Amazon Echo Show 8, review with opinion and specifications

Continuous design

At a physical level, the evolution with respect to previous generations is not appreciated, it has a continuous design because, if something works, what why change it?

On the front, we find the 8-inch screen whose bezels are quite wide, far from the "all screen" format ".

Amazon Echo Show 8, review with opinion and specifications

At the top are the different buttons such as volume up/down and turn off the microphone. In addition, we have the two microphones that the Amazon Echo Show 8 integrates.

On the back we find the power connections, MicroUSB and 3.5 mm jack.

Amazon Echo Show 8 Specifications

Although we have already taken a first look at this Amazon Echo Show 8 in the previous section, let's see what surprises it hides in its hardware:

Screen: 8 inches with a resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels.
Processor: MediaTek MT 8163.
Front camera: 1 MP.
Connectivity: Dual WiFi and Bluetooth A2DP.
Ports and sensors: MicroUSB, 3.5mm jack and AC outlet.
Speakers: Dual 52mm neodymium rear speakers with passive bass radiator.
Operating System: Owner.

Screen, the key point of the Echo Show 8

The screen offers a good size, although as we have commented in the design section, the frames leave a lot to be desired. At the color level it looks good, but nothing more, it is a panel that does not stand out for any specific section.

The minimum brightness is low enough that when the Amazon Echo Show 8 sits on a nightstand it won't dazzle. The maximum brightness is quite high and looks good in ambient light conditions.

We must think that being a loudspeaker intended for interiors, a screen with enormous luminosity will not be necessary. When we find ourselves in a low light situation, the Amazon Echo Show 8 automatically adapts the brightness and the interface to the night situation.

The screen, instead of being oriented in a totally frontal position towards us, has a slight upward inclination that improves viewing angles.

On the one hand, it is visible from multiple places and from quite a distance, since it has a visual interface with large elements. On the other hand, the slight inclination of the panel makes it easier to see it from a somewhat lower position, for example, from the bed, in the event that we have the Amazon Echo Show 8 on the nightstand.

The integrated touch panel, within 8 inches of diagonal, is quite fluid and we have not detected any type of "lag" or delay when browsing through the interface, nor while we were playing content such as series, movies or music.

Web navegation

The Amazon Echo Show 8 has the possibility of browsing the Internet, since we can ask Alexa to open a browser, since either Mozilla Firefox or the one that comes by default on the Echo Show.

To access the browser, we must ask Alexa to search Google for something specific or to take us directly to Google. On the other hand, whenever we ask for a specific result, the assistant will search for what we say in Google but it will not take us directly to the website.

Between the built-in browser that comes with the Amazon Echo Show and Mozilla Firefox, there is no clear winner. For speed maybe Mozilla Firefox works better, although both work really well since they don't close unexpectedly or anything like that.

The tactile response when navigating through different pages is somewhat slow but nothing too remarkable. The pages generally have a fairly acceptable loading time, although much slower compared to a current mobile phone

In the web pages that we have consulted, we have not experienced any type of problem, being able to zoom wherever we could see It is possible to It should be noted that the web pages that we consult through the Amazon Echo Show are all in desktop version, as if it were a computer.

Although some of them, like YouTube, have an interface more similar to the mobile version than to the desktop version. To consult recipes, Alexa is much more useful as the different steps to follow appear clearly on the screen.

A sound with good volume

Although the screen is what most attracts the attention of the Amazon Echo Show 8 and is probably the most talked about, the device incorporates two speakers located on the back.

The design and placement of the rear speakers are really interesting, because they have a triangular shape, which helps the sound spread throughout the room where you are.

The audio offers a good quality, it is clear and the basses are the ones that stand out the most. However, at maximum volume, the sound does lose some quality and begins to be perceived as distorted.

On the other hand, we appreciate a notorious improvement compared to the Amazon Echo Show 5 in volume In the Echo Show 8 we can hear the speaker well level of 5 out of 10 throughout the room, leaving room to raise the volume a lot if we place it in a very spacious room.

Simple interface

The interface that integrates the Amazon Echo Show 8 is perhaps too simple and not very intuitive for a user who has just paid so much money money on a smart screen.

As soon as the device is configured through the Alexa app, as if it were another Amazon Echo, they show us a series of image themesso that they change throughout the day.

Accompanying these themes, Amazon offers us different information that is usually usefulApart from the weather forecast, curious data is shown to us and, as long as we do not open any service, different commands will be suggested to us that we can say to Alexa, which we already anticipate is the great protagonist of the team.

Navigation through the interface is done through gestures, such as swiping from right to left and from top to bottom.

