What’s all the fuss about smart displays? That’s a fair question to ask, and the best way to explore this tech category is to take a hard look at Amazon’s Echo Show lineup. The Echo Show is one of the most recognizable names in the world of smart displays. Echo Show smart displays are great for making video calls, listening to music, controlling smart home devices, and so much more.
A quick Google search or perusing of Amazon will reveal many Echo Show models to choose from though, which can be very daunting. Which is best for your wants, needs, and lifestyle? This roundup of the best Echo Show smart displays will help you hone in on the best device for your smart home.
Amazon’s third iteration of the Echo Show 8 comes with several tweaks, like its extended glass frame and a curvier design. The last generation had a boxy look, like something you’d see in an office setting. But the new Show 8 offers a more stylish aesthetic that fits any room in the house.
Another change you’ll see is with the camera. Though it’s still an auto-framing 13 MP lens, Amazon has placed it at the Show 8’s center. This location makes much more sense than the previous gen’s camera, which sat on the upper right side of the frame. And since the Show 8 also sports a newer octa-core processor, the auto-framing should respond more promptly to motion. In fact, the Show 8’s overall response time to everything from finger-swiping between screens to command prompts should feel snappier.
Perhaps the best reason to pick up the new Show 8 is the improved sound. It boasts a decent pair of full-range speakers along with a passive bass radiator. Without getting too geeky, these new speakers give you a fuller sound. According to Amazon, the Show 8 can even adapt to the environment with its room adaption technology, so you get the most optimal acoustics.
If you already own the last generation’s Echo 8, there probably still isn’t much of a reason to upgrade unless you find it on sale. But for new buyers who want a smart display in that Goldilocks zone of not too big and not too small, this is worth checking out.
The third-gen Echo Show 10 is more than a standalone, voice-activated smart home controller. It’s fitted to a motorized base that can rotate 350 degrees and uses an advanced algorithm with an integrated camera to detect who’s watching and follow them around the room. This is particularly useful if, for example, you’re crafting a new, complicated meal and want to see the recipe or video tutorial, no matter where you are in the kitchen.
Since there’s plenty of space for enhanced speakers inside the round base, the Echo Show 10 delivers the best sound quality of Amazon’s smart displays. Its bass output leaves a bit to be desired with some music genres, but overall, it sounds surprisingly good despite the moderate size.
There’s also a host of apps preloaded and more available through Amazon, including the security-conscious Firefox browser, and most apps dovetail perfectly with Alexa voice control. The built-in Zigbee hub also acts as a smart home linchpin. The main drawback of the Echo Show 10 is that it’s pretty pricey compared to its smaller relatives. But if you want a useful, daily smart display, it’s a great choice.
The latest Echo Show 5 doesn’t reinvent the wheel or anything, but there are some welcome upgrades, namely in processing speed and volume. Last gen’s model was on the slower side, but with this newer model, you’ll get a 20% bump, courtesy of the MediaTek 8169 B processor. However, we’re more interested in Amazon’s updated voice-recognition processor, the AZ2 Neural Edge. It’s reported to provide more intuitive voice recognition and a faster response time.
The Show 5 has never been known for its audio quality, partially due to its small size. That hasn’t stopped Amazon from trying, because another notable upgrade is the Show 5’s bass-forward speaker and clearer overall sound. Under the hood, you’ll find a larger 1.75-inch driver compared to the previous gen’s 1.65-inch driver. Apparently, that small size upgrade is all the Show 5 required to boost the bass.
From a design standpoint, we also like that the Show 5 uses 100% post-consumer fabric and 100% recycled aluminum, which is a great detail. It would be nice to see more of this in consumer tech, where products are frequently replaced.
The Echo Show 15 is Amazon’s newest and largest smart display, and despite looking basically like a digital photo frame, it has a wide range of uses. Its camera can automatically detect who’s standing in front of it and load their personal schedule, chores, shopping list, and other useful information. Its 15.6-inch, 1080p screen is crisper, brighter, and can easily be seen from a distance. And to get the most out of the extra real estate, Amazon has implemented a handy widget supply to import information, such as weather and top news stories. Plus, it boasts an attractive overall design and makes a perfect digital picture frame when it’s not in use.
One interesting note is that Amazon is actively rolling out an update that allows the Fire TV streaming interface to be on the Echo Show 15. This makes it an even better choice for mounting in a high-activity area like the kitchen, as its display is just large enough for you to enjoy high-definition entertainment. It also speaks to Amazon’s dedication to the Show lineup and its largest variant in a time when no other 15-inch smart displays even exist.
