Recent years have seen some major developments in smart home technology, and Amazon has been leading the way, helping to bring smart speakers, screens, and devices of all kinds into our homes to enhance our lives in a myriad of ways.
One of the most useful and popular smart device lines released recently is the Amazon Echo Show. Designed around Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa, the Echo Show functions like a smart speaker in many ways, but also has a touchscreen display, allowing for information to be conveyed visually, along with offering the ability for users to make video calls with friends and family.
The original Echo Show was revealed and launched in 2017 to widespread acclaim, and we've seen subsequent generations and iterations released in the years that have followed. The Echo Show has made its way into many homes, with users praising its general usefulness and almost endless array of functions.
Those looking to buy an Echo Show of their own may find themselves hesitating between two particular iterations of the device: the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8. Both released in 2019, these devices offer similar functions but have some big differences in terms of screen size and resolution.
Which one is right for you? This side by side guide of the two smart displays will help you make the right decision, taking an in-depth look at the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 in a range of key categories such as size, usability, features, price, and so on.
Table of Contents
How We Started
This guide aims to provide a full, honest, critical assessment of both the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8, comparing these two popular devices and helping each reader come to a definitive conclusion regarding which model they should buy for their home. In order to provide the most informative comparison possible, we looked at a wide range of key factors.
We considered things like screen size and quality, audio performance via the built-in speakers, the price of each model, and what kinds of features and functionality each one can offer as well, in order to provide you with a complete picture of how the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 really compare.
Many people have different factors in mind when shopping for a smart device like a speaker or display. Some will want to focus on the biggest and most technically proficient model, while others will be looking for the best price and value. No matter what you're looking for, this guide should aid you in coming to a conclusion regarding which option you should buy.
We also took a look at how best to use each model. With the Echo Show 8 being the larger option, it has some more specific uses and can prove handy in certain situations, while the more compact and lightweight Echo Show 5 also has its own fair share of uses.
Both of these devices are consistently ranked among the finest and most popular smart displays money can buy right now, with the Echo Show line leading the way in the world of smart home technology, but if you're unsure which one to buy, read on to find out all about them.
Echo Show 8 connects to Alexa to give you rich stereo sound with vivid visuals on an 8” HD screen. See on-screen lyrics with Amazon Music. Set alarms and timers. Display your favorite photos. Check weather and traffic as you head out. Catch up on news highlights and movie trailers.
Similarities and Differences
It's worth noting, right from the start, that the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 do have quite a lot of similarities. They were both released within a few months of each other, in 2019, and both share a lot of the same technology that has helped to established the Echo Show line and make it so popular around the world.
They both offer the same basic features and functionality, with both being designed to support Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, allowing the user to interact with Alexa, ask questions and offer commands for the voice assistant to carry out. Since they both have screens, they allow Alexa to display visual information related to a user's queries or demands.
The screen on each one also allows you to make voice calls, and no matter whether you choose the Echo Show 5 or Echo Show 8, you'll be able to enjoy many of the same great functions, from setting alarms and reminders to checking the weather and headlines, watching cooking tutorial videos, and so on.
So how do these products really differ? Well, the clue is in the name. The Echo Show 5, fittingly, has a 5.5 inch display, while the Echo Show 8 has an 8 inch display. This is the biggest difference between them, and it really makes a huge difference to how they function, with the Show 5 being smaller, lighter, and perhaps better-suited as a nightstand display, while the Show 8 has the added advantage of more screen real estate for watching videos or having calls with friends.
There are some other differences between the two models to take into account as well, such as the fact that the Show 8 is larger and heavier than the Show 5, making it a little less portable and giving the two models different purposes for many users. The two models also have different speaker technology, resulting in improved audio performance on the Show 8.
Read on to find out more details regarding the differences between these two smart displays, as well as discovering how those differences play out and might impact the model you choose to buy.
Design
One of the first things we look at when analyzing and assessing the quality of any kind of device is its overall design. It's the first thing you notice when looking at any kind of product, and it can be of major importance to many people, especially if the device is something you're going to be looking at and using almost every day.
Design and aesthetics don't have any real impact on the actual performance of a smart display like the Echo Show 5 or Echo Show 8, but these factors can play a part in helping you choose which model to buy. And there are some major differences between how the Show 5 and Show 8 have been put together, resulting in two models that look very different when placed side by side.
Let's begin by taking a closer look at the Echo Show 5. It measures up at 5.8 inches x 3.4 inches x 2.9 inches in total, with a weight of just 14.5 oz. It's available in two distinct colors: charcoal and sandstone. Like other devices in the Echo Show lineup, it features a slanted design, allowing the user to position it on a desk or nightstand and be able to see the screen clearly from many angles.
