I'll admit, I wasn't impressed when Amazon added a rotating base to the new Echo Show 10. Certain, the swiveling screen is useful for following yous around the room during video calls, but it also felt gimmicky and unnecessary. Plus, it needs a lot of room to move around and then you're losing a significant amount of counter space. That'southward why I'thou glad the Echo Show 8 and 5 haven't repeated that pattern. In fact, Amazon has changed very little between this edition and the terminal, simply trust me when I say that'due south a good thing.

Gallery: Amazon Repeat Show 8 and v review | 23 Photos

It's the Repeat Show 8 that has seen the most changes, but most of those are under the hood: It now has a faster octa-core processor plus a much-improved 13-megapixel wide-angle photographic camera (the previous model simply had a 1-megapixel sensor). Plus, the Echo Show 8 can follow you during video calls without the need for a swiveling display. Instead, information technology uses digital panning and zooming, the aforementioned tech you'll observe in Facebook's Portal devices (plus the Echo Prove 10, when information technology's not moving around).

This digital pan-and-zoom works well enough that I feel like there's a cameraperson keeping my face up in frame during video calls, tracking me as I move across my living room. This face-tracking feature works on every video calling platform that the Echo Show 8 supports, which includes Skype and Zoom, in addition to Amazon's own services. (Yous can brand video calls via the Alexa app or from Echo Testify devices.) I institute the video and audio quality to be more often than not quite good. That said, the auto-framing can be a affect glitchy; it sometimes takes a few seconds for it to kick in. Facebook's Portal does a comparatively better job at this sort of automatic tracking, with hardly any lag.

Amazon Echo Show 8

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The Prove 5, on the other hand, but brings minor changes. It now has a ii-megapixel photographic camera, up from one megapixel, which is still pretty meager. And information technology comes in a light blue colour in addition to the usual black or white. Its camera does not take the pan-and-zoom capabilities of the Repeat Show 8, probably thanks to its significantly lower resolution. Notably, the Prove 5 currently does not support Zoom. (Amazon has said that it's working with Zoom to ringlet out support to more devices, so this could change.)

The residual of this review might seem like deja vu, as everything else hither is very like to previous generations. Both devices have the same minimalist design. The Echo Testify 8 has a one,280 x 800 resolution while the Evidence 5 settles for 960 10 480. Photos and video look skillful on both, though I do prefer watching videos on the Show 8 but considering the screen is bigger. Both the Repeat Show 8 and v besides have an ambient light sensor, which adjusts the screen's brightness and color temperature according to their environs.

On top of both the Echo Show 8 and 5 are volume controls, a microphone mute button, plus a camera shutter for privacy. The Evidence viii has a better sound system than its smaller sibling, with two speakers instead of ane. It delivers surprisingly powerful bass and impressive volume, hands filling my small-scale office. The audio from the Evidence 5 isn't as well bad for its size, but information technology but doesn't sound every bit good. I should note that both the new Repeat Show 8 and Repeat Evidence five lack the 3.5mm headphone jack featured on their corresponding predecessors, which means you tin't attach them to larger speakers.

Amazon Echo Show 8

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Both the Echo Evidence eight and 5 accept a sunrise alarm feature, which slowly brightens upwards the display to mimic daylight's arrival. Withal, the Prove 5 is the only ane that lets you tap the top to snooze. This is likely because Amazon is marketing the Show 5 as an warning clock designed to be on your nightstand, while the Show viii is meant more for the living room or the kitchen.

Like the new Echo Show ten, the two smart displays take Amazon's updated home screen, which features multiple cards that permit you view several topics at in one case, such as conditions and sports side by side to each other. Information technology's contextual to the time of day as well; I saw the latest headlines during the day, for example, while at nighttime I noticed a proffer for a relaxing songs playlist. I like this mix of rotating screens a lot; information technology'due south one reason why smart displays are a lot more useful than, say, a smart speaker. You tin go a glance of information passively, without having to actively ask for information technology.

Using the Bear witness 8 on my calculator desk is a treat every bit well; information technology's great every bit a digital photo frame and it displays the current time and weather conditions equally well. I also found it useful in the kitchen, since it has access to a large library of recipes from sources like Food Network and Allrecipes; I can say "Alexa, how do I make craven noodle soup?" to bring up a list of relevant results. All of the recipes have step-by-footstep cooking directions; some even have accompanying photos and videos for additional guidance.

Amazon Echo Show 5

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The Bear witness v fits better on my bedside table. Of form, information technology works only fine in other areas of the home as well, merely its smaller size makes information technology best suited as an warning clock. That said, I'1000 not entirely comfortable with having devices with cameras in the bedroom (fifty-fifty if there is a privacy lens cover). One of the reasons I remember Google's Nest Hub and Lenovo'southward Smart Clock make for ideal alarm clocks is that they don't have cameras at all, which helps allay at least some privacy concerns.

As with other Amazon smart displays, the latest Echo Shows support video streaming from Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu. YouTube isn't supported natively, though you tin can still access it via the built-in Silk browser. Information technology'due south definitely not every bit integrated of an experience as you lot get on Google'south smart displays. Additionally, there'due south no support for Disney+, Paramount+ or HBO Max, all of which are available on Google'due south smart displays.

The Echo Show 8 and five offer piece of cake admission to smart dwelling house controls, which you can utilise to adjust the temperature of your smart thermostat, control Philips Hue lights and more. As you might expect, these Echo Show displays are specially useful if you're a frequent Amazon shopper. Calculation items to your shopping cart is every bit piece of cake as telling Alexa to do so. Plus, information technology shows a reminder when a Subscribe & Save lodge is about to ship, which helps avoid surprise packages.

Amazon Echo Show 8

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I didn't become a adventure to test it, but it'southward as well worth noting that the Echo Show v is available in a Kids Edition, which comes with a year's subscription to Amazon's Kids Plus. It features a kid-friendly home screen and a two-year guarantee against impairment. Too important: Information technology lets parents command the content and features children have access to.

The closest competition to both Amazon smart displays is Google'due south 2nd-generation Nest Hub, which has a seven-inch display. It retails for $100 — a piddling cheaper than the Echo Show eight ($130) and a little pricier than the Repeat Show v ($85), just it also offers slightly unlike features. The Nest Hub is amend for those who prefer Google Assistant to Alexa, and it also offers more video streaming options. I also tend to prefer the Google smart display software, as it's more visually appealing and intuitive than Amazon's. It doesn't have a camera so you'll miss out on video calls and the speaker organization isn't as expert.

Fundamentally, however, it'southward not the hardware that will dictate which smart display yous buy as much every bit which tech behemothic'south ecosystem you want to be a part of. If you lot already accept Nest domicile devices and you desire YouTube integration, you're much meliorate off with a Nest Hub. But if you lot're already an Alexa user, an Echo Testify would exist a better option.

As for which Repeat Bear witness you should pick, the Echo Show viii delivers the most value for the money. Compared with the Repeat Show five, it has a bigger display and superior audio, which is more than than worth the extra $45. And it has the aforementioned auto-framing camera as the much more expensive Echo Prove 10 (fifty-fifty if it lacks the rotating display). If, nonetheless, you don't care much about video calls, and prefer one that doubles as an alarm clock, the smaller Echo Prove 5 could be the better bet.