The Echo Show was just the beginning for Amazon's smart-display lineup. And those of you who want Alexa in your home but don't want to shell out for a more expensive smart speaker may be in luck.
Amazon announced this morning the Echo Show 5, an $89 touchscreen Echo device. The product will ship June 26.
The Show 5 has a 5.5-inch display, which is just over half the size of the Echo Show's 10.1-inch screen, but still much larger than the Echo Spot's 2.5-inch face. It's actually much closer in size to the $129 Google Nest Hub.
Amazon Echo Show 5 vs. Google Nest Hub: Specs compared
Specs | Echo Show 5 | Google Nest Hub |
Price | $89 | $129 |
Screen Size | 5.5 inches | 7 inches |
Overall Size | 5.8 x 3.4 x 2.9 inches | 7 x 4.5 x 2.7 inches |
Camera | 1 MP | None |
Speaker | 1 4-Watt | 1 "Full-range" |
The other factor that differentiates the Echo Show is an emphasis on video chat. Amazon is selling a $19 magnetic stand that will help you adjust the Show 5's viewing angle. Don't worry—there's a physical shutter to cover the camera when you're not using it. However, the Echo Show 5's camera has a resolution of just 1MP, compared to the 5MP camera on the pricier Echo Show. Additionally, the Echo Show 5 has a single speaker (rather than dual speakers) and also lacks the Zigbee radio of the larger Show, which means you can't use it as a smart home hub. Still, for the price, it should be very appealing for those who want a smart speaker for their nightstand.
Apart from that, this seems like a miniature version of the Echo Show, with all of the same features available on the screen, the same colors (Charcoal and Sandstone), a similar design and the same voice assistant built in. Stay tuned for our review when the device ships.