Amazon All-new Echo Show 8

Smart screen displays new resolution

The new version of Amazon’s Echo Show 8 smart speaker/screen is a product for the times we live in. Its enhanced videocalling tools acknowledges how important online chats have become during the pandemic. The main change from the previous version is a serious improvement to the front-facing camera, even though it costs the same. It’s worth noting, however, that for video calls the Show 8 works well with Skype and Amazon’s services, but it doesn’t work with Zoom.

The previous Echo Show 8 had a one-megapixel camera, which has been

SPECIFICATIONS

Mediatek MT 8183 processor • 8in touchscreen • 13-megapixel camera with privacy cover • 2in neodymium speakers with passive bass radiator • Wi-fi 5 • Alexa voice assistant • 99x200x136mm (HXWXD) • 1.04kg • One-year warranty www.snipca.com/38892 upgraded significantly here to 13 megapixels, which shoots sharper, higher-quality video. Like the larger Echo Show 10 (see our review, Issue 602) it can pan and zoom to follow your face around if you move, though the Echo Show 8 does this digitally by zooming in on your face within the static frame of the existing camera, rather than rotating on its stand for a wider field of view (as the Show 10 does). It’s worth noting the smaller Echo Show 5 has also been updated, but this has a resolution of only two megapixels and doesn’t perform this zooming trick.

The screen measures eight inches across the diagonal, has a resolution of 1280x800 pixels, and is framed by chunky bezels. It sits on a wedge-shaped, fabric-covered speaker on a thick rubber base. It’s a practical design, but the screen can’t be tilted or adjusted. The display is touchsensitive, so you can access some functions without talking to Alexa.

The speaker is reasonably good quality but if you primarily want something to play music on, the latest non-screen Amazon Echo is better (£90 from www. snipca.com/38893).

VERDICT Has a much sharper screen than its predecessor and costs the same, but doesn’t work with Zoom ★★★★ ★

ALTERNATIVE Googleg Nest Hub Max £219 Has a larger 10in screen and works with Zoom, but the camera is only 6.5 megapixels