Electronics & Gadgets Blog

Amazon Echo Show 8, The Ultimate Guide to This Versatile Smart Display

by Samuel Kalenga on Aug 12, 2024

Amazon Echo Show 8, The Ultimate Guide to This Versatile Smart Display
The Amazon Echo Show is the final word in smart home technology. This clever device combines Amazon Echo capabilities with a stunning 8-inch touchscreen. It’s perfect for video calls, entertainment, controlling your smart home devices, finding out information, and much more. You can even ask Alexa to play music and it comes in a compact, eye-catching, and space-saving design. It’s absolutely ideal for the most advanced tech-heads as well as the most comfortable of families.

 

Exploring the Features: Why the Echo Show 8 is a Smart Home Essential

The Amazon Echo Show 8 is no ordinary smart display. While it sits on your kitchen countertop, it is with you in the bathroom, in your car and in front of your TV. This device shapes the medium in which you live. Let’s discuss its features. First, let’s start with what it looks like. We took a picture of it so you could see it with your eyes, and we included the image here. It’s a rectangular display that measures 8 inches on the diagonal, and it’s fronted by a 13-megapixel camera that points directly at you when you are using it. A 2.0-megapixel camera is also installed at the top of the device, looking down upon you. Echo Show 8’s user interface – its ‘operating system’ – is a combination of voice control, text-input buttons and images. 

  • Enhanced 8-inch HD touchscreen: The 8-inch HD touchscreen on the Echo Show 8 provides a dynamic experience where you can visually live and enjoy your favourite content. Whether you’re streaming the latest movies, searching for photos, or following a recipe to make a new dish, the large screen makes it even more immersive and interactive. [sized=3]
  • Rich & Powerful Audio: Don’t think that the Echo Show 8 is just eye candy because you’re wrong. Oversized speakers touch your hearing experiences. Let me tell you this is the real home cinema, so there will be two speakers for the audio experience.Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts and enjoy your life all day long with rich and powerful audio, listen to your favorite music and podcasts using this Echo Show 8 and select the daily broadcast via the Bluetooth speakers, you’ll never regret it! [/sized] ‘Alexa, turn on the
  • living room lights’ – the Amazon Echo Show 8 uses the invariably awesome Alexa voice assistant to make it usable from pretty much anywhere. Ask Alexa to perform any one of the myriad of routines it can handle – from controlling other smart home equipment or setting reminders, to returning information related to your question, and more. Alexa’s breadth and ease of use make this extended smart display relatively easy to control as well.
  • Stay in touch with video calling and messaging: It is easy to be in touch with friends and distant family using the Echo Show 8’s video calling and messaging features. With its 8-inch display, video calling is now as simple as dropping into a person’s home to chat face to face or send a quick message and keep up with friends’ and family’s latest posts. Using a larger display makes you feel closer to them even though you are far away. Smart
  • Home Hub in an Echo: Echo Show 8 allows you to control compatible smart home devices with your voice or through the touchscreen. Ask Alexa to turn off the lights, adjust the room temperature, or show feeds from compatible security cameras. Enable enhanced security by pairing Echo Show 8 with Ring cameras.
  • Make home unique with an Echo Show 8Form Factor: Echo Show 8 is designed with the optimal 8-inch HD display for a clear visual and audio experience. It has a slim profile that looks natural in any room.Placement: Place Echo Show 8 anywhere that suits your taste – on your desk, kitchen counter, as a nightstand, or on a shelf.Check your Home from Anywhere: Use the Echo Show 8 to access live camera feeds and manage connected lights, locks, thermostats and more. You can even watch Netflix videos on this device. The Echo Show 8 features advanced Alexa voice service, so you can ask any question, get instant information, book a ride, listen to music, and even check the weather.
  • Entertainment at Your Fingertips: The Echo Show 8 can become your own entertainment centre. Stream movies, TV shows and more from services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and more without having to pick up your phone. You can even enjoy videos from YouTube. With the Echo Show 8, access all your entertainment right from the vibrant touchscreen. Whether you want to watch your favourite movie during the night or like to fall asleep to music, the Echo Show 8 can take care of your entertainment needs.

