Big screen Alexa is back with some nifty upgrades
The original Echo Show 15 was a unique product in Amazon’s lineup, but it had its shortcomings, especially in areas like sound quality and camera capabilities and it also lacked a Zigbee radio, meaning it wasn't a complete smart home hub. With the 2nd-gen version, Bezos and the boys have significantly upgraded the device, offering better audio performance, an enhanced camera, and more smart home capabilities. It's nothing groundbreaking, and is a touch more expensive than its predecessor, but the latest Show 15 is definitely a more polished way of getting big screen Alexa action in your home.
Pros
- Improved audio
- Enhanced camera
- Smart home hub capabilities
- Wi-Fi 6E support
- Fire TV on board
Cons
- Limited widgets
- Extra taps for smart home controls
- No dedicated smart home mode
- Usual Amazon clutter
Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd-gen): Introduction
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Thread, Bluetooth, Zigbee
- Ecosystems: Matter, Amazon Alexa.
Late last year, Amazon made Alexa bigger than ever before, by taking the covers off of the brand new Echo Show 21, alongside a refreshed Echo 15 – which is on review here.
Both models boast built-in smart home hub capabilities, acting as Matter controllers, with Thread border routing skills, and there’s also Zigbee support too – an aspect that was missing from the original Show 15, which was launched in 2022.
This puts the pair of big Show-offs on a par with the likes of Echo Hub or the latest Echo Show 8.
They’re also the first Echo devices equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, which means smoother, faster streaming for both video and music through the Fire TV integration.
The new Echo Show 15 ships with an Alexa Voice Remote control for Fire TV, making it easy to switch to from the regular widget-led homescreen. That was available on the OG 15 too… but it was patchy as heck.
The homescreen offers a pretty nifty touchscreen experience with customizable widgets that allow easy access to calendars, shopping lists, to-dos, smart home device favorites and more.

There’s also a refreshed audio widget for managing music and podcasts, along with the ability to play content across multiple speakers at once.
So, whether you want to manage your smart devices, stream content, or even make video calls, the Show 15 is now more capable than ever.
But is this new version worth upgrading to, or should you stick with your first-gen model? Read our full Amazon Echo Show 15 (2024 release) to find out…
Design and build
- Full HD 1080p display
- Camera (with privacy shutter)
- Wall mountable or table stand
- Same mounting bracket as 1st-gen model
The Echo Show 15 (2nd-gen) doesn’t stray far from its predecessor in terms of design. It’s still a large, wall-mounted display with the option for a stand.
Pull it out of the box and the Amazon Echo Show 15 looks more like a computer monitor, or small TV; the latter being especially true if you team it up with that optional desktop stand.
If you do decide to go down that route then take note that the new model does take up a lot more room, so you may prefer opting for the smaller Echo Show 8 if space is at a premium.
It’s actually marginally wider than the original at 41cm x 26cmx 4cm, although the 2.2kg weight remains the same and, I’ll be honest, you have to look hard to notice any differences.

One you might notice is that the camera is now in the middle of that top bezel and is actually an uglier square finish compared to the quaint circle of the original. There is still a privacy shutter that physically blocks the webcam.
Smart display showdown: Echo Show 21 vs Echo Show 15
At 15.6 inches with a Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080), the screen quality is pretty crisp and, if you’re a PPI fanatic, you’ll have probably worked out that it makes it a more concentrated display than that of the Show 21, which has the same resolution.

I think most people will opt to have the Show 15 in a landscape mode but you can go portrait should you wish, making the Echo Show 15 a pretty decent Meural smart frame rival as well, as there’s a mode to show your photos and/or artwork on the smart display too.
Little one: Amazon Echo Pop review

Common to all Echo Show devices, the 15 has the standard set of physical controls: volume up and down, plus a mute button that turns off the microphones.
The speakers are located at the back of the device, and they do add a fair bit of chunk to the mix. Bit it still looks fine when wall mounted, and it doesn’t stick out too far.

