Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Generation) vs. Echo Show 8 (2nd Generation) Review

It can be exciting when a brand like Amazon launches a new version of a device, but figuring out which one is best for you (and whether it’s worth paying more than the original version) can also be confusing. measures. After testing the second-generation Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8, I’m going to tell you how they are the same, how they are different from the first-generation versions, what advantages they bring, and which one you should buy. Golden Day of the year.

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While these stationary devices don’t have the portability or functionality of an iPad or Surface tablet, they work perfectly with Alexa and serve as a smart home headquarters to simplify your daily life.

Price

While the second-generation Echo Show 5 is no longer on sale, the latest Echo Show 5 retails for $89.99. The Echo Show 8 has been phased out, but you can still buy some version of it for $129.99.

Matters big and small

The most obvious difference between the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 is of course their size. The Echo Show 5 has a 5.5-inch screen and a 6-inch x 3-inch footprint, while the Echo Show 8 is much larger, with an 8-inch screen and an 8-inch x 4-inch footprint.

The Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) is smaller and works better in a bedroom or office.
Image source: Amazon

The Echo Show 8 (2nd generation) is noticeably larger – best suited for central residential hubs.
Credit: Amazon

In my opinion, this makes the Echo Show 8 more suitable as the “hub” of your home – a central location like the kitchen or dining room for extremely easy video calls with your grandparents using Alexa. All you have to do is add the contact you want to call in the Alexa app on your phone. However, if you already own a tablet with excellent video capabilities, buying one may not be necessary.

Regardless, size aside, the Echo Show 8 offers some other advantages for video calling.

The Echo Show 5, on the other hand, is better suited for places where you need the device’s functionality without having it front and center, such as on your desk or nightstand.

If you’re obsessed with color, the Echo Show 8 is only available in Glacier White and Charcoal color options. The new Echo Show 5 offers more choices, including Glacier White, Charcoal and Deep Ocean Blue. The Echo Show 5 Kids comes in chameleon green color.

Camera and video calling

The Echo Show 5 gets a nice camera upgrade over the first-generation version – increasing the number of megapixels from 1 to 2. Instead of a 1-MP camera, this improved model comes with a 13-MP camera.

image is incredible Clear sound and a larger screen make the Echo Show 8 a winner for video calls. But that’s not the best part: The new Echo Show 8 has an auto-framing feature that automatically pans and zooms the camera so it focuses on people in view.

Both devices also come with some handy connectivity features, like Intercom to page every Alexa device in your home (“We’ll be leaving in fifteen minutes, so get ready!”) and Drop In, which allows you to chat with anyone Video chat with a connected Alexa device.

Zoom call

The Echo Show 8 can also join Zoom calls, while the Echo Show 5 cannot. To be honest, after multiple attempts, I couldn’t get the Zoom calling feature to work because none of the calls I joined had a dialed-in number.

I’d still say the Echo Show 8 wins here, just because it’s theoretically possible, and I really hope to be able to join Zoom calls soon to free up my laptop and extra monitor for in-meeting sessions Multitasking.

Child-friendly content

During the initial setup process, you can choose to make any Echo Show device a child-only device. This gives you access to some extended parental controls, which is great for older children, tweens, and tweens who still want to be protected from some of the worst the internet has to offer.

However, Echo Show 5 Kids is the first and only Echo Show designed from bottom to top and side to side specifically for kids. It has a fun chameleon look (dinosaur scales, according to my 5-year-old) and comes with a free year of Amazon Kids (a $69 Prime membership)—which offers books, games, and videos curated just for kids. Much more than a basic Prime membership can offer. Plus, it comes with enhanced parental controls so you can make more adjustments.

Alexa function

Both the second-generation Echo Show 5 and second-generation Echo Show 8 have some new Alexa features not found on their first-generation counterparts.

First up is the home surveillance feature, which allows you to remotely access the camera on your device via the Alexa app to check on the situation. You need a WiFi connection to do this, but I had no issues getting it to work. I can imagine it would be nice to be able to check on pets, babysitters, or just see your home while on vacation to make sure everything is okay.

Next is the addition of routines to support exercise. This allows Alexa to detect when you enter or leave a room and use that activity to initiate daily activities. Fair warning, this may raise privacy concerns, but it also opens up some exciting possibilities for smart home enthusiasts. You can ask Alexa to read your calendar when you walk into the office, or turn off all smart devices when no motion is detected in the living room – just two simple ideas. By adding an Alexa-enabled device or smart plug, your options expand. If you want to delete recordings or manage your data, Amazon does offer ways to manage those settings.

All of these devices have the same Alexa capabilities as previous-generation Echo Show devices.

Which one is better?

For $45, the Echo Show 8 is the clear winner for me. Not only does it have a bigger screen and a 13 MP camera with auto-framing (making it a great choice for video calls), it also allows you to join Zoom meetings if/when you can get that feature working.

If you don’t care about video calls and Zoom meetings, the Echo Show 5 is still a good choice – like the second-generation Echo Show 8, the new Echo Show 5 has many of the same Alexa-enabled features, such as home monitoring and motion detection. Procedure. Of course, if you want a product designed specifically for kids, you’ll want to opt for the trendy green Echo Show 5 Kids.

Overall, I’m a fan of both products, but the Echo Show 8 performs best in our home.

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