Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) Review: The Perfect Smart Display

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the sweet spot in Amazon's smart display lineup. With an 8-inch HD touchscreen, spatial audio, a centered 13MP camera, and a built-in smart home hub, it balances screen size, audio quality, and functionality better than any competitor. Now available at a discounted price of $99.99 following the release of the 4th generation model, it represents exceptional value for anyone building a smart home ecosystem.

Design: Modern, Elegant, and Unobtrusive

The Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) features a modern floating screen design with edge-to-edge glass that looks sleek on any countertop or nightstand. The fabric-wrapped speaker enclosure comes in Charcoal or Glacier White, blending seamlessly with any decor style. The centered camera is a significant upgrade from previous generations, providing a more natural video calling experience.

The device is compact enough to fit on a kitchen counter without dominating the space, yet large enough to comfortably view recipes, watch videos, or control smart home devices. The physical camera shutter and microphone mute button provide reassuring privacy controls.

Display: Vibrant HD for Every Task

The 8-inch HD touchscreen strikes the perfect balance between screen real estate and portability. It is large enough for video calls and watching content, but not so large that it becomes cumbersome. The display is bright and vibrant, with excellent viewing angles that make it easy to see from across the room.

Whether you are following a recipe tutorial, checking the weather forecast, or reviewing your Ring doorbell camera feed, the display provides crisp, clear visuals. The adaptive brightness automatically adjusts based on ambient lighting, ensuring optimal visibility without being too bright at night.

Audio: Spatial Audio That Fills the Room

Audio quality is where the Echo Show 8 truly shines. The spatial audio system delivers room-filling sound that far exceeds expectations for a device this size. Music sounds rich and balanced, with clear mids and surprisingly strong bass. The room adaptation technology analyzes the acoustics of your space and fine-tunes playback for optimal sound, ensuring consistent performance whether placed on a countertop or a bookshelf.

Streaming music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, or Spotify is a delight. The Echo Show 8 can also serve as a Bluetooth speaker for your phone, making it versatile beyond the Alexa ecosystem.

Video Calling: 13MP Camera with Auto-Framing

The 13MP camera with auto-framing is a standout feature. During video calls on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Amazon's native calling platform, the camera intelligently tracks your movement, keeping you centered in the frame. This is particularly useful in the kitchen when you are moving around while chatting with family or colleagues.

Noise reduction technology ensures your voice comes through clearly, even with background noise from cooking, washing dishes, or kids playing. The centered camera placement results in more natural eye contact during calls, a subtle but meaningful improvement over previous generations.

Alexa Performance: 40% Faster Responses

The improved processor in the 3rd Gen Echo Show 8 makes Alexa respond and execute requests 40% faster than the previous model. Commands like "Alexa, turn off the living room lights" or "Alexa, set a timer for 15 minutes" are executed almost instantly.

With Alexa+, you can chat naturally and flow freely between topics and requests. Alexa handles complex, multi-step routines effortlessly, controlling thousands of compatible smart home devices and services. The conversational AI feels more human-like, understanding context and follow-up questions without requiring you to repeat the wake word.

Smart Home Hub: All-in-One Control

The Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) includes a built-in smart home hub with support for Zigbee, Sidewalk, Thread, Bluetooth, and Matter standards. This eliminates the need for separate hubs for devices like Philips Hue lights, Yale smart locks, or Samsung SmartThings sensors.

The touchscreen interface makes controlling your smart home intuitive. You can view live camera feeds from Ring doorbells, adjust thermostats, dim lights, or lock doors with a simple tap. Customizable dashboards display all your devices at a glance, making home automation accessible even for non-tech-savvy users.

Entertainment: Streaming Made Simple

The Echo Show 8 excels as an entertainment device. Stream content from Prime Video, Netflix, Fire TV Channels, Hulu, Disney+, and more. The screen size is perfect for watching cooking shows in the kitchen, catching up on news in the morning, or enjoying YouTube videos while exercising.

Music and podcast playback is seamless, with the display showing album art, lyrics, and playback controls. The device integrates with Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and other popular streaming services.

Routines and Automation

The Echo Show 8 supports advanced routines that trigger based on voice commands, schedules, or sensor inputs. For example, you can create a "Good Morning" routine that displays the weather forecast, reads your calendar appointments, turns on smart lights, and starts your coffee maker, all with a single voice command or at a scheduled time.

Integration with the Echo Dot, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Stick, and other Alexa devices allows for whole-home automation. You can announce messages to all Echo devices, drop in on other rooms, or create synchronized multi-room audio setups.

Who Should Buy the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)?

The Echo Show 8 is ideal for:

• Smart home enthusiasts building a centralized control hub
• Families who want video calling and shared calendars
• Home cooks following recipe videos in the kitchen
• Content streamers seeking a compact entertainment display
• Alexa ecosystem users expanding their device network
• Budget-conscious buyers getting premium features at a discounted price

Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Echo Show 8: Voice vs Visual

Verdict: Get Echo Dot for budget voice control; upgrade to Echo Show 8 for visual smart home control and video calls.

Who Should NOT Buy the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)

Skip the Echo Show 8 if you:

• Want the latest features - The 4th Gen model is now available with more AI capabilities
• Prefer Google Assistant or Siri - Get Google Nest Hub or Apple HomePod instead
• Need a larger screen - Consider Echo Show 10 with 10.1" display and rotating screen
• Only need audio - Save money with Echo Dot 5th Gen ($49.99)
• Have privacy concerns about cameras - Get audio-only Echo devices

Frequently Asked Questions

Alternative Options to Consider

• Echo Dot 5th Gen - If you don't need a screen, save $50 ($49.99)
• Echo Show 8 (4th Gen) - Latest model with enhanced AI features ($149.99)
• Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) - For Google Assistant ecosystem ($99.99)
• Echo Show 10 - If you want a larger 10.1" rotating screen ($249.99)

Verdict

The Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the best smart display in Amazon's lineup. It balances screen size, audio quality, and smart home capabilities perfectly. The 13MP camera with auto-framing transforms video calls, the spatial audio delivers impressive sound, and the built-in smart home hub eliminates clutter.

At the discounted price of $99.99, it represents exceptional value. Whether you are controlling smart lights, video calling family, following recipes, or streaming entertainment, the Echo Show 8 handles it all with style and speed. It is the smart display every smart home deserves.