It may be thrilling when a model like Amazon drops new variations of its units, nevertheless it will also be overwhelming to determine which one is greatest for you (and if it is price paying greater than its unique model). After testing the second generations of each the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8, I will stroll you thru what’s the identical, what’s completely different, what they convey to the desk in comparison with the primary gen variations — and which one you can purchase.
Whereas these stationary units don’t have the portability or performance of an iPad or a Floor pill, they work flawlessly with Alexa and function a sensible dwelling HQ to make your day-to-day life just a bit bit extra streamlined.
Pricing
Whereas the 2nd gen Echo Present 5 is now not accessible, the most recent Echo Show 5 retails for $89.99. The Echo Show 8 has been phased out, however you possibly can nonetheless get some variations of it for $129.99.
Dimension issues
Probably the most noticeable distinction between the Echo Present 5 and the Echo Present 8 is, in fact, their dimension. The Echo Present 5 has a 5.5-inch display screen and 6 inch by 3 inch footprint, whereas the Echo Present 8 is considerably bigger — boasting an 8-inch display screen and an 8 inch by 4 inch footprint.
Echo Present 5 (2nd gen) is smaller and would work higher in a bed room or workplace.
Credit score: Amazon
Echo Present 8 (2nd gen) is considerably bigger — greatest for a central home hub.
Credit score: amazon
For my part, that makes the Echo Present 8 means higher suited to be your loved ones “hub” — situated in a central location just like the kitchen or eating room for loopy straightforward video calls with the grandparents utilizing Alexa. All you need to do is add contacts you’d prefer to name within the Alexa app in your telephone. Nonetheless, it might not be a vital buy if you have already got a pill with nice video performance.
Regardless, the Echo Present 8 gives another benefits for video calls along with its dimension, too.
Alternatively, the Echo Present 5 could be higher in locations the place you need the machine’s performance, with out it being entrance and heart — like your desk or nightstand.
And for those who’re a sucker for colorways, the Echo Present 8 solely comes within the Glacier White and Charcoal colour choices. You will get extra selection with the brand new Echo Present 5, which is available in Glacier White, Charcoal, and Deep Sea Blue. The Echo Present 5 Youngsters is available in Chameleon inexperienced.
Digital camera and video calling
The Echo Present 5 bought a good digital camera improve from its 1st gen model — rising the megapixels from 1 to 2. Nonetheless, it was an entire completely different ball recreation for the Echo Present 8. Whereas the first gen Echo Present 8 supplied a 1-MP digital camera, this revamped mannequin comes geared up with a 13-MP digital camera.
The picture is extremely crisp, and alongside the bigger display screen make the Echo Present 8 the video name winner. However that’s not even one of the best half: The brand new Echo Present 8 options auto-framing capabilities that routinely pan and zoom the digital camera to maintain it centered on the folks in view of it.
Each units additionally characteristic some helpful connectivity options, like Intercom to web page each Alexa machine in the home (“We’re leaving in fifteen minutes, so be prepared!”) and Drop In, which lets you video chat with any related Alexa machine.
Zoom calls
The Echo Present 8 may also be a part of Zoom calls, whereas the Echo Present 5 can’t. To be completely sincere, I couldn’t get the Zoom name characteristic to work after a number of tries as a result of not one of the calls I joined had a dial-in quantity.
I’ll nonetheless say the Echo Present 8 wins on this one simply because it’s theoretically potential, and I’m actually hoping to have the ability to be a part of Zoom calls from it quickly to unlock my laptop computer and additional monitor for in-meeting multi-tasking.
Child-friendly content material
Throughout the preliminary set-up, you possibly can select to make any Echo Present machine a devoted machine for a child. This offers you entry to some expanded parental controls, which is nice for older kids, tweens, and youths that you simply nonetheless wish to defend from a number of the worst issues the web has to supply.
Nonetheless, the Echo Present 5 Youngsters is the primary and solely Echo Present that’s bottom-to-top and side-to-side designed for teenagers. It options the enjoyable Chameleon look (dinosaur scales, in keeping with my 5-year-old), and comes with a free 12 months of Amazon Youngsters (a $69 worth for Prime members) — which gives curated books, video games, and movies only for children far past what’s accessible by way of a fundamental Prime membership. As well as, it comes with souped-up parental controls so you possibly can tweak issues much more.
Alexa performance
Each the 2nd gen Echo Present 5 and the 2nd gen Echo Present 8 have some new Alexa skills that their 1st gen counterparts don’t.
First up is the house monitoring operate, the place you possibly can remotely entry the digital camera in your machine from the Alexa app simply to examine in on issues. You’ll want a WiFi connection to do it, however I had no issues getting it to work. I can think about it will be nice to examine in on pets, the babysitter, or simply to take a peek at your own home whereas on trip to verify every part is on the up-and-up.
Subsequent is the addition of motion-enabled routines. This permits Alexa to detect while you enter or depart a room and use that exercise to begin a routine. Honest warning, this could open a can of worms re: privateness, nevertheless it additionally opens up some thrilling potentialities for the good dwelling buff. You possibly can have Alexa learn your calendar while you stroll into your workplace, or flip off all smart-enabled units when there’s no movement detected in the lounge — and people are simply two easy concepts. With the addition of Alexa-enabled units or good plugs, your choices open up much more. Amazon does provide methods to manage these settings if you’d like to delete recordings or handle your information.
All of those units characteristic all the identical Alexa performance you got here to count on from the earlier iteration of Echo Present units.
Which one is healthier?
For less than $45 extra, the Echo Show 8 was the clear winner for me. Not solely does it have a bigger display screen and a 13-MP digital camera with auto-framing (making it the best possible for video calling), it additionally lets you hop on Zoom conferences, if/when you will get that operate to work correctly.
If video calls and Zoom conferences aren’t your concern, then the Echo Show 5 continues to be an important selection — just like the 2nd gen Echo Present 8, the brand new Echo Present 5 boasts most of the similar expanded Alexa capabilities, like dwelling monitoring and movement detection routines. And naturally, in order for you one which’s made for teenagers, then you definately’re gonna wish to go along with the groovy inexperienced Echo Present 5 Youngsters.
General, I’m a fan of each, however the Echo Present 8 got here out on prime for our dwelling.
