Amazon Echo Show Reviews: New Alexa Speaker Benefits From Screen

Amazon’s Echo lineup of smart home speakers traditionally has looked the same as any traditional speaker, but its latest update significantly shakes up Amazon’s popular product lineup. The Echo Show is the newest Alexa-powered speaker for the online retailer, and unlike past models, the Show includes a touchscreen and camera.

Around the web, reviewers have generally been fans of the new hybrid smart speaker though some are hesitant about its major features.

Read: Amazon Echo Vs. Apple HomePod: Which Device Do Consumers Want?

Externally, the Echo is anchored around a 7-inch display that shows information like the weather, song lyrics and menus. You can also use the screen and camera to make video calls with other users or watch TV shows and other video content.

However, numerous reviewers dinged the Echo Show for its plain design. While the standard Echo and Echo Dot have shared a minimal cylindrical design, the Show has a plain rectangular design in white or black finishes and has a large speaker bar below its screen. At Wired, reviewer David Pierce wasn’t a fan of the Show’s appearance, comparing it to the bulkiness to an old television.

However, using the screen on the Show has generally been a much better experience. While Amazon’s Alexa has traditionally been a voice-reliant system, Amazon has taken steps to make the virtual assistant work just as well with a visual component.

Engadget reviewer Nathan Ingraham pointed out the benefits of pairing up Alexa with a physical screen. In testing, Engadget found it easier to get updates for such things as weather or to-do lists since you can both request and see the information. This also carries over to other applications like playing music where Alexa automatically will number items like albums or playlists to make voice commands easier. In these instances, you can simply call out the selection number to Alexa and the assistant will play what you request.

Read: Amazon Will Release New Echo Featuring Touchscreen, Video Calling

At the same time, the first-generation Show feels awkward in other areas. New York Times reviewer Brian X. Chen said for many of the Show’s big features — like video chatting, playing music or getting recipes — you could simply use a traditional tablet or smartphone. The Times found although the Show works reasonably well as a stationary intercom-tablet hybrid, it will likely offer the biggest upside to homes that already are in the Alexa ecosystem with devices like the standard Echo.

Similarly, reviewer Ed Baig at USA Today pointed out the relatively early state of the Show’s software. The Echo comes with some strong features out of the box like integrated support for home security cameras from manufacturers like Nest and Ring. But at launch, USA Today noted relatively few skills — Amazon’s term for Alexa features — have been optimized to take advantage of the Show’s screen.

The Amazon Echo Show retails for $229 and is available now.