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The Amazon Echo Show has always struggled with a mild identity crisis. Until now, it was easy to classify it as an “Amazon Echo with a screen”, although new models in different sizes have appeared in the past two years.
But the company made a big leap with the third generation of Echo Show 10. Its new design and Amazon’s continued focus on improving the overall user experience made this smart speaker look new and differentiate itself in a crowded field.
As they say, the third time is charm.
The Echo Show’s rotating base keeps its front and center screen at all times
Brandt Ranj / Rolling Stone
The first thing you will notice about Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) is its new design. The 10-inch HD screen is connected to a cradle that looks like a smaller version of your Echo Studio speaker. This new look looks modern and raises the screen off the floor, making it easier to see when you’re standing. I tested a few generations of the Echo Show and this is a very welcome improvement.
Amazon didn’t just make this change for aesthetic reasons, it’s because the base of the Echo Show 10 can rotate, keeping the screen pointed at you at all times. This feature is enabled by the Echo Show’s 13 megapixel camera, which can track your movements and turn the smart speaker towards you.
In my experience, this feature worked surprisingly well. The Echo Show would adjust in real time as I walked around it, stopping when I took a break, continuing when I took my next steps. If you’re concerned about privacy, don’t worry, you can completely disable this feature by closing the Echo Show’s physical camera shutter.
Brandt Ranj / Rolling Stone
The rotation feature of the Echo Show is designed to support two of the device’s great features: watching videos and making video calls. I am waiting for an update from Amazon promising support for video calls on Amazon Chime and Zoom to test this feature, but I have some experience watching videos on the device.
I admit, keeping the videos on a board while walking around the kitchen collecting and washing dishes was very helpful, and a better experience than trying to find the right place to support my phone. Amazon’s smart speaker comes with pre-installed apps for services like Netflix and Hulu, so you can ask Alexa to watch your favorite shows without touching the screen.
If you want to watch YouTube, you will need to use the mobile version of Silk (Amazon browser) or Firefox. You can still say “Alexa, open YouTube”, but the experience of tapping and typing on the screen is a little frustrating. Still, some previous versions of the Echo Show were unable to play YouTube videos, so this is an improvement.
Overall, I’m a huge fan of the new Echo Show 10 design, but I wish Amazon had chosen to build a full HD screen instead of having a 720P screen. It looks good, but I noticed a clear difference in the video quality of the TV shows and YouTube clips I watched.
Its new audio system creates crystal clear and immersive sound
Brandt Ranj / Rolling Stone
The third generation Echo Show has the same triple driver audio system as the latest Amazon Echo and offers excellent performance.
The medium-sized bass woofer and double tweeters controlled the start of Led Zeppelin Stunned and confused smoothly. Robert Plant’s vocals and John Paul Jones’s bass were clear and distinct. The sharp guitar and synthesizers at Pulp’s Common people were equally clear, although the chaotic choruses could be a little cloudy at the higher volume setting
I generally kept the volume at 50% or 60% and had no problem listening to music anywhere in a large open kitchen. If you plan to use Echo Show in your room or office, you will probably be able to hear around 40%. Although it is a single speaker, the Echo Show did a good job of showing the stereo separation, which was a great bonus.
Although Echo Show plays music from Amazon Music by default, you can link your Spotify or Apple Music account in the Alexa app on your phone. Once connected, you can configure Echo Show to use these services as your primary music source. You also have the option of asking Echo Show to enter Bluetooth pairing mode and connect your phone, tablet or computer to it like any other speaker. I connected my iPhone and MacBook Pro to the Echo Show without any problems.
Amazon used to be criticized for making smart speakers that didn’t sound great, but recently they’ve taken a giant leap. In the end, I really preferred to listen to music on the Echo Show than on the Echo Studio, which is geared towards audiophiles. One of my favorite little features is that the Echo Show displays the lyrics of the song that you are listening to.
It is possible to use the Echo program almost completely without using your hands, thanks to Alexa
Brandt Ranj / Rolling Stone
One of the biggest selling points of the Echo Show is that Alexa, Amazon’s intelligent assistant, is very capable. This smart speaker has a 10-inch touchscreen, but I hardly used it during my tests (with the exception of YouTube) because Alexa allowed me to handle almost everything with my hands free.
I could set a timer, ask to play a specific TV show on a streaming service (Development held on Netflix and Sponge Bob Square Pants on Amazon Prime Video), download and install the Apple Music skill, get a news report and see a five-day weather forecast without even a tap.
Alexa was so good at answering my questions that it was a little frustrating when she failed. I asked about local pizzerias and the Echo Show showed a list of local restaurants. I kept asking for more information about the first restaurant on the list and was greeted with silence. Situations like this stand out because Alexa is usually very good at doing things the right way.
Although I didn’t have to touch the screen much, it worked very well when I did it. The Echo Show displays news clips with a giant play button and they start after a quick tap. You can swipe from top to bottom on the screen to access system settings, such as brightness, and to the left, on the right side of the screen to set a timer, access your music or check your smart home accessories.
Alexa’s advantage over rival smart assistants keeps the Echo Show one step ahead of the competition. If you are buying your first smart speaker, this is an important point in favor of the Echo Show. It is capable from the start, but you can expand its functionality by downloading skills from third parties.
In short: The Echo Show (3rd generation) is the best smart speaker with a screen
Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) removes most of the edges present in previous versions, while introducing some useful features along the way. It will work well anywhere, but I had the best experiences with him in the kitchen, a central place where I spend a lot of time.
It’s probably a little big for a bedside table – that’s what Echo Show 5 is for – but it fits perfectly on a medium-sized table. If you are on the fence about getting a smart speaker with a screen and already have an Echo speaker in your home, the Echo Show is a no-brainer. After spending time with him, I can also recommend him to anyone who is using a competing smart speaker and is thinking about making the switch.