The Best Smart Home Devices of 2024: Tested and Reviewed by Experts

The third-generation Amazon Echo Show is a great smart display and speaker combo for most smart home users, both seasoned and new. Amazon’s latest Echo Show 8 features a sleeker design with edge-to-edge glass, a centrally placed camera for video calls, and surround sound from a smaller speaker body.

I’ve been using the Echo Show 8 daily for about nine months now, and the improved processor of this generation provides faster performance than older models. It’s become my kitchen companion for running smart home routines, interacting with Alexa, and streaming music and video content on the 8-inch HD screen while I cook.

Also: Prime Day May Be a Few Days Away, But Echo Show 8 Has Already Hit Its Lowest Price Ever

This is the first Echo Show 8 to have a camera in the center rather than on the side, which helps with better visuals during video calls. The camera also works with Visual ID and Adaptive Content personalization. Visual ID lets the Echo Show 8 recognize a family member approaching to personalize content, while Adaptive Content adjusts the screen based on the person’s proximity.

This is a highly rated smart speaker, with one buyer saying, “I bought this a few months ago and it has exceeded my expectations in every way. The surround sound feature provides a rich and immersive audio experience, perfect for listening to music, podcasts, and even video calls. Integration with my smart home hub is seamless, allowing me to control all my smart devices with ease. The responsiveness of Alexa and the sharp display make this a pleasure to use every day.”

Amazon Echo Show 8 Features: Price: $85 (Limited Time Offer) | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa | Communication: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and hub for Matter, Thread and Zigbee | Eyepiece: 8-inch HD touchscreen, 13MP video call camera, Alexa voice assistant