The Amazon Echo family runs from the dinky Echo Dot through to the huge Echo Show 15. There are speakers in all sizes and prices, as well as smart displays that add a screen. This means that when you talk to Alexa, you not only get a spoken response but something visual too.
I've been using Echo devices for many years and the Echo Show is a permanent fixture in my home. The Echo Show 8 — now in its third generation, having been released in 2023 — is the Alexa device that lives in my kitchen, providing music, timers and entertainment, and is the device I use for many of my smart home controls. It's Amazon's latest Echo Show — and it's also the best.
Amazon Echo Show 8: At a glance
Pros
- Good sound quality
- A great smart home hub
- Alexa remains genuinely useful
- Built-in camera for video calls
Cons
- Bezels are pretty thick
- Touch response isn't the fastest
- Might be too big for a bedside
Key specifications
| Connections | Wifi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Thread |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 8-inch |
| Screen resoluton | 1280 x 800 pixels |
| Camera | 13-megapixel, front-facing |
| Speakers | 2x 2-inch drivers, passive bass radiator |
| Dimensions | 20 x 13.9 x 10.6cm |
| Weight | 1034g |
| Colours | Black, White |
Amazon Echo Show 8 review
The Amazon Echo Show 8 sits in the middle of a pack of Alexa devices with a screen. The Show 5 is the smallest, the Show 15 is the largest, but the Show 8 is the most practical. The Echo Show 8 hits the sweet spot with a display that is large enough to be seen across the room, while its footprint isn't too large, so it's ideal for a kitchen worktop or bedroom dresser.
The Echo Show 8 is now in its third generation, with Amazon making a number of improvements to make this model better. That's led to a design that's sharper, with a mesh-covered rear that looks a lot more contemporary than previous Echo Show models — except for the thickness of the bezel.
There are a pair of speakers in the back along with a passive bass radiator that boosts the low tones and makes the sound output richer. The sound quality might not compete with the best wireless speakers, but it's not far off what you'd expect from a Bluetooth speaker of a similar size.
I use the Echo Show 8 as my primary music device in my kitchen — and better still, my teenage kids are happy to turn the volume up when friends come over without any complaints about the quality (apart from me complaining that they have it too loud).
Of course, Alexa is great at playing music with voice control and that makes any Echo device a great choice for party music where everyone wants to play the music they love.
Like all Echo devices, setup is simply a case of plugging it in and connecting it to your wifi network. You'll be invited to sign into your Amazon account, which is a requirement to use any Amazon Echo.
Unlike Echo speakers, the setup is done via the screen on the Echo Show itself. It takes about 5 minutes to run through all the details and you're good to go. Best of all, once you're set up, if you don't know how to use any feature, just ask Alexa!
Amazon Echo Show 8: Features
The display is the main feature of the Echo Show 8, adding a visual dimension. If you set a timer, you'll be able to see that ticking down on the display; for the weather, you'll get icons; when asking questions, you'll get a written response to support the answer.
When you're not talking to the Echo Show 8, it has a range of screens that it will show you. These can be customised, but rarely do they show anything that's useful, it just seems to be a stock selection of screens. You can set it to access your photos, however, which brings a personal touch.
I find that the Echo Show 8 is more useful when you're interacting with it: when playing music you can control it on the screen, for example. It supports video too, so you can catch up with Netflix while doing something else. It can be useful for pulling up recipes when cooking and it will read through the ingredients and recipe steps, but it can be tricky to control when following along and cooking at the same time.
When using the cameras for Alexa Calling, the Echo Show 8 can track you as you move around the room, so you're always in the centre of the screen. That's great when video calling friends and family, but if you're not so keen on having a camera watching you, there's a physical privacy shutter you can close over the camera. That might appeal more if you want to use the Echo Show 8 as a smart alarm clock in your bedroom.
The Echo Show 8 is also equipped with smart home skills. Any device that you've setup to work with Alexa will be available via the Echo Show 8, with a widget available so you can tap to control devices if you don't want to use voice.
That makes the Show 8 a little more useful than a smart speaker when controlling a smart home — just tap the screen to turn on your heating, for example.
Good Housekeeping's verdict on the Amazon Echo Show 8
The Echo Show 8 hits a sweet spot for smart speakers, with great sound quality for its size and all the features of Alexa supported by the display. There's video calling, on-screen smart home controls and a whole lot more.
It's all wrapped into a package that looks great, while being large enough to be useful, but compact enough not to take over a room. Alexa remains a great voice assistant and the Echo Show 8 is loaded with features to make it useful every day.
Chris Hall is a freelance journalist who specialises in consumer technology, pursuing a passion that started over 20 years ago. In 2008 he took on a full-time Reviews Editor position at technology website Pocket-lint.com, before stepping up to Editor-in-Chief in 2012. Chris led coverage over a 15-year tenure, exposing him to every gadget, system and technology you'd ever want to know about.
Chris left the Editor-in-Chief position at Pocket-lint.com in 2023 having published over 4,000 articles on consumer technology. His experience covers everything from smartphones and headphones to cars and computers. Chris doesn't just test for reviews, he lives with a lot of technology, building a smart home and looking for a simpler solution to a connected home. This is much to his family's irritation, because everything is always changing, especially the remote controls.
As a freelance writer, Chris has contributed to The Telegraph, T3.com, TechRadar and Autocar -while launching his own technology website The Disconnekt – writing news about the latest technology, guides to help people make the best choices when shopping for technology, as well as reviewing extensively.
Chris has appeared on BBC News and Sky News, BBC Radio and The Times Radio talking technology, and even once played a part on The Apprentice. Chris has also been an expert judge at the GSMA Global Mobile Awards and the Uswitch Awards.
When not writing about technology or rearranging the technology in his home, Chris can be found on his bike, trying to get lost in the Surrey hills.
