Echo Show 8 Features, Specs, Pros & Cons | Is It Worth It?

Disclosure: Links marked with * are Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases if you decide to make a purchase through these links – at no cost for you!

---

Nowadays, new components can be used to transform your own living space into a “smart home”. It’s no longer just laptops and tablets that connect us to the Internet. Objects used in the home are being given digital and network-capable functions that turn a small box into a flexible all-rounder. This makes many conventional devices superfluous.

For example, Amazon first released the Echo Show in 2017, a device that combines many practical features and uses the proven Alexa voice control. The latest generation offers even better sound quality. 

Find out here what the latest version of the Echo Show 8* can do and whether you really need it.

Pros & Cons – Echo Show 8

As a tool of the digital age, the Echo Show 8 is flexible and versatile. As an audio device, the device delivers your favorite music, multimedia content can be accessed via the high-resolution display, and thanks to the camera, video calls are easier than ever with the help of the Alexa voice function.

A few examples will show you how practical the use of the Echo Show 8 can be in everyday life…

Specifications – Echo Show 8

• Dimensions: 200 mm x 135 mm x 99 mm
• Weight: 1037 g
• Choice of housing colors: dark “anthracite fabric” or light “sandstone fabric”.
• 8-inch touchscreen (203 mm diagonal)
• Camera with 13 megapixel resolution (second generation)
• Video resolution: 1280 x 800 pixel
• Neodymium speakers 2 x 2.0 inches (52 mm) / 10 watts
• Passive bass radiator
• Integrated voice assistant Alexa
• Octa-core processor MediaTek MT 8183 (second generation)
• 2 GHz clock frequency
• Micro USB port for LAN adapter
• Internet connectivity via WLAN and Bluetooth (speaker included)
• Camera can be physically covered via manual slider
• Off button for microphone (mute) and camera

Amazon has launched the Echo Show, a device that combines the benefits of the audio-based Alexa Echo Dots with the visualization capabilities of a tablet. 

Handling and usability remain simple and convenient via the proven voice commands. The lack of an audio jack for external devices and a ZigBee hub for connecting smart devices in a network are the main complaints. Those who need the latter will find it in the Echo Show 10*.

All Versions of the Echo Show at a Glance

Amazon launched the first generation of its Echo Show in mid-2017. Equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen, it was intended as a visual supplement to Amazon’s virtual voice assistant Alexa from the start. Voice and video calls with other users of the device were already possible in this version.

In October 2018, an improved version of the Echo Show followed in a second generation with a 10-inch touchscreen, optimized sound, and higher-quality casing.

In mid-2019, Amazon followed up with the Echo Show 5*, a more compact and thus somewhat cheaper version of their product. This had a 5.5-inch display. In the fall of the same year, the Echo Show 8* with an 8-inch display followed. In the meantime, it has been equipped with a higher-resolution camera and better sound.

Another variant came out as Echo Show 10* in September 2020. The novelty compared to all previous versions: It is equipped with a 10.1-inch display that can rotate freely on its base body.

In the latest and largest version so far, from Amazon is the Echo Show 15*. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD display that is designed for wall mounting.

Related Post:
Echo Show 10 vs. 8 vs. 5: Detailed Comparison + Table

Echo Show 8 – Differences Between the New (2021) and the First Generation (2019)

Amazon has released a new version of its Echo Show 8 as the “second generation” in 2021. At first glance, not much has changed. Device dimensions, display size/resolution and speaker design have remained the same.

Amazon has made the decisive upgrade in the camera resolution: It has been increased from one megapixel to a comfortable 13 megapixels, which makes pictures sharper and richer in contrast. The change is also noticeable on the casing: The new camera has a slightly larger cutout on the upper right corner of the display. The image section captured during filming is now larger.

There is another step forward in the processor type, at least on paper: The MediaTek MT 8163 of the first generation was followed by the MT 8183 with eight instead of four cores and a clock frequency of 2 instead of 1.5 gigahertz. This is evident in voice commands, for example, which Alexa now obeys faster than in the predecessor.

With the new version, the Echo Show 8 has received the “Climate Pledge Friendly” environmental seal. This proves that it is largely made of recycled material and has an energy-saving standby mode.

However, Amazon has not only improved. A 3.5-millimeter audio output, which the 2019 version still had, now has to be dispensed with. The back of the device only has a micro-USB port and one for the power.

Echo Show 8 – Design

Amazon has chosen a wedge shape for the Echo Show 8, which puts the display in an ergonomic position for the viewer on any desk due to the slope. The 8-inch screen is surrounded by a fairly wide frame that gives the device stability. 

The buttons for volume and for turning the microphone on and off are located at the upper edge of the frame. The camera lens can be physically covered via a slider.

Echo Show 8 – Display

The picture of the 8-inch touchscreen has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It has a good sharpness and color representation. All visualizations on the display are also well visible when viewed from the side. 

The 20-centimeter screen might be a bit too small for watching longer movies, but that is not the primary purpose of the Echo Show 8.

Echo Show 8 – Camera

With 13 megapixels, the camera of the Echo Show 8 now has the same resolution as that of its bigger brother, the Echo Show 10. When playing back video transmissions, the device has a tracking mode. 

If the filmed person moves in the picture, the camera follows this movement and remains focused on the person – as long as the action happens within the picture frame. Those who need a physically swiveling camera that also follows the movement when leaving the picture frame can achieve this with the Echo Show 10.

