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Table of Contents Table of Contents Prices and Prime Day discounts Size: It’s in the name Camera and video calling Content for kids Alexa features Echo Show 5 vs. Echo Show 8: Which is better?
Editor’s note: This comparison focuses on the 2021 models of the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8. The new model was released in 2023, so the older version is no longer available for purchase as new. Updated links to take you to the current Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8.
It may be exciting when brands like Amazon launch new versions of their devices, but which one is best for you (and is it worth paying more for than the original version? It is also difficult to judge whether or not to After testing the second generation of Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8, we’ll tell you what’s the same, what’s different compared to the first generation versions, and which one you should buy. Prime Day in October 2024.
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These stationary devices don’t have the portability or functionality of an iPad or Surface tablet, but they work perfectly with Alexa and serve as smart home headquarters to make your daily life a little more streamlined.
Prices and Prime Day discounts
The second generation Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 are no longer available, but the latest Echo Show 5 retails for $89.99 and the current Echo Show 8 costs $149.99. On Prime Day, prices dropped to $49.99 and $84.99, respectively.
Size: stated in the name
The most notable 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 significantly larger, boasting an 8-inch screen and an 8-inch x 4-inch footprint.
Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) is small and suitable for use in the bedroom or office. Credit: Amazon
The Echo Show 8 (2nd generation) is significantly larger, making it ideal for a central hub in your home. Credit: Amazon
In my opinion, that makes the Echo Show 8 better suited as a family “hub”. Place it in a central location like your kitchen or dining room and use Alexa to easily make video calls with your grandparents. All you have to do is add the contact you want to call to your phone’s Alexa app. However, if you already have a tablet with good video capabilities, you may not need to buy one. If you need a larger device as a smart home hub, the Echo Show 10 is an even better option.
In any case, the Echo Show 8 offers some advantages when it comes to video calling, in addition to its size.
The Echo Show 5, on the other hand, is better suited for places like a desk or nightstand where you need the functionality of a device that isn’t front and center.
And if you’re not into colorways, the Echo Show 8 only comes in Glacier White and Charcoal color options. The new Echo Show 5 now comes in Glacier White, Charcoal, and Deep Sea Blue. Echo Show 5 Kids is chameleon green.
camera and video call
The Echo Show 5 gets a major camera upgrade from the first-gen version, increasing the megapixels from 1 to 2 megapixels. But with the Echo Show 8, it was a whole different ball game. The first-generation Echo Show 8 had a 1 MP camera, but the improved 2021 model has a 13 MP camera, which carried over to the 2023 model.
SEE ALSO: Amazon’s Echo Show 15 is a smart hub for the connected home
The image is incredibly sharp and the large screen makes the Echo Show 8 the winner for video calls. But that’s not even the best part. The Echo Show 8 features an auto-framing feature that automatically pans and zooms the camera to keep it focused on the person in your field of view.
Both devices also have useful connectivity features like an intercom that calls out to all Alexa devices in your home (“Get ready, I’m leaving in 15 minutes!”) and drop-in for video chatting with a connected Alexa. We are prepared. device.
zoom call
Echo Show 8 can also participate in Zoom calls, but Echo Show 5 cannot. To be honest, I couldn’t get the Zoom call feature to work even after a few tries because the call I joined didn’t have a dial-in number.
I still say the Echo Show 8 wins in this regard, just because it’s theoretically possible. I really hope to be able to join Zoom calls from the Echo Show 8 soon, freeing up my laptop and additional monitor for multitasking during meetings. .
Content for kids
During initial setup, you can choose to make your Echo Show device a child-only device. This gives them access to expanded parental controls, which is great for older kids, tweens, and tweens who still want to protect them from the worst the internet has to offer.
However, the Echo Show 5 Kids is the first and only Echo Show designed from the bottom up and side to side for kids. Amazon Kids (regularly $5.99/month) is free for 1 year, featuring fun designs (my 5-year-old says the chameleon’s colors look like dinosaur scales) and a selection of books, games, and videos. Comes with. We offer kids far more than what’s available with a basic Prime membership. Additionally, it comes with improved parental controls so you can make further adjustments.
Alexa features
The 2nd generation Echo Show 5 and 2nd generation Echo Show 8 have some Alexa features that the first generation doesn’t have.
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First up is the Home Monitoring feature, which lets you remotely access your device’s camera from the Alexa app to check on what’s going on. You need a WiFi connection to do this, but it worked fine. I can imagine it would be great to check on your pet or babysitter, or peek into your house during the holidays to make sure everything is going well.
Next, add motion-enabled routines. This allows Alexa to detect when you enter or leave a room and use that activity to start a routine. Fair warning, this may raise privacy concerns, but it also opens up some exciting possibilities for smart home enthusiasts. You can have Alexa read your calendar to you when you walk into the office, or turn off all smart-enabled devices when no motion is detected in your living room. These are just two simple ideas. Add an Alexa-enabled device or smart plug for even more options. Amazon provides ways to manage these settings if you want to delete recordings or manage your data.
All of these devices have the same Alexa functionality you’ve come to expect from previous Echo Show devices.
Echo Show 5 vs. Echo Show 8: Which is better?
For just $45 more, the Echo Show 8 was the clear winner for me. Not only does it have a larger screen and a 13 MP camera with auto-framing (great for video calls), but you can also join Zoom meetings if that feature works properly.
If you don’t mind video calls or Zoom meetings, the Echo Show 5 is still a great option. Like the second-generation Echo Show 8, the new Echo Show 5 features many of the same expanded Alexa features, including home monitoring and motion. detection routine. And of course, if you want something made for kids, the Echo Show 5 Kids is your best choice.
Overall, I’m a fan of both, but the Echo Show 8 was the best in my house.
