I tested the Amazon Echo Show 8 for a week. These are its best features (and misses)

The brand new Echo Show 8 was just officially released by Amazon, and I’ve been able to test it for the past few days. Coming from a first-generation Echo Show 8 makes the upgrades to the third-generation model all the more evident.

Also: If Amazon wants me to buy the Echo Show 15, it needs to add this feature

Aside from featuring a sleeker design with edge-to-edge glass, a center-set camera, and a smaller speaker enclosure, the 2023 Echo Show 8 features spatial audio, a faster processor than previous generations, and an upgraded smart home experience.

ZDNET RECOMMENDS

Echo Show 8 (2023)

The third-generation Echo Show 8 is available for $150 and features a vibrant, upgraded screen, improved speed, and a faster processor.

View at Amazon

Amazon’s updates are evident from the moment you unbox the device. The typical plastic packaging shines for its absence, as the device is wrapped mostly in recyclable materials. Amazon says 99% of the device’s packaging is made of wood-fiber materials from “responsibly managed forests or recycled sources.”

Once unboxed, the Echo Show 8 stands out from previous generations for its different design, particularly the speaker on the back. Older generations had a tapered speaker back that doubled as a stand to hold the smart display up to make it self-standing. The latest Echo Show 8’s speaker also props up the display, but it has a new design that is, in my humble opinion, a choice. 

The speaker on the backside, let’s admit it, looks a bit like a butt sticking out of the smart display, especially when viewed from an angle and just a sliver of it is visible. This isn’t a negative thing, just the unfortunate perception the device gave me.

Suboptimal backside design choices are just one of the many new features packed into the latest generation Echo Show 8, however. Amazon finally opted to place the device’s camera in the middle of the display instead of on the right, as it’s done with each Echo Show. 

Also: Amazon’s Echo Show 5 made me a smart display believer (and my daughter, too)

The upgraded 13MP camera is meant to be used for video calls, making the center placement all the more beneficial to prevent people from looking like they’re looking off to one side when on a video call.

The camera placement that goes from the right to the center could also better support Visual ID, which makes it possible for the Echo Show 8 to detect when a person approaches the device. 

Visual ID personalization is available in the Echo Show 10, Echo Show 15, and Echo Show 8 second generation and newer. This feature makes it easier for each person in a household to have a personalized experience with the smart display. 

Also: This new tablet is redefining what a kids tablet can do

Each household member that wants to use Visual ID has to enroll separately on each device, as Amazon explains this visual data is stored locally on the device. When one of the enrolled members approaches the Echo Show 8, it will display personalized content, like sticky notes someone else left for that person, calendars, and their favorite news.

But Visual ID differs from Adaptive Content, an all-new feature that Amazon is debuting with this third-generation device. Adaptive Content will make it easier for consumers to view content on the screen from a distance by simplifying it when no one is near the device and switching to a detailed view when the person approaches the Echo Show.

Also: 5 things I learned while building my smart home

If the user is also enrolled in Visual ID, then the displayed content will be personalized to that user. Adaptive Content is also coming to the second-generation Echo Show 8 and other Echo Show devices as soon as early 2024. 

The latest Echo Show 8 is also a smart speaker, complete with spatial audio. The device packs a pair of two-inch neodymium speakers for a vibrant directional feel and a surprisingly rich sound experience despite the size of the speaker, especially compared to the first-generation model and 2023 Echo Show 5. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

The newest Echo Show 8 makes a compelling case for a smart display for both Alexa fans and smart home enthusiasts, but the $150 price tag, higher than previous generations, could be a deterrent. The second-generation Echo Show 8 retails for $130 though it’s often discounted, like right now, at only $70. 

Also: Everything you need to start building a smart home

This latest smart display, however, is notably faster than previous models both in the screen’s touch response and how quickly Alexa responds to and processes requests. 

For smart home users, the Echo Show 8 can process common smart home requests locally for 40% faster responses when you ask Alexa to turn on a smart light or smart plug. The new Echo Show 8 is also not just a smart display with Alexa built-in, but a smart home hub like the Echo and higher-end Echo Show 10. 

With support for Zigbee, Thread, and Matter, the Echo Show 8 can be a central nexus to set up and control compatible smart devices and a smart assistant.

Source Link