Amazon's smart kitchen TV Review

When Amazon unveiled the new Echo Show models at the end of September, it was immediately apparent that the devices had undergone a significant transformation. The previous model from 2023 was quite bulky: a thick screen at the front, and behind it, an even thicker speaker that followed the screen's shape. Fortunately, that has now changed. The new fourth-generation Echo Show looks like something Apple fans dream of: a large speaker at the back and a slim tablet at the front. From the user's perspective, the screen appears to be floating.

The base itself has become more rounded. This allows for the integration of two broadband speakers, radiating sound to the left and right, along with the bass speaker. According to Amazon, these are supposed to produce "room-filling 3D audio." Indeed, the small box sounds quite spacious. However, this shouldn't be mistaken for authentic stereo sound. On the other hand, its appearance could be mistaken for Apple's HomePods: both are covered in a coarse plastic fabric.

The Echo Show comes in two sizes, but the base and its internal components are identical in both versions. The only difference is the screen: the Echo Show 8 has an 8.7-inch screen, while the Echo Show 11 boasts an 11-inch screen. Consequently, the price difference is minimal. The smaller model costs €200, while the higher one costs €40 more. Therefore, the intended use should be the primary factor in your purchasing decision. If you primarily intend to use the device as a mini-TV, you should opt for the 11-inch version. 

The boss in the smart home

Its image quality is perfectly adequate for everyday use. With a resolution of 1340 × 800 pixels, the display is very sharp, colors are vividly reproduced, and contrast is good. However, the backlighting appears somewhat uneven. It can't be compared to high-end tablets like iPads or Samsung's Galaxy Tab S, but those are also significantly more expensive and don't even have built-in speakers.

Amazon's smart displays are much more than just screens. Deep inside, they're also smart home hubs that support technologies like Zigbee, Matter, and Thread. Many network-enabled gadgets, from lights to door locks, can be integrated into the home network without needing a separate control centre.

It's no surprise, then, that you can bring up a smart home dashboard on your screen, displaying and controlling all accessible—and in my case, many no longer accessible—smart home devices. From here, you can control connected lights with a tap, check what your connected security cameras are recording, or see who just pressed the connected doorbell. This all assumes, of course, that you own such smart home gadgets and that they are compatible with Amazon's Alexa.

Music for Feeling Good

The sound is just as powerful as the Echo Show looks: powerful! Deep bass dominates the sound, which is otherwise characterized by sometimes slightly too bright highs and a bit subdued midrange. Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus will be right at home, while Genesis tracks from the early seventies might not be. As for volume, there's no need to worry: Amazon's brilliant display is designed for "casual listening," perfect for drowning out the range hood while cooking or listening to a podcast while chopping vegetables.

However, neither of these options is straightforward unless you're using Amazon's own music streaming service. While Spotify and Apple Music can be integrated, their functionality is limited. Besides a few playlists, such as Apple's "Top Recommendations" and Spotify's "For You" lists, the device always displays Amazon's own music offerings. 

A Sparse Video Section

The "TV and Videos" section is similarly sparse. Only Prime Video and Netflix are supported with native apps. YouTube, Disney+, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Red Bull TV are accessed via Amazon's Silk browser. This isn't very pleasant. A look at the browser's settings menu reveals few options. Here, you can select one of five search engines; Microsoft's Bing is the default. However, if you access the "Location" setting, you're informed that websites "generally use your location for relevant functions." Good to know, but not something you can disable.

Otherwise, watching videos is quite enjoyable, even on the relatively small screen. The picture quality is good, as mentioned above, and the sound is decent. It's perfectly adequate as a kitchen TV, for example, to watch a TV series while cooking or baking, or to watch a YouTube video on how to knead the perfect baguette.

A Half-Finished Picture Frame

Because it's a screen, the Echo Show can also be used as a digital picture frame. If you want to display your own photos, you have to upload them to Amazon Photos; this doesn't work with Google Photos or Apple Photos. However, you can also play images and photos curated by Amazon, if you like. The art collection offered is somewhat dated.

Conclusion

The new Echo Show is significantly better than its predecessors in many respects. The design has been substantially improved, the screens are decent, and the sound is impressive – even capable of providing the soundtrack for a kitchen party. The ability to use the bright display as a control center for gadgets from various manufacturers is a welcome bonus. Those just starting with home automation can save themselves the expense of many other smart home hubs. This should be factored into the already affordable price.

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