If you're looking for an Alexa speaker, you have probably discovered by now that there is a lot of choice, and I mean a lot. Some might argue too much. Amazon has everything from the cheap and cheerful Echo Pop speaker to the Echo Hub display in its portfolio alone. And that's before you get to the third-party smart speakers from the likes of Sonos and Bose.
The Echo Show 5 is the smallest of the Echo smart displays available and Amazon has recently added an Echo Spot to its lineup, which is effectively half-display half-speaker.
There are a number of reasons why the Echo Show 5 is an excellent pick and my favourite of the lineup. I have one on my bedside table, but it's also the Echo speaker I chose as two Christmas presents last year, so let me tell you why it's worth your time.
Amazon Echo Show 5: At a glance
Pros
- Cute and compact with a great range of features
- Useful for controlling smart home devices
- Alexa experience is excellent
- Weather and news updates
- Super as an alarm clock
- Watch content
- Great as a Ring Video Doorbell companion
- Drop into your home through camera
- Video calling is useful
Cons
- Not compatible with Netflix
- Display might be too small for larger spaces
Key specifications
| Connections | Wifi |
|---|---|
| Power supply | Mains |
| Dimensions | 14.7 x 8.2 x 9.1cm |
| Weight | 456g |
| Screen size | 5.5-inch |
| Camera | 2MP with built-in cover |
| Speaker | Full range 1.75-inch |
| Colours | White, Charcoal, Cloud Blue |
Amazon Echo Show 5: Design and display
With so much technology available for the home these days, sometimes small and discreet is a refreshing change, and that's exactly what the Echo Show 5 is. It's cute, but more than that, it is relatively inconspicuous even in small rooms.
It's perfect for a bedside table, an office or a small kitchen or living room, and while the Echo Show 8 also ticks a couple of these boxes, the Echo Show 5 is cheaper, while offering the majority of the same features in a more compact format.
There are some lovely curves, not only on the corners of the display but the speaker element tapers towards the rear of the device too, so it's not too angular or harsh within an interior space.
The material-covered speaker at the back looks great and there are tactile controls on the top, covering volume control, turning the microphones off, as well as a privacy cover toggle for the camera.
The 5.5-inch display on the front meanwhile, is a lovely size for a bedside table or desk. Perfect in fact. I find the Echo Show 8 a little large for my bedside table as I have books, a lamp and a photo frame on there too, but the Echo Show 5 is nice and small, offering plenty without taking up too much space.
It's not the sharpest or best display you'll ever set your eyes on, but honestly, that doesn't matter because it's about displaying helpful information quickly rather than being able to see every minor detail.
Amazon Echo Show 5: Performance and features
Whether you want to control smart home devices you've linked up to Alexa (like Philips Hue or Ikea smart lights for example), or you want to see the video feed from your Ring Video Doorbell when someone rings the bell, the Echo Show 5 has a huge range of features. And therein lies the beauty of Echo devices. The choice is vast, but the core functionality translates from the cheaper devices to the more expensive ones.
Yes, you get some extra features on the more expensive models, but the Echo Show 5 more than holds its own at the cheaper end of the market.
It's brilliant as a smart alarm clock, it will more than happily play music from your chosen streaming service, you can add to shopping lists, order items from Amazon, and listen to your favourite podcasts or audiobooks. You can even watch Prime Video shows or YouTube, though the screen is a tad small for that, and Netflix isn't supported either.
Still, it can act as a photo display for your favourite pictures, you can video call, or just call another Alexa-enabled device, and you can use the display to control smart home devices, as I mentioned, whether that's turning off a light or switching on a fan.
It's also possible to use the Echo Show 5 as a camera in your home, and while its night vision isn't amazing, you can at least drop in on your living room when you aren't there through the Alexa app to see what your dog is up to on your sofa.
I let the Echo Show 5's display cycle through a range of options throughout the day, from the weather and calendar updates to news and sports scores, but you can pick whatever suits you.
Good Housekeeping's verdict on Amazon Echo Show 5
I love Amazon's Echo Show 5 — it's my favourite of the Echo displays. There are a couple of reasons for that. The first is that its cute and compact form factor allows it to blend into a home without being overbearing, and the second is that it offers a range of features like the more expensive Echo displays that make it a genuinely useful device to have in the home.
Whether you're looking for an Echo display to listen to music, control smart home devices, or watch a recipe on YouTube while cooking, the Echo Show 5 is an excellent option, and a very reasonably priced one too.
Britta O'Boyle has been a technology journalist since 2003. She's covered everything from phones, tablets and fitness devices, to smart home, and beauty tech. You’ll find her name on reviews, explainers, roundups and expert tips, covering Apple, Google, Samsung, Sonos, Dyson and many more.
She’s always tried to take a more simplified approach to products, focusing on what she thinks actually matters in use, rather than getting caught up in the jargon. She was one of the first journalists in the world to try Apple's Vision Pro headset, she's gone behind the scenes at Peloton and she can give you more than 40 fun facts about Mac.
Britta has a First Class Honours degree in Fashion Journalism from the University of the Arts London and prior to a 10-year stint as deputy editor of Pocket-lint from 2013 to 2023, she wrote about interiors for 3 years, covering the rise in technology in the home.
As a freelance journalist, she co-founded The Disconnekt and she’s Editor-at-Large for The Ambient. You’ll also find her byline on several prestigious titles including The Telegraph, British GQ, The Express, The Mirror, TechRadar, T3, Stuff, TechAdvisor, Trusted Reviews, Expert Reviews, Wareable and iMore.
She’s also been a guest on several radio stations, including BBC Radio, Siren FM and Academy FM, discussing features to implement on devices to keep children safer online. You'll never find her without her Apple Watch on (usually alongside another fitness tracker she’s testing), aiming to complete her rings so she can justify the extra bar of chocolate. When she’s not recording the dog walk as an Outdoor Walk, she’s trying to keep up with her two young children.