Slide from right to left: if we make this movement we will change the information displayed on the screen, such as the weather forecast, the time, or the commands that we can tell Alexa, among other options. In fact, we will be shown a menu on the left side that we will talk about in depth later.
Swipe from top to bottom: This is the same gesture we perform on a smartphone to check notifications. The Amazon Echo Show does not show notifications, but through this panel we can regulate the brightness of the screen, return to the start, put the Amazon Echo Show 8 in "Do not disturb" mode and, finally, access the device settings.

Alexa, the queen of services

Alexa is a well-known virtual assistant that offers very good responses to voice commands.

The Amazon Echo Show 8 has a multitude of integrated services inside, although most of them are hidden in the menu that we have commented before, because they work using Alexa.

The menu is located on the left side, is activated by sliding from the right to the left and has the following options:

Communication

Through this option we can make calls, video calls, send messages… to those we have added as friends to our list within the Alexa app and, of course, have a speaker or smartphone with said assistant.

We have made different video calls through the Amazon Echo Show 8 and the image quality it offers is quite good. The audio picks up really well thanks to its two microphones and the sound we receive is more than correct when it comes to a video call.

Digital Home

Home automation has gradually "sneaked" into our homes, from this section we will be able to have total control of lights, cameras, sensors, thermostats … among other gadgets that are compatible with Amazon Alexa.

Many brands are launching smart home ranges, with smart bulbs (Philips Hue, Xiaomi, TP-Link…), surveillance cameras and sensors (D-Link, TP-Link, SPC…), robot vacuum cleaners (Roomba, Conga, Xiaomi…) and many other devices that work with Alexa and, almost always, also with Google Assistant.

Music

In this section we will select recent songs that we have requested from Alexa, or we will open the Amazon Prime Music application. We will be able to play some songs that are included in the basic Amazon Prime subscription, although if we want a full service, we must get the Amazon Music Unlimited subscription, the "Amazon Spotify".

Although it is also possible to listen to Spotify, Google Play Music or another music streaming service on an Amazon Echo.

On the other hand, even though it doesn't appear on the Amazon Echo Show 8 interface, thanks to Alexa and the TuneIn Radio service, we can tell Alexa our favorite radio station so that it puts it on without the need for any type of subscription.

All these apps, which are found within Alexa, are called " Skills" or "skills" in Spanish, representing a way to expand your capabilities.

Videos

In this case, the Echo Show 8 will show us the Prime Video app to enjoy the entire catalog through the integrated screen itself.

Highlights the possibility of asking Alexa to play the chapter of the series we are looking for or even a movie. The Amazon Prime Video streaming "video store" interface has a special interface, simpler on the Amazon Echo Show

Unfortunately, Netflix is not available on the Amazon Echo Show 8, like other streaming video platforms,

Routines

We have already seen how to create routines in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, on the other hand, we have the possibility of activating some of the ones that come predefined from the Echo Show 8 itself. The routines are useful, especially especially if we have them adapted to our needs, since they are based on everyday language.

For example, when saying "Alexa, good night" we could program several consecutive actions: turn off the lights, tell us the weather forecast for the next day, turn down the heating in half an hour…

Alarms

Although in the Echo Show 8 it is possible to program alarms with your voice, this section of the menu is useful because it allows you to set the alarms at the time you prefer depending on the day of the week.

Just out of curiosity, when we set alarms with our voice, Alexa will usually tell us that it is the second alarm we setdespite not having one active. As we have configured one previously, this is programmed as new and therefore tells us that it is the second, despite being the only one that is active.

On the other hand, we have been surprised that if we have more than one device that integrates Alexa, such as an Amazon Echo Dot and we have them set up in the same room, both devices will sound the same son , having to turn off said alarm either through the screen or through voice.

Privacy

As we have seen throughout this review, the Amazon Echo Show 8 has a front camera, useful for making video calls, among other options. Many users may wonder if there is a way to cover it or take any action to stop said camera from working.

Well, the Amazon Echo Show 8, just like the Echo Show 5, has a tab that we can slide to cover the camerain a simple way. In this simple way we will be calm that nobody will see us.

The tab is very important in this type of device, and the integration of the camera to make video calls is one of the main differences that exist between the Echo Show 8and the Google Nest Hub.

Amazon has bet a lot on the privacy section, since after all, they are devices that, generally, are in locations where they could record private or even compromised conversations or images.

Amazon Echo Show 8, the ideal version of the Echo Show

Although not a top seller, the 10-inch Amazon Echo Show is a truly all-round smart display, big in size and big on price. For this reason, Amazon began to launch this type of smaller versions.

All the Amazon Echo Shows that have been launched to date have passed through our hands and as we see, although the speaker is not perfect, we do notice a evolution regarding to Echo Show 5.

Overall, the Amazon Echo Show 8 is a good product, which we have liked during the time we have tested it. The price of this Amazon Echo Show 8 is 129.99 euros, available in anthracite (black) and light grey.