Best Echo Show 2024: which Amazon smart display is best?

So you’ve decided to invite Amazon’s smart assistant into your home? How hospitable. And if you’d like Alexa’s smarts inside a smart display, this is the list you need: we’ve tested every Echo Show in Amazon’s line-up, to help you pick your perfect smart home device.

If you’d prefer an Echo that’s audio-only, be sure to check out our list of the best Amazon Echo speakers. But if you’re after touch controls, video calls and visual entertainment, it’s an Echo Show you need. And with three styles and four sizes to choose from, you might need some assistance to make your pick. 

From screen resolution to camera quality, the buying guide below sets out everything you need to know about each smart display in Amazon’s line-up. Whether you want an AI sous chef for the kitchen counter or a home hub to keep the family from falling apart, there’s an Echo Show for you. And this list will help you find it.

If you’re not tied to Amazon, then you should check out Stuff’s guide to the best smart displays and best smart speakers, with options from Google, Amazon and more.

Why you can trust Stuff: Our team of experts rigorously test each product and provide honest, unbiased reviews to help you make informed decisions. For more details, read how we test and rate products.

The best Echo Show devices you can buy today:

1. Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen)

Amazon’s medium Echo Show is the Goldilocks option: just right for most people. At 8in, its display is big enough for browsing, binge-watching and bossing Alexa around, yet the Show’s free-standing form is still small enough not to dwarf your countertop. A pair of 2in speaker drivers deliver audio that’s fine for casual kitchen listening, even if the 1280×800 screen resolution isn’t the sharpest.

Aping the Facebook Portal, the upgraded 13MP camera can track your face around the frame – so callers will always get a good look at your mug, even if you’re pacing the place. Anyone with an Echo device or the Alexa app can hop on a group call, while the cam can also be used to keep an eye on your abode when you’re out and about.

Alexa’s on-board, of course, as well as all the smart home controls and life admin tools you’d expect from an Amazon hub. New Visual ID smarts can also be trained to recognise your face and display personalised content. Don’t like looking down on your smart display? An optional magnetic stand makes it easy to tilt and tweak the viewing angle.

2. Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd gen)

The new Amazon Echo Show 5 is the model’s third iteration, landing with a fresher, more rounded design. Its audio chops have also been upgraded, with, according to Amazon, twice the bass on offer.

For the rare users who use their devices for video calling, there’s still only a 2MP camera on offer (we would have liked to see at least 8MP for a less grainy experience), and it also won’t swivel around and follow you around the room, a la the Echo Show 8 and 10.

Still, it’s cheaper than both of its Show 8 and Show 10 siblings, and it packs the extra processing power of Amazon’s AZ2 Neural Edge processor. There’s also an optional adjustable Echo Show 5 stand with a USB-C charging port, along with a new Echo Show 5 Kids version which includes the same hardware, with a snazzy space-themed galaxy design. Oh, and all the kid-friendly content filtering you’d expect.

3. Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd gen)

A hybrid home upgrade, the third-gen Echo Show 10 is essentially two devices in one: a punchy Echo speaker with a 10.1in tablet attached. And it’s no static display: like a true automaton, it can rotate to face you, courtesy of a brushless motor inside.

Calling your loved ones? Feel free to walk around the room, because the Echo Show 10 uses auto-framing to keep your face front and centre – not just by digitally panning with the 13MP camera, but also by physically rotating the touchscreen panel through a 175-degree arc.

That tracking tech makes it trickier to place than a wedge-shaped Show, but there are other positives. Besides the smart home skills seen on every Echo Show, the 10 also functions as a Zigbee hub – meaning you can connect compatible devices directly. And while its screen isn’t the sharpest (the resolution is still 1200×800), beefier speakers mean it’s better for starting the party: inside the fabric-wrapped base are two 2in tweeters and a 3in woofer for extra whump-whump while you’re cooking.

4. Amazon Echo Show 15

Unlike any Amazon device that’s gone before, the newest, biggest Echo Show transforms the format. With a picture-frame aesthetic, it bears more than a passing resemblance to the Facebook Portal. But while the boxy Echo Show 15 can prop itself on surfaces with a sold-separately stand, its true purpose is realised when you mount it on the wall.

Oriented in portrait or landscape (you can switch after installation), it becomes a family whiteboard fit for 2021. Its 15.6in Full HD display is home to Alexa-powered widgets which try to keep your life in order. From sticky notes to shopping lists to schedules, the Echo Show 15 is a genuine hub for your household. And while its 5MP camera isn’t the sharpest in the Echo Show line-up, it still benefits from face recognition (backed up by voice ID), so family members will see reminders relevant to them.

It also supports meaningful multi-tasking. That means you can view feeds from connected cameras, for example, while streaming a Netflix show or reviewing a recommended recipe. Its pair of 1.6in speaker drivers won’t match the audio power of the Echo Show 10, but this smart panel is much easier to hide – especially if you use the Photo Frame feature to display your favourite snaps from Facebook or Amazon Photos. It’s just a shame about the wire that dangles down below.

What to consider when choosing an Echo Show

When choosing an Echo Show, it’s all about finding the right fit for your needs, space, and budget. Echo Shows come in various sizes, from the compact 5-inch Echo Show 5 to the larger 10-inch Echo Show 10 or even the grand Echo Show 15. Smaller models are ideal for bedside tables or desks, while larger screens are perfect for communal spaces like the kitchen or living room, especially if you want to enjoy video content or family photo slideshows.

Think about where it’ll live. The swivelling Echo Show 10 is excellent for kitchens, where you might need the screen to follow you around as you move, but its larger footprint demands more space. On the other hand, the Echo Show 5 or 8 suits tight spaces without dominating the decor.

What’s your priority? Video calling with friends and family? Consider models with better cameras, like the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) or 10. For a smart home hub, the Echo Show 10 and 15 are better equipped, with Zigbee integration for seamless control of compatible devices.

If you’re planning to use it as a smart speaker, pay attention to the sound performance. Larger models, like the Echo Show 10, pack more punch for music and videos compared to the smaller Echo Show 5.

Finally, balance your wishlist with your wallet. Each model offers distinct features at varying price points, so you can find one that works perfectly for you.