If you already agree with Alexa and have decided that you want a smart screen, a new offer on Amazon latest Echo Show 8 may be of interest. The 8-inch screen is currently marked down to $90 on Amazon. Aim, Best Buy and other retailers, matching the lowest price we've seen since the device was introduced last September. Amazon typically sells the smart display for $150, although we saw it drop to $105 for much of the holiday season. The Amazon offer also includes a Sengled color smart bulb at no additional cost. That bulb is compatible with the Matter smart home standard and we recommend a similar model in our guide to the best smart lights.
Amazon
This matches the best price we've tracked for the latest version of Amazon's 8-inch smart display and includes a smart bulb at no extra cost.
We haven't formally reviewed the latest Echo Show 8, but it's very similar to the 2021 second-generation model, which we previously called the best smart display for Alexa users. It still offers a 1280 x 800 resolution panel and a 13-megapixel front camera. The design is largely the same, although the rounded back of the new model is a little less pronounced and the front glass extends from edge to edge. Its front camera is also located in the center of the top edge, not to the right, making it a little more convenient for framing during video calls. Internally, there's an updated octa-core processor that should make it faster to complete Alexa requests, and the new model can work with other smart home devices that use the Zigbee and Thread protocols in addition to Matter. Amazon also promises improved sound quality, although you still shouldn't expect deep sub-bass or much headroom from a speaker as small as this one.
All of this should keep the Echo Show 8 as the sweet spot in Amazon's smart display lineup. It's not as affordable as the Echo Show 5, but it's faster and louder, with a superior camera and a roomier screen for displaying photos and making video calls. It's not as big as the Echo Show 10, but it's significantly less expensive and easier to fit into more rooms in the house. Either way, you can use it to check the weather, check recipes, or stream music, among other typical Alexa tasks. And while no smart display like this will be truly convenient for those who guard their privacy, the Echo Show 8 at least has a built-in camera cover and microphone mute button. Google's Nest Hub is still a better buy for those who use services like Gmail a lot. , Google Calendar and YouTube, and there are still questions about Alexa's long-term prospects, but this should be a solid deal if you're looking to build a smart home through Amazon's assistant.
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