Of course, there are a few things to consider before buying an Echo Show 15. First, it’s a bit large to set on the counter (though there is an optional desktop stand), so you may want to hang it on the wall. However, the speakers aren’t that loud when mounted. Also, it’s pretty expensive for a smart display, so make sure it has what you need before you invest.
Essentially a miniature version of the Echo Show 15, the Amazon Echo Hub is an 8-inch touchscreen display that is meant to be wall-mounted (third-party stands are sold separately). Unfortunately, Amazon decided to ditch the onboard camera in favor of a proximity sensor that recognizes when you walk up to the display. While you won’t be able to make any video calls, the Echo Show Hub isn’t really designed for conferencing.
Instead, you should think of the Hub as a smart home command center. You’ll be able to control and customize many smart home devices, including smart lights, security cameras, door locks, and more. The screen is also nice and bright, and decent when it comes to video playback. As far as sound goes, though, we were less than impressed in our hands-on review.
As mentioned, smart home controls are the name of the game with the Echo Hub. Your go-to devices can be configured as home screen widgets, with expanded controls available for things like home-monitoring systems (the ability to arm/disarm your system). You can even sort your web-connected gear into various Smart Home Groups.
The nuts and bolts of the Echo Show 5 Kids are exactly the same as the standard Show 5. Where the show 5 Kids differs is how it operates. As the name implies, the Show 5 Kids is designed to be safe for kids.
The Show 5 Kids gives children the freedom to watch shows, say basic commands, and access age-appropriate apps. It filters adult content, explicit lyrics, and even unwanted shopping sprees. If you’ve ever encountered a $100 Amazon bill for an oddball collection of Minecraft toys, candy, and Curious George episodes, you know why it’s a handy feature. Parents running a tight ship should also take note of the Alexa app’s Parental Dashboard, which lets you play Big Brother — you can see everything your little tyke has been up to, from app usage to their search history.
Amazon will also try to reel you in for yet another subscription by offering a free year of Amazon Kids+ with your purchase. Your child will enjoy unlimited access to thousands of audiobooks, games, apps, and more. Should you decide to renew after the free year, it’s not a bad deal at just $3 per month.
All in all, the Show 5 Kids is a decent choice for parents and kids. You’ll be paying a few bucks more than the standard Show 5, but it’s worth it for a little peace of mind.
Smart displays aren’t an Amazon exclusive. These interactive touchscreens are also made by Google, and there are two models available.
The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is a little less expensive than the Amazon Echo Show 8 and includes a few sleep-monitoring features to help troubleshoot nighttime snores and coughs. Instead of Alexa, Google Assistant is the brains of the operation, and the voice assistant is quick to execute smart home commands, web searches, and more.
For a larger display, there’s the Google Nest Hub Max. The Nest Hub Max, a solid competitor to the Echo Show 10, has an impressive speaker system for a smart display and also includes a built-in camera. With its 10-inch touchscreen display and intuitive interface, it’s truly the best smart display for Google Assistant fans.
That all depends on how you plan to use it. Generally speaking, smart speakers are cheaper than smart displays and can be easier to place throughout your home (although some models are pretty large).
Both the Echo and Nest Audio smart speaker lineups are terrific for playing music, making intercom announcements (if you have more than one smart speaker in your home), and controlling other smart home devices. You can also use a smart speaker to ask your voice assistant web-searchable questions, but the answers will only be spoken (whereas a smart display speaks and displays your answer).
Smart displays are a bit more expensive than most smart speakers, but that extra dough translates to an interactive touchscreen, a built-in camera (on most models), and an intuitive dashboard for smart home controls, photos, videos, entertainment apps, and web browsing.
Amazon’s Echo Show family is one of the most noteworthy smart display lineups on the market. Packed with excellent features, beautiful displays, great cameras, and decent speakers, the Echo Show is certainly a force to be reckoned with. That being said, most folks will love the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen), which is why it tops this list. The latest generation of this incredible smart display boasts awesome sound quality, a gorgeous touchscreen, and a revamped design.
If you have the money to spend, though, step up to the Amazon Echo Show 10. On top of its brilliant HD touchscreen, the Echo Show 10 features a motorized base that automatically tracks head movement during video calls. It can also be used as a Zigbee smart home hub. But for those looking to save, the Amazon Echo 5 (3rd Gen) is our value pick. It’s easy to love the device’s improved voice recognition and sound quality. Plus, it’s usually less than $100.
Maybe if we start telling people the brain is an app they will start using it!
