Upgrade your smart home setup with the latest Amazon Echo Show 8 for just $95 this Memorial Day

What is it about?

The Echo Show 8 it’s 37% off for a limited time and available for $95 (save $50) before Memorial Day.

Also: Over 100 of the best Memorial Day deals you can shop right now

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ZDNET’s most important conclusions

• Third generation Echo Show 8 it went on sale in late 2023 for $150.
• The improved speaker now offers surround sound, the smart display has a center-mounted camera for improved video calling, and a new Adaptive Content feature.
• While it has many improvements, the screen remains 1080p and customization options are minimal.

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Completely new Echo Show 8 was recently released by Amazon and I have been able to test it out for the past few months. Derived from A Echo Show 8 first generation makes the improvements to the third-generation model even more noticeable.

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In addition to a sleeker design with edge-to-edge glass, a built-in center-mounted camera, and a smaller speaker enclosure, the 2023 Echo Show 8 offers surround sound, a faster processor than previous generations, and an improved smart home experience.

View on Amazon

Amazon’s updates to the third-generation Echo Show are visible from the moment you unbox the device. Typical plastic packaging is nowhere to be seen, as the device is packed mostly from recyclable materials. Amazon says 99% of the device’s packaging is made from wood fiber materials sourced from “responsibly managed forests or recycled sources.”

After unboxing, the Echo Show 8 stands out from previous generations with a different design, especially the rear speaker. Other Echo Show devices had a tapered speaker back that also served as a base to support the smart display, making it free-standing. The latest Echo Show 8 speaker also supports the display, but has a new design that, in my humble opinion, is an interesting choice.

The surround audio speaker on the back, let’s admit, looks a bit like a butt sticking out of the smart display, especially when you look at it at an angle and only see a bit of it. This is not a negative phenomenon, it is simply an unfortunate impression that the device gave me.

The surround audio speaker on the back, let’s admit, looks a bit like a butt sticking out of the smart display, especially when you look at it at an angle and only see a bit of it. This isn’t a negative thing, it’s just an unfortunate impression this device gave me. The suboptimal choice of the back cover is just one of many new features available in the latest generation Echo Show. Amazon ultimately placed the device’s camera in the center of the display, rather than on the right side as it did with every previous Echo Show.

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The improved 13MP camera is designed for video calls, making it even more beneficial to place it in the center so that people won’t appear to be looking to the side while on a video call.

Right-to-center camera placement could also better support visual identification, allowing the Echo Show 8 to detect when a person approaches the device.

Visual ID personalization is available in Echo Show 10, Echo Show 15AND Echo Show 8 second generation and newer. This feature makes it easier for everyone in the household to use the smart display in a personalized way.

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Each household member who wants to use visual identification must register separately on each device; as Amazon explains, this visual data is stored locally on your device. When a registered member approaches the Echo Show 8, the screen will display personalized content such as sticky notes that someone else has left for that person, calendars and favorite messages.

But visual ID is different from adaptive content, a brand new feature that Amazon is debuting on the third-generation device. Adaptive Content will make it easier for consumers to view on-screen content from a distance by simplifying viewing when no one is near the device and switching to a detailed view when a person gets closer to the Echo Show.

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If the user is also registered in Visual ID, then the displayed content will be personalized for this user. Adaptive Content will also appear on the second-generation Echo Show 8 and other Echo Show devices in early 2024.

The latest Echo Show 8 is also a smart speaker with surround sound. The device includes a pair of two-inch neodymium speakers for a vivid directional experience and a surprisingly rich audio experience despite the speaker’s size, especially compared to the first-generation model and Echo Show 2023 5.

ZDNET purchasing advice

The latest Echo Show 8 makes a compelling case for a smart display for Alexa fans and smart home enthusiasts alike. Still, the $150 MSRP, higher than previous generations, can be a deterrent (though frequent discounts can easily remedy that).

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However, this latest smart display is significantly faster than previous models in terms of screen touch response and the speed at which Alexa responds and processes requests.

For smart home users, Echo Show 8 can locally process common smart home requests, providing 40% faster responses when you ask Alexa to turn on a smart light or smart plug. New Echo Show 8 it’s also not only a smart display with Alexa built-in, but also a smart home hub like Echo and the higher-end Echo Show 10.

With support for Zigbee, Thread and Matter, Echo Show 8 can be the central link for configuring and controlling compatible smart home devices and smart assistants.