Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) | HD smart display with Alexa and 13 MP camera | Glacier White

Before ordering this one I already an echo show 8”, first gen. I was about to buy another one when I got an add saying that I could pre-order a second gen. I could not find a good comparison anywhere so I asked myself, should I pay 20$ more for an unknown. I did and spoiler alert, it is worth it, kinda. Positives: - The new camera features are great. The camera can track you and center you for video calls, real time, and it does it accurately. - Speaking of the camera, the camera upgrade is insane. Went from 1MP to 13MP. - The processor is supposed to be much more powerful. Looking at the new camera features, understanding where you are in a group of people and tracking you accordingly, it is noticeable. However, given that a lot of the actions on the device are web based, there is not a huge difference on other apps. The responsiveness of the touchscreen is perhaps a bit better but it was good to begin with. - The unit will go to low power mode when idle, helping you save a penny here and there… - Several privacy features. The stop listening button we have grown used to. The camera can be manually closed shut for privacy. When remote viewing through the show, there is a warning message, etc... Negatives: - Amazon did not learn from their mistakes. Just like with the Show 10”, the power cord is white for every unit, whether the unit is black or white. The camera shutter, is white too. - The 3.5 jack is gone. Other thoughts: The sound quality___ One of the items on my wish list for this one was an improved audio quality. The sound quality improved over the previous gen, I think, but I would say its marginal if that, not enough to even be sure it did. The white cord___ What I hate the most about my Echo Show 10 is the white cord on a black unit. Since I fell for it with the Show 10 and white would go well with my decor, I preemptively went for a white unit, to eliminate the eyesore, in case Amazon did not learn from their mistakes. To a certain extent, I was secretly hoping the cord would be black so I could swap it with my Show 10” and fix two problems with one move. Nope, its white. Even with a warning from me that it could happen, a friend went for the charcoal one and he is still fuming. So, if you are like me that the white cord on a black unit would drive you crazy, and you are going for it, order the white one. The environment___ If you are still on the fence about this one, be aware that 2nd gen uses recycled materials on its manufacturing. To me this is a selling point. _____________________________ TLDR, 1) If you use it a lot for video calls, the improved camera and improved camera features, makes it a worthy upgrade. If this is not your cup of tea, waiting for a prime day sale on a previous gen might be better. 2) If having a white cord on a black unit is something that would drive you crazy, get the white one or go for the previous gen. Updated (JUNE2022): It appears that Amazon did learn from their mistakes. Another friend I warned about the cord, told me he didn’t really cared and went for the black one. Well, he got it with a black cord. Given that to me this was the worst negative, I just raised it one star.

This was my fourth Echo device purchase. I have two Echo Show 5's, a 2nd generation dot, 4th generation dot and now this. We originally purchased an Echo Show 5 for our kitchen and I loved it so much, I decided to upgrade to the Show 8 and move the 5 to the living room. Luckily, the app makes it easy to change rooms for your devices because a lot of echo shuffling went on after that. We now have one in the kitchen, living room, basement, bedroom and bathroom. While I'm getting my lunch ready for work in the morning, I have Alexa show me the latest local news. Sometimes, I'll play some music, stream a show or watch a game while cooking. The resolution is pretty good for a small device and the sound is great. It's not stereo quality of course but it's not bad either. It was super easy to set up. I'm talking suuuuuper easy. Other than plugging it in, I didn't have to do anything. I didn't even have to add my wifi password because I was able to set everything up before the device even arrived thanks to a setup email. I didn't buy a stand for it but it fits just fine where I set it. It's not wobbly or unstable. I don't use my echos for phone calls so I can't say how well that works. I also haven't used the camera on this one, nor do I really have any immediate plans to, so I can't attest to that either. I honestly use these mostly to control lights throughout the house as well as the TVs, create shopping lists, set reminders and timers, view the cameras we have set up outside, check to see who is at the doorbell, ask about the weather and use for entertainment purposes. Speaking of entertainment, I have had issues with it opening Netflix. This isn't isolated to this device though. It's something I've had issues with on all my echo shows. You can ask her to, and she'll say she did, but nothing happens. I need to play around with it but haven't had time yet. Obviously not a priority. Other than that, she opens Amazon Prime just fine (of course) as well as Tubi. What's really nice is that I was also able to open my YouTube TV via the internet and scroll through the live guide with no issues. I have Amazon Photos and have made albums specifically for the show. I just did one that is all Christmas backgrounds and it looks so festive! I love it! I've also used their nature one and really like it. The photos are beautiful, although you do get news bits and Alexa tips inbetween. That doesn't bother me. Some of the tips are interesting and the news bits are informative. All in all, I think it's plainly obvious that I love the Alexa devices, having 5 throughout my house now. I'm not even sure I will stop there as I have considered getting one for our shop/garage as well as my workout shed. Time will tell there, but if you like the dots, upgrading to the shows are totally worth it and I'd definitely recommend.

Was gifted one for christmas and LOVED it. Life changer and even my kids talk to alexa. I have now gifted them as house warming gifts. The display window is huge, the sound is very sound and great quality, the option for personal photos to appear warms my heart and access to information quickly is amazing. Setting timers for when I cook is easier. Asking about the weather or how long a drive to a certain location will be is very useful. The device can show me the doorbell camera, and turn on/off the lights in certain locations for me. I made sure the bulbs and doorbell were alexa compatible. I am able to watch some shows on the alexa while washing dishes and cooking. This device is very well rounded! Spotify is accessible on it and can be controlled using the Spotify app.

I'm not a techie at all so this isn't a review about that, but all it can do for me. Alexa reminds me of anything I want remembered. Wake up calls. What's the weather today. Reminds me to let dogs out, baking, jokes, math. spelling and on and on.......best friend for an old lady like me lol. Definitely recommend!

I can be at work and check my pets or if I think something is wrong or I forgot it. I can check by the camera. The sound is amazing for music

Mon fils aime bien tout ce que cette machine peut faire pour lui

Good

Hard to set up. Inconsistent performance. The Doorbell is difficult to program. I have had to use Google to find out how to make adjustments. Ultimately, the Ring support staff were helpful and they transferred me to Amazon Echo support. Otherwise, it was impossible to contact a live person at Amazon. It was difficult for me to determine if a feature is in the Ring or Echo APP. One reason I bought the unit was to have the picture appear on my Eco Show when someone rings the Doorbell. I found that this feature is not available in Canada. And when the view is called for, the pause for the live view to appear is long enough for the person to leave the porch. I have the unit programmed to record people only. During a rain storm, and a blizzard a few days later, the unit did not record some people activity that I saw, and did record “non” people activity.EG: It did record a pickup truck passing my house. A person put something in my mailbox, which is beside my porch, and the Doorbell only recorded them at the mailbox – not arriving or departing. The Doorbell is programmed to record for 90 seconds. I live on a cul de sac of 6 homes. It is a dead end. I often see recordings of people leaving (with a dog, say) and not returning, or returning from a walk, but not leaving. Of course, I don’t know if they are using their back yards. The Doorbell seldom records both the arrival and departure of people across the road when they arrive and depart by car, to visit the house there. It might record one of the two activities. I believe that I DO get recordings of everyone who gets on my porch. Video calls are often not connected, or dropped, and of poor quality.