Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021) Review: The Middle-Ground Has Never Been So Impressive

Amazon's Echo Testify line of smart speakers have come up a long way in the few short years that they have existed. In fact, this is merely the second-generation of the 8-inch model. They've gone from looking like a kiosk from the '90s, to a really useful and bully looking smart display.

We are here with the Repeat Show 8 (2021 release) and it is a really impressive model to exist quite honest. After reviewing the Echo Show 10 a few months agone, we weren't sure how well this was going to stack up. Because it is one-half the cost. But it does stack upward pretty well. Now the existent question is, whether the Repeat Show eight is worth the $129 price tag.

Video calls are profoundly improved

Permit's start with perchance the about important aspect of the new Repeat Show 8, and that'south video calls. Of course, the Echo Show 8 now works with a slew of different video calling services. This includes the likes of Zoom, and Skype, every bit well every bit Alexa's ain video calling.

Nosotros tested the Echo Testify eight with Skype, and it is immediately clear that the photographic camera is much clearer – get it? It now has a wider field of view too, then you could do a group call on the same Repeat Prove eight without being super far away from the screen. Which is great because it is not a super large display, at only eight inches.

Speaking of the display, because information technology is only eight inches, information technology'southward not great for anything more than a one-on-one call. As there's just non enough room on the screen to show more than ane, maybe two other people.

If you lot only need a device for video calling, and don't want a tablet, then the Echo Prove 8 is a good buy. Every bit you lot can keep it on your desk and employ information technology when needed. Just a tablet might offer a better feel, and it's too portable. Whereas the Repeat Show 8 needs to stay plugged in.

Echo Testify's design is mostly unchanged

Compared to the original Echo Show viii, the pattern here is mostly unchanged. It nonetheless has the wedged shape, with the speaker behind the brandish. And it is available in black or white, notwithstanding. Unfortunately, the power cords are not color-coordinated. Both colors come with a white ability code. Which isn't a large deal, since it'll mostly exist backside furniture and such.

It also has the same 1280×800 resolution display, which isn't a loftier-resolution display. But it does expect actually dainty on the Echo Prove 8. If you didn't know it was a 1280×800 resolution display, you probable would think information technology was a college-resolution display. The touch chapters of the Echo Show 8 is actually responsive also, and there'south amend color accuracy this time around. Giving you a much ameliorate looking display on the Echo Show 8.

Which is dandy, because you can watch streaming services on the Echo Show viii. Including Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, to name a few. It's non going to replace a Telly, but it is pretty cool, to exist able to sentinel TV shows on this Echo Evidence. During the review, we watched some Netflix on the Echo Bear witness 8, and it was pretty adept. But you'll still get a better experience on a high-end tablet or a Idiot box.

On the top of the Echo Testify 8, you lot'll find the three buttons and the photographic camera slider. At that place is the volume up and down buttons in the middle with the microphone button on the left. And then yous won't need to worry nigh privacy with the Repeat Prove 8.

Software is the same as the Echo Show 10's

The software here is the same every bit what debuted on the Repeat Show x earlier this year. So you tin swipe in from the right to discover dissimilar Alexa skills, check up on your smart home products and much more than. Swipe down from the pinnacle, you can leap into the settings, brightness and more.

With this new software, Amazon is also making better employ of the size of the display. Giving you weather on ane side and news on the other side. Which tin exist pretty useful, especially if you lot accept the Echo Show 8 sitting on your desk-bound.

Unfortunately, the software is still not the best. Information technology'south nevertheless quite cumbersome to navigate through to find different things, like the weather, traffic, and news. The software overall, is much faster compared to the original Echo Show viii. And that's cheers to an upgraded processor (probable a MediaTek chipset, though nosotros're not 100% sure). Which is where it has a large leg up over its master competitor – the Nest Hub. The Nest Hub is pretty slow really, thankfully, the Echo Show 8 doesn't have the same issue.

Sound quality is pretty impressive for its size

Considering its size, and the fact that it has a display, the Echo Bear witness eight has a pretty impressive speaker on the behind. It'due south louder this twelvemonth, and sounds fifty-fifty improve. Fifty-fifty at full volume, in that location is very little baloney, so you can easily fill a room with audio and not worry virtually the distortion from the Echo Show eight.

Information technology is actually the same dual-driver speaker organization that was in the first-generation Echo Show 8. But there are some rather significant optimizations that were fabricated on the Echo Show 8 (2021). The bass is really impressive hither, and some might even think it's a bit too bassy.

There is an EQ slider bachelor in the settings on the Echo Prove eight. On the default settings, yous'd be okay with sound quality. It's pretty total sounding. Simply if you venture in and pump upwardly the bass, y'all'll really notice the difference. The bass gets actually deep and can shake the room actually – if it'due south loud plenty.

The downside to the audio quality on the Echo Bear witness eight is, the fact that the 3.5mm output jack was removed. Meaning you could non connect information technology to a larger speaker system. That was likely a niche feature, and that's why Amazon decided to drop information technology.

Echo Show 8 doubles as a security camera

Much like the Echo Testify 10, the photographic camera embedded in the bezel tin can double equally a security camera. And then you tin can keep an eye on what'south going on in your dwelling, while you're abroad.

Within the Alexa app, you can click on the Echo Show 8 and see the live feed from it, to see what's happening in your dwelling house. Information technology's really neat, equally the camera can go on your home safe, and also be used for video calls. Which isn't too shabby, to be quite honest.

The camera can also be turned off, so it's not recording you when you don't want it too. Amazon has a physical shutter that you can slide across the photographic camera and physically see. Then yous'll know that it is no longer recording you.

Should I buy the Repeat Testify 8?

In that location'due south only 2 competitors to the Echo Testify eight. At that place's the Nest Hub and the Facebook Portal. Of course, nosotros would never recommend the Facebook Portal, because of all the privacy problems with Facebook – no i wants a Facebook camera in their home, correct? So the simply competitor is actually the Nest Hub. And whether you should buy that or the Echo Testify 8, comes down to which assistant you adopt.

If you prefer Amazon Alexa, so the Echo Show 8 is the better bet. Though, if you lot prefer to employ the Google Banana, then of grade, the Nest Hub is the one to get.

Though, with the Echo Bear witness, at that place are three sizes you can choose from. There'due south a v-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch model bachelor, and this Echo Show eight is the middle ground. Making it great to use in a multifariousness of rooms.

Amazon Repeat Show eight (2021) - Amazon