The good news, if you’re upgrading from the original Echo Show 15, is that the mounting bracket that you get in the box is the exact same one you already have in place.
This means that upgrading a piece of cake. However, even if it will be your first wall mounted big-screen Show there’s no need to panic as mounting is as simple as screwing in four screws and popping the new Show 15 over the top using the back panel.

You’ll also get a handy guide in the box too, so there’s no need to get out the tape measure or spirit level.
In everyday use
- Speedy performance
- Adaptive Content on homescreen
- Touch screen widgets
- Fire TV mode
The new Show 15 is, as you’d expect, powered by Alexa and is therefore packed with an absolute abundance of voice and automation driven capabilities.
When you first plug the 2nd-gen Show 15 in, you’ll see on-screen visuals, giving you a step-by-step guide for connecting to your home Wi-Fi, and getting it synced up with your Amazon account and the Alexa app.

However, I won’t dive too deep on all things Alexa in this review. If you’re looking for specific information as to what Alexa can offer you, then check out some of our comprehensive guides:
- How to use Alexa: our complete guide
- Brilliant Alexa Easter eggs: best things to ask your Amazon Echo
- Best Amazon Alexa voice commands: unlock smart home control, music and more
- The best Alexa Skills for Echo Show
Obviously though Alexa underpins everything about any Echo speaker, which are voice-first devices despite the presence of a screen.
Ask Alexa a question on the Show 15, such as what the weather is like, and you’ll see additional information on the screen.
If you do a voice command to control a smart device, Alexa will show you touchscreen controls on the display, to let you fine-tune the action. Turn on the heating, for example, and you can adjust the temperature using touch. Or manually adjust the brightness of a smart light bulb.

You can also do things like calling up security camera video feeds, with voice commands, or answering your video doorbell.
The 2nd-gen Show 15 is,, therefore, a rounded Alexa device that can do anything any other Echo smart speaker can when it comes to managing your Alexa smart home system.
In fact, when it comes to managing your smart home, it offers the same options as the latest Echo Show 8 or the Echo Hub. It’s a Matter controller that can directly connect with Wi-Fi, Thread, and Zigbee devices, but you don’t get the dedicated smart home UI of the Hub.
I understand that the Show 15 is designed as an entertainment device as well as a touch panel for a smart home, but I would like to have the option to use the Echo Hub’s UI at times, especially as the smart home widgets on the Show 15 are still a little clunky.
Like other Echo Shows, you have to do an extra tap on the screen just to get smart home controls to display. So that means you’ll be tapping twice to turn off a plug, for example.
Extra tap woes aside though, and the 2024 Show 15 is a competent smart home operator, especially for anyone already firmly in Camp Alexa wanting to make that Matter jump.
I’ve paired Matter devices over both Wi-Fi and Thread, and also Zigbee devices directly to the Show 15 and it all works as seamlessly as you’d hope for.
There’s also a picture-in-picture mode so you can see who is ringing your video doorbell, or stream a security camera to the Show, without interruption to your viewing.
Video and music playback

As mentioned though, the Show 15 is not a smart home-first device and there’s a big emphasis on the entertainment aspects.
It ships with an Alexa Voice Remote control for Fire TV, which you switch to from the regular widget-led homescreen, and I’m pleased to report that the Fire TV experience on the new Show 15 is a far cry from the buggy disaster that it was on the 1st-gen Show 15.

It’s not quite as good as the bigger screened Show 21, for obvious reasons. but 15.6 inches is still plenty big enough to act as a little kitchen TV.
The TV apps that you’ll get depend on the region you’re in but the good news is that YouTube is installable, so there’s no need to do the Silk-based browser workaround as you do with the likes of the Show 5 or 8.
We’ve usually found the Echo Show devices to be among the best for music in the Echo range, with deep base and quality stereo.
On this wall mountable shows though, the thinner display means that there’s less room for speakers but Amazon have managed to stuff in two-inch woofers and 0.6-inch tweeters, upgrading from the 1.6-inch drivers on the original.
The result, for TV watching at least, is pretty good. It’s certainly loud and I found I could easily keep up with the news while using kitchen appliances.
Listening to music is a little bit disappointing though, the audio gets a bit muddled and the lack of and substantial bass means it’s quite a distorted sound if you go too loud.
If you want an Echo Show for music, then the ageing Show 10 is still a better bet.
You can play music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify on the Show 15. If you subscribe to Amazon Music, it scrolls the lyrics of the songs on the display, so can double as a karaoke machine too.
Widget woes