Echo Show 8 – Sound

Considering its size, the Echo Show 8 still has a good sound even at higher volumes. Turning up the volume to full lets the sound overdrive slightly. The bass occasionally pushes itself into the foreground. Overall, the listening experience can still be rated as positive. If you want to fine-tune the sound manually, you can do so via an equalizer.

The speech output of the Echo Show 8 impresses with its clarity. Alexa can be understood just as well as the conversation in a video conference.

There is also nothing to complain about in the integrated microphone. Voice commands are recognized well and quickly even in noisy environments.

Display the Most Important First

With the Echo Show 8, desired functions can be arranged as quick launch icons on the home screen by selecting the menu items “Home & Clock” and “Home Maps”. In this way, news, sports results, reminders, drop-in function or upcoming appointments can be filed in such a way that quick access is possible at any time.

Drop-In Feature

The drop-in function allows two or more devices to be connected directly to each other, as with an intercom system. A contact does not have to be confirmed as with a dialed call. Beforehand, it must be defined in the settings which contacts are to receive this authorization.

If drop-in is active, an acoustic signal is emitted and the person in question is shown as “Currently active” on the display. For a video chat, the camera is automatically activated in addition to the microphone, if desired. It can also be turned off quickly via voice command.

Listen to Music with the Echo Show 8

With the volume control turned up, the Echo Show 8 reaches a decent volume that would also do justice to a disco sound system. A powerful bass does the rest.

With the Echo Show 8, you can access audio streams and podcasts from radio stations as well as services from Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer and – of course – Amazon Music. Matching album covers and song lyrics can be shown on the display during playback.

Videotelephony with the Echo Show 8

The integrated camera allows users of the Echo Show 8 to communicate with each other on an audiovisual level. Picture and sound are reproduced flawlessly in good lighting conditions and quiet surroundings. The connection works just as well when your conversation partner has a smartphone or tablet with an Alexa app installed.

Thanks to the high-quality camera with automatic focusing, video conferences with the Echo Show 8 are also an interesting option in the business world. The device currently supports the Skype app for this.

The Echo Show 8 as a Surveillance Camera

To monitor a room with image and sound, the Echo Show 8 should be placed in a suitable position and height. In conjunction with the Alexa app, the smartphone can then be used to check what is going on in the monitored room at any time.

To use this function, the device must not be in “Do not disturb” mode. Of course, you also have to make sure that the camera cover is open via the small slider at the upper end. A corresponding note on the screen indicates this.

The image section set at the beginning is monitored. If you want to observe from a distance with a manually or automatically swiveling camera, the Echo Show 10 also offers this function.

Echo Show 8 as Cooking and Baking Assistant

If you are standing in the kitchen and have called up the recipe you trust with the Echo Show 8, you do not have to switch your gaze between the kitchen appliance and the list of ingredients every time. When Alexa reads out the recipe for preparation, you can fully concentrate on what you are doing.

Special recipes with illustrated step-by-step instructions make your work easier. In addition, several timers can be individually created and named, so that no cooking pot remains too long on the hotplate.

If an ingredient runs low, Alexa quickly adds it to the shopping list via voice command. The conversion of units of measurement is another service that Alexa can provide on request.

The Echo Show 8 as a Digital Picture Frame

The Amazon Photos app lets you run any slideshow of your favorite photos on the Echo Show 8. An adaptive color adjustment ensures the optimal display of your memories captured in the picture.

Images can also be used as desired for an individual start screen. With the command “Alexa, take a picture” a new photo is quickly taken.

Related Questions

Who is the Echo Show 8 suitable for?

The device is suitable for anyone who likes to listen to music, watch videos, catch up on news and weather forecasts in between, while calling up their favorites via voice command. Business people can use it for video conferencing. Older people no longer have to deal with complicated menu navigation for video calls; a simple voice command is enough.

What commands can I give Alexa?

“Alexa, play song by Abba!” / “Alexa, set timer to 15 seconds!” / “Alexa, show me recipes for chocolate cake!” / “Alexa, call Petra!” / “Alexa, how will the weather be the day after tomorrow?” (Weather map is also shown in the display)

Can Alexa also dial emergency numbers?

The official numbers of the police and fire departments cannot be saved and retrieved as contacts. This is for legal reasons and to prevent possible misuse. Landline numbers of regional emergency services, on the other hand, can be recorded without any problems.

Do I absolutely need the latest second-generation Echo Show 8 or is the cheaper first-generation device enough?

Those who value a high-resolution camera with zoom and swivel functions will prefer the successor. Connecting external audio hardware via the 3.5-millimeter jack is only possible in the predecessor.

Conclusion

The Amazon Echo Show 8* meets the demands that users place on multimedia content and forms of communication. Songs can be enjoyed just as well as videos played smoothly with a corresponding Internet connection. Voice commands are followed in the usual Alexa manner and are finally also displayed visually. Videotelephony becomes child’s play.

With the Echo Show 8, Amazon provides its potential customers with a device that comes a lot closer to the vision of the digital home and is acceptable in terms of price.

---

Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
Disclosure: This website is the property of Martin Lütkemeyer and is operated by Martin Lütkemeyer. Martin Lütkemeyer is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to enable Web sites to earn advertising revenue through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links marked with * are affiliate links.