 4 smartphone and Google’s newest Nest smart thermostat, to power its Motion Sensing feature. Motion Sensing is used to analyze your sleep, called Sleep Sensing, but also to enable Quick Gestures, so you control music and video playback simply by moving your hand in front of the 7-inch smart display, even though it doesn’t have a built-in camera.

To use the Sleep Sensing feature on Google Nest Hub 2, position the smart display near your bed, angling it towards your torso.  During the night, the smart display will monitor your breathing and movement, while the built-in microphones, and ambient light and temperature sensors will detect coughing, snoring, or light and temperature changes in your bedroom. All of this information is analyzed by the device to help you understand what’s impacting your sleep.

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Personalized sleep report

Each morning, the Google Nest Hub 2 will display a Sleep Sensing report detailing how well you slept the previous night, but you can also ask Google at any time to see your sleep data, as well as asking questions like “Hey Google, when should I go to bed? and” “Hey Google, did I snore last night?”. The data can also be shared with the Google Fit app so you can get sleep tracking information alongside other health data on your smartphone. 

Following 14 days of analyzing your sleep, Sleep Sensing can then offer up suggestions on how to amend your bedtime schedule to suit your personal body clock, along with other personalized suggestions to improve your sleep.

Sleep Sensing is available as a free preview on any Google Nest Hub 2 until 2022, although Google didn’t offer a more specific end date, or details of any costs associated with Sleep Sensing after this date. 

Other handy bedtime features

The Google Nest Hub 2 has a number of other handy features, which make it a useful device for the bedroom. There’s a Sunrise Alarm setting that will gradually brighten the display before your alarm goes off, waking you up more gently, while Quick Gestures means you can snooze the alarm simply by waving your hand in front of the display. 

At bedtime,  the display will dim automatically as the evening draws to a close so it won’t disturb your sleep, and the Your Evening screen makes it easy to set alarms and control smart lights so your bedroom is the perfect environment for a good night’s sleep. These features are also being added to the original Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Hub Max through a software update too. 

Privacy

Google has considered privacy when it comes to the Google Nest Hub 2 as well. The Motion Sense technology can’t detect specific bodies or faces, just motion in general, and all of the sleep data analysis takes place on the device, nothing is stored in the cloud or sent to Google servers and the tech giant confirmed the information would not be used to serve up personalized adverts either. 

You can pause sleep tracking or disable it completely at any point through the menus on screen, while also asking Google to delete your sleep sensing data too.

Even more upgrades

It’s not just sleep tracking that’s new to the Google Nest Hub 2. Google has improved the speaker and claims it now offers 50% more bass than the previous Google Nest Hub. It’s also added an extra microphone so there’s now three microphones that can identify when you’re calling for Google Assistant. 

The Google Nest Hub 2 also supports Thread  - a wireless protocol for smart home gadgets 

That’s similar to Zigbee and Z-wave, but offers a more reliable, faster connection and uses less power. As well as supporting the technology, the Google Nest Hub 2 can act as a Thread Border router so the different devices can talk to each other. The HomePod Mini is currently the only other widely-available smart home device that offers this functionality.

Eco-friendly design

The Google Nest Hub 2 comes in four colors; chalk, charcoal, sand and mist  - a soft pastel blue which Google said was designed to give a calming presence in the bedroom. Just like the Google Nest Mini 2, the smart display is made from 54% recycled post consumer plastic and is covered in fabric made from recycled plastic bottles.  

The best smart display yet?

The Google Nest Hub 2 has some handy sleep tracking features that may appeal to those that don’t have an activity tracker or smart watch, or prefer not to wear one when sleeping. While the idea of a screen in the bedroom may seem counter intuitive to getting a good night’s sleep, after all we're often advised to keep screens out of the bedroom, Google believes it’s less of a disturbance than a smartphone or tablet, as it doesn’t provide access to calls, messages and emails unlike phones and tablet. 

However, we’re disappointed that the Google Nest Hub 2 doesn’t have a camera, as there’s no video calling option which is something Amazon’s rival smart display offer. 

