Amazon Echo Show (1st gen. 2017)

Amazon has made some notable changes to its mid-sized Alexa-enabled smart display with the Echo Show 8 bringing a sleeker design, better audio and some clever software tweaks that make it easier to use.

Great display ; Smart home control at your fingertips ; Excellent audio quality ; Can watch Amazon Prime Video

Relatively expensive ; Poor YouTube access

The Echo Show was a trend setter, but it's since been superseded by the new Amazon Echo Show Gen 2

Useful screen ; Video calling works well ; More intuitive than other Echo devices ; Best-sounding Echo so far

Expensive ; Not the best-looking thing

In many ways, the best Amazon Echo experience.

Alexa takes great advantage of the new touchscreen ; Music sounds great over the new speaker ; Echo Show does everything the original Echo does ; It'll get better over time as developers build skills for the touchscreen

Odd, angular design ; Low-resolution screen

Amazon essentially created a category with the Echo, and the Echo Show marks the first significant re-thinking of what a voice-activated home-hub can be. Ultimately, the screen isn't essential , but it proved to be very useful. And the improved speaker...

Easy to use ; Some Alexa features, like timers and lists, are better with visuals ; Plays videos and gives visual search results ; Lots of potential uses for an assistant with a screen

Skills still need some work ; No privacy shutter

Right now, the Echo Show’s on-screen features aren’t show-stoppers. We can see a lot of potential, though.

Awesome voice recognition ; Visually rich touchscreen ; Competent smart home hub

Speaker still sounds shallow ; Video calling is limited

The Echo Show is more of a fun, ancillary device than a necessity, like the Echo or the Dot. It adds value by combining devices you already have and ones you could buy at a lower price elsewhere – just look at the Amazon Echo Dot, for example. But all...

Touch screen useful for discovery, selecting suggested items, and controlling playback. Full range of Alexa features with visuals.

Limited touch control options. Dated design. Unimpressive audio quality and mediocre screen for the price.

Bottom Line: The Amazon Echo Show combines the Alexa voice assistant with a 7-inch touch screen and stereo speakers, but its smaller successor has proven to be a better experience.

Isn't trying to be a tablet ; Better sound than other smart speakers ; Video conferencing between Shows is easy

Not enough screen-enabled skills yet ; Could be better sound for the price ; Camera can't handle backlit rooms

Ask not what you must do for your gadget

Solid screen, microphone, and speakers. Alexa's way more useful when it can show you stuff. This is the kitchen TV you've been missing.

For an object in your home, Amazon sure built an ugly gadget. A lot of the screen's true usefulness is up to developers. Alexa is great, but nowhere near perfect yet.