Spatial audio and Adaptive Content are the major upgrades here
The latest Show 8 is a significant upgrade from its predecessor with a faster chip making Alexa more responsive than ever. For smart home enthusiasts the key ingredients, such as Thread and Zigbee, are all present and correct and the sound has been given a spatial audio shot in the arm. It's a shame the screen is still a bit underwhelming, and the UI could do with a few tweaks but, overall, the Show 8 is a great option for anyone looking for a top mid-size smart speaker with a display.
Pros
- Zigbee and Thread radios
- Adaptive Content works well
- Faster Alexa
- Great audio quality for its size
Cons
- Bit too expensive
- UI could be better
- Screen is average
Key features
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee, Sidewalk
- Ecosystems: Alexa, Matter
Amazon traditionally has a bumper hardware launch event every September, and this year was no exception, with the e-retail giant taking the covers off of the 3rd-gen Echo Show 8, amongst a raft of other Alexa-flavored gadgets.
The newest mid-sized Echo smart speaker with a screen has now landed on Amazon for $149.99 Stateside and £149.99 in the UK.
That’s actually $20/£30 up on the launch price of the 2nd-gen Show, which went live back in 2021, but you are getting a bit more bang for your buck with a snappier processor running the show, extra homescreen features, spatial audio and, while we wait for the Echo Hub to arrive, the Show 8 is actually the most comprehensive smart home controller in the Echo line-up.
That’s because it adds Matter and Thread to the mix, alongside Zigbee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Amazon Sidewalk.
The Echo Show range is expanding all the time; the Show 10 (3rd-gen) and Show 15 are both pretty old in tech terms now, but remain the flagship devices and cost around double of the new Show 8.
If you’re looking for the cheapest ticket to the Show party then the newly launched 3rd-gen Show 5 is your best bet; although the Show 8 is much more suitable for anywhere outside the bedroom.
Read on to find out while Amazon’s latest 8 remains an attractive proposition.
Design and build
- Slicker form factor
- Edge-to-edge glass screen
- Same 8-inch display as 2nd-gen
- Camera now centered
There’s a lot of similarities between the 2nd and 3rd-gen Echo Show 8s on the spec sheet but we are, at least, treated to a pretty substantial redesign.
Whereas the 2nd-gen was a solid block of Alexa, the newest Show 8 takes its cues from the new Show 5, offering a much curvier and slicker form factor than on that 2021 model.
It’s still not going to get your guests gasping with excitement upon first site; it’s a fairly standard screen and speaker setup – but the new edge-to-edge glass front does at least try to make us think that the 8-inch screen is better than on the previous model.
Spolier alert, it’s not – it’s the very same 1280 x 800 HD panel, but it does look improved, set against the curvier speaker rear section.
Available in charcoal and white, you do have the option of an additional stand, but in my opinion it looks best just flat on a surface.
Up top you’ll find the volume buttons on the right, the kill mic button on the left and a physical shutter switch for the 13MP camera, which now sits in the middle of the bezel.
Measuring in at 200 x 139 x 106mm, it’s actually a fraction bigger than its predecessor; and it weighs in at just north of 1kg.
Amazon tells us that it’s made from 29% recycled materials, with 99% of the packaging is made from wood-fibre-based materials, from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources. So that’s a tick, I guess.
Amazon killed the 3.5mm audio jack for music output on the previous Show 8 and there’s no return for it here sadly; and they’ve also done away with the USB-C charging port, so there’s no smartphone charging from the device now.
In everyday use
- Faster processor
- Adaptive Content on homescreen
- Touch screen widgets
Powered by Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, the Echo Show 8 is packed with a wide range of voice driven capabilities, which I’m not going to dig too deep on here.
If you’re looking for specific information as to what Alexa offers you check out some of our key Alexa 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
Of course, Alexa underpins everything about any Echo speaker, which are voice-first devices despite the presence of a screen.
You can call up video feeds from connected cameras with a voice command, answer your video doorbell, and control lights and other smart home devices.
While the screen and the camera remain the same from the previous gen, there has been a big boost in processing power for the 2023 Echo Show 8, with an octa-core SoC with Amazon’s AZ2 Neural Network Engine running the, er, Show.
Amazon informs us that this adds 40% more processing power to the mix and that’s pretty evident as the new Show 8 is much snappier when responding, both via voice commands and when scrolling or selecting on the touch screen.
One of the standout features on the latest Alexa smart display is the Adaptive Content screen, which uses its proximity sensor to look where you are in the room, to present a homescreen based on those locations.
For example, if you’re on the other side of the room, you might see a single weather screen with the current conditions, but as you get closer you might get a breakdown of the full week’s weather. Or a suggested music track will then give you playback options as you approach the screen.
Like so…
This content can be further personalized if you have Visual ID set up through your Amazon account. For example it could show me my calendar schedule if it recognizes me, or show some Alexa Kids content to my daughter when she’s nearby.
If you just use your Show to display photos and nothing else (which requires you turning off the plethora of gumph that Amazon insists on showing you, through the Home Content settings) then Adaptive Content simply pops up the icons for your chosen Widgets when you approach.
Which moves me on nicely to Widgets. Unlike on the Show 15 or 10, you can’t have them permanently on screen.