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Amazon’s newest smart display, the Echo Show 10, went on sale this week nearly four months after it was unveiled alongside the latest Amazon Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers at Amazon’s 2020 event. The latest Echo Show 10 has ditched the angular design in favor of a new rounded look, but that’s not the only change - for the first time ever, an Echo has a rotating display that can follow you around the room.

I was skeptical about just how useful a rotating display could really be when the Echo Show 10 was first announced. Surely, no-one's that busy that they can’t take a few steps back across a room to check something on the screen?

However, after living with the new Echo Show 10 for just over a week, the rotating screen has very quickly become the feature I love most about Amazon’s newest smart display. In fact, I’m even considering replacing my beloved Echo Spot with the Echo Show 10 as my kitchen companion. Here's why I think it’s actually a great idea and makes for one of the best smart displays out there. 

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Kitchen companion

I love cooking, so it made sense to put the Echo Show 10 in the kitchen, especially as Alexa can search for recipes from BBC Good Food, and display them on screen as well as reading aloud the ingredient list and method. 

I’m not the sort of cook that carefully weights and measures everything before I start - instead I dart around the kitchen gathering up ingredients as and when I need them. 

This usually sees me going backwards and forwards as a check whether I need a teaspoon or a tablespoon of a spice, or grabbing an ingredient I’ve forgotten. While this is great for reaching my daily step goals, it does mean cooking is not the relaxed pastime I’d hoped for. 

However, with the Echo Show 10’s screen following my every move, there was no more frantic darting around the kitchen. Instead, I can simply look up and see the screen at all times.  

Watching TV

I often have TV on in the background when I’m doing mundane housework such as dusting as it breaks the monotony of the tasks. I usually opt for shows I’ve seen before so it doesn’t matter if I’m not intently watching the screen. 

However with the latest Echo Show 10, every time I looked up the screen was within my gaze - it definitely made time go more quickly.  

 Video calls

The number of video calls I’ve made has increased since the pandemic started, and I often use my Echo devices to stay in touch with friends and family.

The Echo Show 10 has an upgraded 13MP camera, which makes the picture look more detailed for the recipient, but the real bonus was the rotating screen which pans and zooms to ensure I am always in the center of the frame. 

So now if I move around during a call, they can still see me, and I can still see them. It also means the microphone can always pick me up, and has genuinely made video calls feel slightly more like being in the same room as the caller.   

There is one small issue with the Echo Show 10 - its new design means it’s got the largest overall footprint of any Amazon smart display to date. If I use it to replace my cute little Echo Spot, I’ll have to give up some of my worktop space as it won’t fit on my window sill. Right now, that doesn’t seem such a hardship though. 

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A new Google Nest Hub is apparently on the way, and while it's rumored to be bringing one major feature upgrade with it, the latest leaks suggest not much is going to be changing in terms of the smart display's design.

Inside sources speaking to 9to5Google have revealed that the next Nest Hub is going to keep "the same design language" as the current models: a floating, angled screen fixed to a chunky, fabric-colored base underneath.

There will be a new color though, to tempt you into a purchase – alongside the existing gray, black and pink we'll also get a light blue apparently, which matches the aqua shade that the original hub came in and one of the colors offered with the Nest Audio speaker.

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Other improvements arriving with the new Google Nest Hub include better audio output quality, and three rather than two far-field microphones – which should ensure that your "hey Google" voice commands don't go unnoticed by the smart home device.

Now with sleep tracking

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the current design of the Nest Hub and the Nest Hub Max of course, so it's perhaps no surprise that Google is sticking to what it knows even if the latest Amazon Echo Show 10 features a fancy swivelling display.

The big upgrade this time around is one that we've reported on previously: a sleep tracking system based on the Soli radar technology that Google has developed (the same technology found in the Pixel 4 phones and apparently coming to the Nest thermostat).

The idea is that the radar tech would monitor your movements while you sleep, add in a bit of analysis from the sounds you make overnight, and produce a sleep rating for you that you can check in Google Fit. The Soli feature might also enable gesture controls on the Nest Hub too.

According to the sources speaking to 9to5Google, the new Nest Hub is arriving "sooner rather than later" and we will of course bring you all the news of the updated device as soon as we hear anything. Pricing is set to stay the same as the current model (the Nest Hub Max currently retails for $229 / £219 / AU$349).

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