The space-saving Echo Show 5 is a smart home hub with a 5.5” touchscreen, camera, and Alexa support. It’s just the right size for video calls, listening to tunes, and managing your smart home.
Take $15 off this smart home hub this week
If you’ve jumped on the Amazon smart home hub bandwagon and the size of the Amazon Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 8 is off-putting, the smaller but every bit as capable Echo Show 5 will have that just right feel for you. Now in its third generation, this popular smart display has worked out the kinks, added new colors, and bumped up the bass. Let’s take a quick look at the specs.
Compared to the second-generation Echo Show, this newer model has a bigger speaker and louder sound, is quicker to respond to swipes and touches, and supports Matter. That last bit is important. Matter-certified devices and accessories like smart bulbs, security cameras, smart light strips, thermostats, light switches, smart door locks, and smart plugs work across the board with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant devices like the Google Nest Hub. That means you can mix and match hubs and accessory brands in the same house and purchase items confidently, knowing they’ll work with all Matter-capable smart home accessories.
The sound on this Alexa-enabled device is brighter, while at the same time being more bass heavy. That’s good news if you listen to audio books, stream music, or catch up on Amazon Prime episodes. The 2 MP camera still feels out of date, though. It’s plenty good enough to call family and friends and check on your Ring doorbell or indoor/outdoor security camera, but it’s still not as good as the larger screen Echo Show devices.
The new Amazon Echo Show 5 has a shutter on the camera you can close when not in use. The privacy switch is similar in design and function to the 2nd-Gen.
Pros
- Matter-certified
- Camera shutter for privacy
- Excellent smart home hub
- Better sound and improved bass
- Good mic sound
- Faster
Cons
- 2 MP camera desperately needs a refresh
Should you upgrade from the Gen-2?
If the second-generation Echo Show works for you, save your money and wait for the next update. There are improvements, particularly to sound and performance, but they’re not so huge that it should sway you just yet.
On the other hand, if you’re buying your first Alexa device, jump on this sale. The Amazon Echo Show 5 third-generation is a solid smart home hub that sounds good and looks great.