You can select a maximum of four, and then you’ll see icons for your selected Widgets at the top when you’re close to the screen. So you need to tap to see a Widget, which isn’t exactly hard labor but is a bit annoying; especially with smart home controls.
As mentioned up top, thanks to the inclusion of Thread and Zigbee radios, and the Matter controller functionality, the Show 8 is an all singing, all dancing dedicated smart home hub.
Guides: Matter smart home / Thread smart home
I’ve paired Matter over Wi-Fi, Matter over Thread and Zigbee bulbs directly to my Show 8 and it all works as seamlessly and as snappily as you’d hope with direct, local connections.
My only issue is that, if you want to use the smart home visuals of the Show 8, which are pretty good – favorites, category types, shortcuts and so on – you have to tap the screen an extra time just to get them on show.
So that means you’d be tapping twice to turn off a light switch, for example. I’m pretty sure that won’t be the case with the soon-to-launch Echo Hub, where you’ll no doubt be able to customize smart home controls on the main screen.
Smart home showdown: Echo Hub v Echo Show 8
I get that Amazon wants to sell the Hub as a rival to high-end automation panels from the likes of Creston and Control4, as it goes directly on the wall; but with all the smart home hardware on board the new Show 8 it should have been a no brainer to allow a dedicated smart home screen, or at least a pinnable widget like you get with the Show 10 or 15.
Extra tap woes aside though, and the Show 8 really is a superb smart home operator, especially for anyone already firmly in Camp Alexa wanting to make that Matter jump.
As well as the ease of voice or tap commands to control smart home devices, the Show 8 also allows you to use its camera as a video-based motion detector to trigger Alexa Routines; think lights switching on when you enter a room and switching off when you’ve been away for a period of time.
Like other recent Show models, the new 8 has the Home Monitoring remote view mode through the Alexa app, which is handy for checking on your home when you’re away, basically turning your smart display into a makeshift smart security camera.
An alert pops up on the Show, so anyone in the room will know they’re on camera. You can’t record or store these videos.
As mentioned, the camera on the latest Show 8 is in the middle and this makes for better video calling; which is available through both Alexa Calling and Skype over Echo (sadly, no Zoom on this model.)
As with the previous-gen, there’s also auto tracking tech built in so during calls, if you’re walking around the room, the camera will zoom in and try and keep up with you.
As with all Alexa devices, security will be a concern for some and you can mute the microphone and close the camera lens with the Show 8, although doing both has an affect on performance and features, for obvious reasons.
Audio and video quality
As I’ve said there’s no change in the quality of the display so watching Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, or Netflix is no different than before; it’s acceptable at best. If you’re thinking of using the Show 8 as a primary video watching device, think again – it’s really not up to it.
But it’s a decent option in a pinch for casual viewing, such as while you’re peeling carrots in the kitchen or folding laundry on the bed.
There’s still no native YouTube app, but Amazon has included a shortcut to the web version of YouTube in its Video Home Screen, making accessing a little easier.
Unlike the visuals, the audio on the Show 8 have been significantly improved. The dual stereo tweeters are now a pair of 2-inch neodymium stereo speakers with a passive bass radiator.
And the big news is there’s now spatial audio processing technology included, for a wider and more immersive sound experience, along with a room adaption technology that senses the acoustics of the space and then fine-tunes playback for optimal sound… which is a bit like what Sonos TruePlay does.
The result is… pretty good. It’s not a HomePod killer or even a rival to the lower end Sonos Era 100 but it’s a pretty full sound, a far cry from the tinny Show 5, and a big step up from the 2nd-gen Show 8.
It shouldn’t be your main living room or dining room speaker but it is more than up to the task of holding its own in a bedroom, office or kitchen.
You can play music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify. If you subscribe to Amazon Music, it scrolls the lyrics of the songs on the display, so can double as a fun karaoke machine too.
There is also a Photos Edition of the Echo Show 8, for $10 more, that puts your family photos front and center of the homescreen.
That $10 gets you 6 months subscription to an extra 25GB of phot storage, which will then be $1.99 monthly after that.
Final thoughts
The new Echo Show 8 is a great upgrade albeit with a few annoying niggles that stop it being perfect. It has all the hardware needed to be a one-stop smart home controller, but falls down slightly on the UI and it’s a shame that the screen isn’t just a little bit crisper.
Minor woes aside though and the new Adaptive Content feature works well, performance is vastly improved and the audio quality is strong enough to consider the Show 8 as a primary speaker in certain locations.
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
Can you watch Netflix on the Echo Show 8?
Yes, the Netflix app is under the video options.
Is the Echo Show 8 a Matter controller and Thread border router?
Yes, it’s a Matter controller and also a Thread border router.
Does the Echo Show 8 have a camera?
Yes, there’s a camera on the front that lets you video call and also acts as a security camera too, so you can see a live feed of your house. You can shut access to this camera using a physical shutter.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2023 model, 3rd-generation): Specs
| Type | Smart speaker with a display |
| UK RRP | £149.99 |
| US RRP | $149.99 |
| Size | 200 x 139 x 106mm |
| Weight | 1034g |
| Release date | 2023 |
| Ecosystems | Matter, Alexa |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee, Sidewalk |