Navigating the Generations: Understanding the Echo Show 8's Evolution

Since the introduction of the Echo Show 8 in 2019, Amazon has been improving the device from generation to generation. This makes it important to know the differences between each of the generations because these improvements can influence the selection of a model that suits your needs and your budget. So let’s compare each of the generations, highlighting the distinguishing characteristics of each:

Echo Show 8 (1st Generation): The Foundation of Innovation

    Released 2019: The first-generation Echo Show 8 was the original incarnation of this smart display, and featured the basic functions that would eventually become the Echo Show 8 series staples. It also provided the framework for the eventual interpretation of all future models. 1.3MP Camera: Adequate but not great for the 1st generation Echo Show 8 – later models had a much higher resolution. Video quality was good enough for video calls but didn’t have the crisp detail of the newer models. Sufficed overall but weren’t as sharp or detailed as subsequent iterations. Decent Audio Experience: Generation 1 Echo Show 8 provided decent audio experience, which is not as good as the sound output of its later upgraded version. It is ok for most daily tasks without deep bass or any specific directivity. Adequate for daily needs, but not as good nor as impactful as current models after its generation.

Echo Show 8 (2nd Generation): A Significant Leap Forward

    Released in 2021: The 2nd generation Echo Show 8 offered upgrades across the board that were both functional and improved performance. This generation really elevated the Echo Show 8 to the next level of greatness for smat displays.
  • Improved 13MP camera: The more impressive upgrade was in the rear-facing 13MP camera, which had a wider field of view so it could fit more of the scene into video calls, and delivered a significantly sharper and more detailed image. The better camera meant video calls could be not only clearer, but also more natural.
  • Faster Performance: I got a more powerful processor under the hood of a 2nd generation Echo Show 8. This was a surprise but made using and engaging with the device that much better. I found that it behaved much more smoothly in executing tasks and applications. Menu use and finding information was smoother with less lag. Better Audio Quality: For anyone who values great quality audio, Amazon really did well on the audio of the 2nd generation Echo Show 8. After working on significant software and hardware upgrades including newer processors to drive another generation of algorithms and new speaker designs with more improved audio experience. 2nd generation Echo Show 8 speakers really shine through in terms of sound which explains why you might opt for 2nd generation over either 1st generation or 3rd generation Echo Show 8.

Echo Show 8 (3rd Generation): The Pinnacle of Innovation

    Released in 2023 3rd Generation Echo Show 8 the latest iteration and the most fantastic smart display EVER for home or office!! You’re looking at the pinnacle of all that Amazon has worked out to create the most user friendly and usable smart display yet. feel free to reach out with any questions 🙂 13MP Camera with auto-framing: The auto-framing feature on the 3rd-generation Echo Show 8, which was also present on the latest, just-released Echo Show 15, keeps you perfectly centred in the video call even if you move around, so meetings, calls and catch-ups feel more like a face-to-face conversation. Refined Audio Quality: When you move on to the newly improved speaker design associated with the 3rd generation Echo Show 8, it becomes clear that the Alexa Echo family is constantly audiophile evolving. Day to day, using my machine, I am very aware of the nuance with which the sound components are now balanced. The result is that the sound quality is really impressive and makes the Show 8 a joy for music, podcasts, audiobooks and the like. 3rd generation Echo Show 8 with temperature sensor 2241The 3rd generation Echo Show 8 comes with a new feature: a temperature sensor that will allow it to read the temperature of your home. This feature will make easier to control your smart home environment with better accuracy. The temperature sensor can be integrated into other smart home devices to provide enhanced automation. This feature makes Echo Show 8 even more suitable to help you create a comfortable and efficient home environment.

Echo Show 8 vs. Echo Show 5: Finding the Right Size for Your Needs

The Echo Show 5 is the smaller, much more affordable sibling. Both devices come with a 5.5-inch touchscreen, but the Echo Show 8 wins the day with its larger screen, better audio, and overall bigger format. If you want a more immersive experience when watching videos, viewing photos, and enjoying enhanced visuals, go with the Echo Show 8. If you’re after something more compact at a lower price point, the Echo Show 5 is your answer.

