Amazon has announced the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) and Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen). They are set to ship on June 9, 2021 in the US and shall be made available in other countries soon after.
Both devices have upgraded cameras and Alexa features. One of the best-noted features of the new Echo Show products is that they use a piece of recycled fabric. This makes them more eco-friendly and helps reduce the overall carbon footprint.
Let's take a deep dive into what's new with the two products...
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021): Key Features
Amazon's mid-range of smart displays, the Echo Show 8, comes closer to the Echo Show 10's feature-set with a camera that pans and zooms during video calls, following your moves.
Equipped with an 8-inch camera and a 110-degree field of view, the front camera is an upgraded version of the previous 1-megapixel; it now has an impressive 13-megapixel camera. With the wide-angle camera lens, there is no need to physically move the screen to keep the video caller centered in the frame; the camera moves with you.
Apart from an upgraded camera, the Amazon Echo Show 8 has an enhanced octa-core processor to provide users with a smoother experience when using Alexa or swiping through screens.
The Echo Show 8 responds to your voice against various commands. The high-resolution screen offers an exciting gaming experience and allows you to browse recipes, watch movies, and control your smart home seamlessly.
The device has an 8-inch screen, which makes it compact enough to fit in small spaces instead of being an obstruction. At the same time, the screen is big enough to make looking at videos from far distances comfortable. Moreover, the physical camera shutter adds privacy for users who are afraid of being watched 24/7.
One of the most amazing features of this Echo Show is the sunrise alarm. This recent addition allows the screen to start getting brighter 15 minutes before your wake-up schedule to ease you out of your deep sleep.
The people tracking feature of the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) allows it to wake up with the movement. You can set up profiles on your Echo Show to do specific actions whenever you enter a room. This includes switching on smart lights, greeting you, or playing a particular song/playlist.
The Echo Show 8 can also be used as a security camera, making your home secure and safe from burglars.
The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2021): Key Features
The new updated version of the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) has doubled the camera pixels from the previous generation. From 1-megapixel to 2-megapixels. The Echo Show 5 is also now offered in a new vibrant blue color, along with the existing Glacier White and Charcoal color options.
Similar to the Echo Show 8, the Echo Show 5 features a physical privacy shutter to block the camera and maintain your privacy.
The processor and display size of the Echo Show 5 are the same as those of its predecessor and doesn't have any upgraded video calling features either. Similarly, all other functions, including the touchscreen display, the Alexa voice assistant feature, video streaming, etc., remain the same as the older versions.
However, there is an interesting feature of the Echo Show 5-the Chameleon theme for kids.
The Chameleon theme visually sets apart the Echo Show 5 Kids from the standard Echo Show 5. But as for hardware, both models are almost identical and come with the same sets of features. However, the upgraded version comes with pre-installed parental controls and more focus on kid-friendly content, setting it apart from other models.
There is also a two-year free replacement guarantee from Amazon if the Echo Show 5 Kids breaks or gets damaged.
The Echo Show 10 vs. the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) and the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen)
Given that the upgraded versions of Echo Shows 5 and 8 have a few important features to notice, how do they compare with the Echo Show 10? Let's find out.
The Echo Show 10 was released in 2020, sweeping users off their feet with its motorized auto-framing technology that adjusts itself to fit the user in the camera screen. Making it easy to do video calls and conferences with friends and family.
The Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) also comes with the same technology but at a lower price given that its display isn't as large as that of the Echo Show 10.
The Echo Show 10 has a camera that not only pans and zooms on the users but also rotates while making video calls, taking thins to the next level. If you can adjust to life with a smaller screen and want your Echo to stick in one corner, then the Echo Show 8 is a better choice at nearly half the price. With a 10.1 inch screen, the Echo Show 10 has the largest display of all the Echo Shows available to buy right now.
The Echo Show 10 looks much different from both the Echo Show 5 and 8, as it is mounted on a flat motorized rotating Echo speaker that has two 1-inch tweeters and a 3-inch woofer. The mounting bracket can be easily tilted to manually angle the display up and down as per the user's preference.
On the other hand, the Echo Show 5 has a 1.7-inch speaker and the Echo Show 8 has dual 2-inch speakers, making them inferior in sound quality to the Echo Show 10.
The Amazon Echo Show 5 and Amazon Echo Show 8 have a curved back and an angled screen in the front. The Echo Show 10 has a round design just like an Echo Dot smart speaker with a 10.1 inch display that automatically rotates and is attached to a cylindrical base.
The Echo Show 10 cannot handle lower light levels, and the display wobbles a bit when you are typing on your keyboard on the same table. However, the updated Echo Show 10 uses a sensor for ambient light to balance the color and brightness of images and videos, making it livelier in both selfie view and from another device. In comparison, the Echo Show 8 is a bit duller and flatter in picture quality.
The Echo Show 5 is the cheapest of all Amazon's smart displays, with the camera upgraded from 1- to 2-megapixels. It features almost all that the Show 8 has to offer. The significant difference is its camera, as the Show 5 has a 2-megapixel camera while the Show 8 features a 13-megapixel camera. The Show 5 has a smaller display with a lower resolution, and its sound quality is also not close to other higher variants.
Which Echo Show Is Best for You?
When deciding which Echo Show to buy, if you want a device for your living room, we suggest the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen). However, if you plan to put one in your study room or bedroom, we suggest the Echo Show 8 or Echo Show 5, depending upon your requirements.