Moving on to the Echo Show 8, this model measures up at 7.9 inches x 5.4 inches x 3.9 inches. It tips the scales at 36.6 oz and, just like the Echo Show 5, it can be purchased in both charcoal and sandstone variants. It has the same slim, slanted aesthetics as the Echo Show 5 and essentially looks like a larger, magnified version of its smaller sibling.
When comparing these statistics, it's clear to see that the Echo Show 8 is significantly bigger and heavier than the Echo Show 5. Neither option is necessarily better than the other, but if you want something small and simple, the Show 5 is the choice for you.
Echo Show 5 connects to Alexa to give you vivid visuals on a 5.5” screen with a crisp full sound—all in a compact design that fits in any room, in any home. See on-screen lyrics with Amazon Music. Set alarms and timers.
Display
The main aspect that makes the Echo Show lineup of products, including the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8, so different when compared to classic smart speakers of the past is that they have screens. These screens allow the Echo Show devices to offer so much more functionality. Instead of simply hearing Alexa provide a weather forecast or news update, the Show devices let you actually see visual information, right there in front of you.
This is one of the major selling points of the Echo Show lineup and it makes these devices almost endlessly useful, letting you do everything and anything from keeping up with the headlines to chatting with friends and family over Skype or watching cooking tutorial guides in the kitchen while chopping ingredients and putting together a tasty family dinner.
So how do the displays compare when it comes to choosing between the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8? Well, as mentioned earlier on, the display size is actually the biggest difference between these two models and could be the ‘make or break' factor that pushes you towards one or the other.
The Echo Show 5 features a 5.5 inch display with a resolution of 960 x 480 pixels, similar in size and scale to many smartphones.
The Echo Show 8, meanwhile, comes with an 8 inch screen with a 1280 x 800 resolution, similar in size to a tablet.
This is what really separates the two devices. The screen on the Echo Show 8 is not only bigger, but clearer too, with a stronger resolution, resulting in more detailed images, crisper text, and better quality visual experiences overall. The extra screen real estate makes it easier to view videos and make calls on the Echo Show 8, opening up new opportunities and possibilities for the user.
Speakers
As well as the visual quality of your smart display, you also need to think about the audio experience. Even though they have screens, Echo Show devices function very similarly to classic smart speakers, so the audio quality is key in order for the user to be able to clearly and easily understand what their voice assistant is saying, as well as being able to make calls, listen to music, and so on.
It's always important to try and find a smart speaker with strong speaker technology, able to deliver a pleasing, crisp audio experience without any unnecessary interference or low quality sounds. So how do the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 compare when it comes to audio? Well, both of these devices live up to the high standards established by the Echo line, but there is one big difference between them.
The Echo Show 5 features a single 1.7 inch, 4W speaker.
The Echo Show 8, meanwhile, comes with a pair of 2 inch speakers with 10W per channel.
Neither of these speakers feature Dolby processing, which is a minor criticism leveled at the line, but it's clear to see that the Echo Show 8 is able to boast of slightly superior sound quality overall. It has bigger speakers and is able to offer clearer, crisper, and louder output.
In spite of this, the Echo Show 5 is certainly no slouch in the audio department, and it's impressive to see that Amazon was able to create such a compact device with such high quality audio.
When positioned side by side, you might not notice a huge difference in audio clarity between the two, but audiophiles and those with keen ears will be able to tell them apart and will certainly favor the Show 8.
It's the better option when it comes to audio overall, so if you want to be able to hear Alexa clearly and get the best results when playing music or making calls, the Echo Show 8 is the one to choose.
Features and Functionality
A big reason why smart speakers and displays have become so popular in modern times is because they're able to offer so many different features and such varied functionality, effectively giving users an endless array of options to enjoy.
You can use smart speakers for almost anything, from asking your voice assistant to play your favorite playlist to looking for updates on the news, calling your friends, asking questions about random things you'd like to know, finding out how to cook world class meals, and so on.
So how do the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 compare when it comes to their feature lists? Well, they actually have a lot in common and share much of the same technology, resulting in relatively similar experiences overall.
Both of these devices were built to support Alexa, and it shows. They work in similar ways, with built in microphones that let you chat with your virtual assistant and the aforementioned screens displaying relevant information.
They can carry out the same set of functions, and both of them come with a 1MP camera built-in too, letting you make video calls with your loved ones. Both of them can be paired with other smart devices around the home too, letting you check out the feed from a security camera at your front door or activate other items around the house.