Exploring Alternatives: Other Smart Displays to Consider

But the Echo Show 8 is hardly your only option when it comes to deciding which smart display to pack. Here are a few arguments for rival models that could make them a better match for your specific trip:
    Smart Display 7:And 7 inches of screen.Unbeatable value with smart display 7 experience the convenience of google assistant on a 7" multi-touch screen. Smart call, youtube entertainment, stream a movie, play music, control your smart home devices – all with a touch, tap or voice. Smart display 7 works with your android smart devices and Google Assistant services for a seamless experience.Light, slim, and portable.The sleek and stylish smart display 7 blends into any room and is easily moved from place to place. 7 inch full high-definition touch screen.Always be up to date with Google Assistant.Your personal Google smart assistant will help you manage tasks, set reminders, play music, adjust smart lights and more. Simply press the google assistant button on the device and say “Ok Google”.Power with wireless charging for qi-enabled devices.Charge your phone without plugs or cords by simply placing it on the device’s pad. Perfect for nightstands.High-speed Wi-Fi 6 to make your life easier.Experience fast and easy access to your favourite online content with Smart Display 7, thanks to 1 x 1 MU-MIMO 1500Mbps Wireless LAN highspeed Wi-Fi 6.Solar craftsmanship.The smart display 7 boasts an exquisite design with a sleek body and slanted edges, giving it a smooth overall appearance. It is lightweight and compact, which allows for greater portability when needed. 7-inch screen makes it perfect for your bedside table. 4,800 square inch camera lens.Lenovo Smart Camera produces crisp high-resolution 1080P video and captures 100-degree-wide field of view. Make video calls to your family or friends sitting away or ask Google Assistant to play YouTube on the screen. Camera privacy is automatic and can be seamlessly enabled using a gravitational sensor. Lenovo Smart Display 7 with Google Assistant • With a 7-inch touchscreen, a powerful processor and full-colour display, this Lenovo 7-inch smart display integrates Google’s world of smart home and online functionality with the ability for useful search on the fly. In a market dominated by Amazon’s Alexa smart devices, with only Apple’s limited connected home control Siri, those who want a smart speaker with Google functionality have only a few options. With a stylish, simple and modern design, it’s an easy-to-use device with a visually appealing interface.

Where to Find Your Perfect Echo Show 8: Top Retailers

The Amazon Echo Show 8 is widely available from many online ‘brick-and-mortar’ businesses/retailers which means you can possibly get the best-priced/lowest-priced Echo Show 8 and the most convenient way to shop, by using online/in-store price checking/comparison systems and services. Here’s a list of the top show-retailers/sellers of the Echo Show 8, each with their own benefits, in no particular order.
  • Its design is clearly better than its main rival – the Echo Show 8, which is manufactured by Amazon:
    • Amazon: they manufacture the Echo Show 8, so they have a very good range of models, good prices, very easy to get hold of what you want (delivery is very good), usually have it at a special price, generally you will find it more cheaply. No discount codes.
  • Best Buy: Readers who want to buy the Echo Show 8 (and other smart home devices) in-store can rely on this reputable electronics merchant to stock a large selection at reasonable prices, with helpful call-at-the-counter service that’s also usually available via email and online chat. Listed below is an instruction that describes a task, paired with an input that provides further context. Write a response that appropriately completes the request. Argos: Argos is a retailer based in the UK, selling electronics, homeware items and much more. Argos has multiple online options and in-store options to shop, making them versatile for shoppers who like to use physical shops, or can’t be bothered and would rather use their online presence.

Final Thoughts: Making the Right Choice for Your Smart Home

The Amazon Echo Show 8 is a versatile display that ticks all the boxes for a savvy smart home, and it’s easy to see why. It blends usefulness with lively entertainment, offering an engaging touchscreen experience with a punchy audio without taking up much space. Here is where those buying advice come in useful. You can own the 3rd generation Echo Show 8, but it won’t come cheap. Should you go for a 3rd-gen model that equips you with the latest bells and whistles, or a 2nd-gen model that provides a nice blend of price and performance? Don’t forget to explore the other smart displays in the market such as the Lenovo Smart Display 7, and see if they can address your needs better!

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