Away from Fire TV and the homescreen offers an easy-to-use touchscreen experience with an array of customizable widgets, allowing for easy access to calendars, shopping lists, to-dos, smart home device favorites and more.
There’s also a new audio widget for managing music and podcasts, along with the ability to play content across multiple speakers at once.

This content can be further personalized if you have Visual ID set up through your Amazon account.
For example, there’s shared calendar for your household that you can always have on display, but Alexa can personalize results for each profile in the house; the Show 15 recognizes who is looking at it and presents personalized (and age appropriate) material on the display.
It’s all a bit reminiscent of the big screen you get on Samsung’s Family Hub smart fridge range and Amazon definitely has the kitchen in mind for the newest Echo Show; it was described as a smart kitchen TV a few times during the launch event.
However, the widget selection is still pretty limited. When the original Show 15 went live we were told that third-party developers would be able to create widgets but apart from a few novelty games and audio/visual experiences, there’s nothing really to get too excited about here.
If you just want use your Show to display photos and nothing else, you’ll also have to go through the rigmarole of turning off the ever-growing list of clutter that Amazon insists on showing you, through the Home Content settings.

Like other recent Show models, the Show 15 also has the Home Monitoring remote view mode, allowing you to check in on your home when you’re away from the Alexa app; essentially turning your smart display into a makeshift smart security camera.
An alert pops up on the display, so anyone in the room will know they’re on camera. You can’t record or store these videos.
The camera has been upgraded to a 13-megapixel wide angle camera, that also boasts auto framing and a 3.3x zoom. It’s, therefore, easy to stay in frame when video calling, even if you’re not right next to the device.
Performance
Powered by Amazon’s Octa-core SoC with Amazon AZ2 neural network engine, the latest Show 15 is noticeably zippy, with no lag on either voice or touch prompts.
The display, albeit not in the OLED league, really pops and you’ll easily be able to use the Show 15 as a miniature bedroom or kitchen TV.
Streaming is also quicker than ever as the Show 15, along with the new Show 21, were the first Echo devices to feature Wi-Fi 6E.
Final thoughts
If you’ve been holding off on the Echo Show 15 because the first-gen model didn’t quite cut it, the 2nd-gen version is a definite step up. With improved sound, a better camera, faster performance, and all the features you loved before, it’s a compelling choice for anyone looking to integrate a smart display into their home.
Whether you’re new to the Echo Show family or looking to replace your old model, the Show 15 (2nd-gen) is a more reliable, better-sounding, and all-around polished product. It’s one of the best smart home displays you can buy right now, but make sure you also take a look at the Show 21 as it’s basically the same product in a bigger size.
How we test
When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.
Smart speaker usually live within, or even control, a smart home ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a connected speaker for a week and deliver a verdict.
Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular smart speaker compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.
Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.
Read our review process for smart speakers to learn more.
FAQs
Fire TV is built into the Show 15 so you can use all the usual Fire TV apps although you may find some – for example iPlayer in the UK – aren’t compatible.
Yes, the Echo Show 15 is designed for wall mounting, allowing it to act as digital hubs for the home. You can also buy a table stand if you don’t want it on your wall.
No, it’s Wi-Fi only for an internet connection.
It does. It features a 13-megapixel camera with auto-framing and zoom, making it ideal for video calls. It also includes a privacy shutter for when the camera isn’t in use.
Yes you can, using the YouTube app on the Fire TV mode.
Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd-gen): Specifications
Type | Smart speaker with a display |
UK RRP | £299.99 |
US RRP | $299.99 |
Size | 16.1″W x 10.1″H x 1.4” D |
Weight | 2.22kg |
Release date | 2024 |
Ecosystems | Matter, Alexa |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee, Sidewalk |