Ultimately, they have no real differences in terms of what features they can offer. Instead, their size and displays have a direct impact on how well-suited they are for different purposes.
For example, since the Echo Show 5 is the smaller option, it's well-made to be positioned on a nightstand and used almost like an alarm clock, letting you glance at it now and then for information and chat with Alexa as desired.
The Echo Show 8, as the bigger model, is more comfortable on a desk or table, used more like a tablet, well-suited to watching videos and making calls. Amazon even recommends it as the ideal choice for cooking, letting you watch tutorials and read recipes clearly, even at a distance, which wouldn't really be possible on the smaller Show 5.
Echo Show 8 connects to Alexa to give you rich stereo sound with vivid visuals on an 8” HD screen. See on-screen lyrics with Amazon Music. Set alarms and timers. Display your favorite photos. Check weather and traffic as you head out. Catch up on news highlights and movie trailers.
Price
When buying any kind of device, be it a smart speaker or smartphone, it's also important to take the price tag into account. The importance of this particular factor may vary from person to person; some won't mind spending extra on a bigger and better device, but others will want to save cash where they can and get the best value possible.
It's clear to see that since the Echo Show 8 is the larger model of the two, with improved speaker technology and a larger, clearer display, it naturally has the higher price tag of the two models. You'll need to pay extra to enjoy the added benefits of that 8” screen, but the price should be worth it for those who plan to use their Echo Show for video calls and clips.
The Echo Show 5, meanwhile, as the slightly smaller and simpler option of the two models, is also the cheaper choice. It's available for under $100 and is highly prized by smart screen enthusiasts as one of the most affordable models on the market right now.
Given that it offers much of the same technology as the Echo Show 8, albeit in a small package, many people may argue that it's the better value option.
Clearly, since the Echo Show 5 is the cheaper model, it wins this round. However, price shouldn't be the only factor taken into account, as you also need to think about value for money and how you're going to use your device.
Those who want to make the most of video calls, cooking clips, and so on, will probably find much more value in opting for the Echo Show 8, as the bigger screen will be beneficial for their purposes.
The Echo Show 5, meanwhile, should offer added value to those who don't plan to watch too many videos and simply need a nightstand screen.
Who Should Get This?
Echo Show 5
The Echo Show 5 is a wonderful piece of technology that has a lot to offer and can bring a lot of usefulness and functionality into your life. If you're used to using smart speakers, the addition of a 5.5” display will really change the game for you, allowing Alexa to provide visual info on your questions and requests.
Despite being relatively small, the screen is clear, bright, crisp, and easy to read, just like a high quality smartphone, and the speakers, while not as strong as those seen on the Echo Show 8, are still more than sufficient for most uses.
The Show 5 also has the benefit of being the cheaper model of the two, ideal for those on a budget, and it works perfectly well as a simple desk or nightstand smart device, offering information, updates, and various functions to the user.
Echo Show 8
The Echo Show 8 is another amazing device in the Echo Show lineup. This model offers a nice compromise between the Show 5 and the original Show, with its 8” screen size falling squarely in between those of the aforementioned models.
That added screen real estate can prove to be so useful in so many situations. As stated earlier on, it's great for watching cooking tutorials in the kitchen, for instance, as well as for making video calls, and those who have trouble with their eyesight or just appreciate a bigger, clearer screen will definitely find a lot to love about this particular device.
The audio quality is superior on the Echo Show 8 too, which is another nice bonus, but it is a bigger and heavier model, so it might not sit too comfortably on the average nightstand. Choose the Echo Show 8 if you plan to really make the most of the added display size with videos and calls.
Our Pick
The Echo Show lineup has a lot to offer, and both the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 are great devices that can be used in many different situations. They share a lot of similar technology and offer many of the same features, and the key to choosing between them is really to think about how you plan to use your device and how much screen size you really need.
Our Pick: Echo Show 8
Ultimately, the whole point of opting for an Echo Show over a simple smart speaker instead is because you want to have a display, being able to see information, make video calls, and watch videos too. With that in mind, the Echo Show 8 gets our vote as the best option of the two, as it offers a screen that is simply bigger and better overall.
Echo Show 8 connects to Alexa to give you rich stereo sound with vivid visuals on an 8” HD screen. See on-screen lyrics with Amazon Music. Set alarms and timers. Display your favorite photos. Check weather and traffic as you head out. Catch up on news highlights and movie trailers.
Martin Phipps says
Thank you
This has really informed me on the differences between the two models and I’m now digesting the information with my partner to make the correct choice for her.