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- Is it worth buying AMAZON Echo Show 8? Read this review before buying
Is it worth buying AMAZON Echo Show 8? Read this review before buying
Is it worth buying AMAZON Echo Show 8?What can Echo Show 8 do for your smart health home project?Read this AMAZON Echo Show 8 to find the answers.
After the first Echo Show (10 “screen) and then the Echo Show 5 (5.5” screen), Amazon launches the Echo Show 8. Only the diagonal of this smart display changes. For the rest, the overall functionality and performance are identical in every respect.
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The essential to remember
Let’s be clear: the only difference between the Echo Show 8 and the 2nd generation Show lies in the touch screen which goes to 8 inches on the Show 8, against 10 inches for its predecessor, for a definition of 1280 x 800 pixels.
Our colorimetry and reflectance measurements are almost identical (Delta E of 4.2 against 4.7 for the 2nd generation Show). To learn more about this point, we advise you to read the news lab dedicated to its screen.
In terms of functionality, the Echo Show 8 offers the same video content, namely, watching news channels continuously or accessing films and series on Amazon Prime Video or even making video conference calls via Skype.
The touch screen allows, among other things, to collect and associate the connected objects of the house, a function that is found in particular on the Google Nest Hub. However, the Echo Show also acts as a digital photo frame when it is in standby. The voice recognition offered by this smart display is of the same level as that of the 2nd generation Echo Show, namely very satisfactory.
We interact very naturally with Alexa in a calm environment: the assistant is triggered and understands our requests without problem, whether in the same room or in a nearby room, and this without ever having to force on the volume of our voice . Surrounding noises (conversations, background music, noises from a microwave or oven …) do not complicate Alexa’s task, as long as we stay a few meters from the device. Things get a little tough when the speaker is making sound itself, but nothing unusual.
No miracle in terms of sound reproduction. The Echo Show 8 is also based on the 2nd generation Echo Show, the rendering of the stereophonic scene is good, especially with a very nice width. This positive aspect is unfortunately quickly sealed by a blatant lack of precision and a very unbalanced response. The low and low mids are frankly too highlighted and pollute the rest of the spectrum. The treble is almost absent, thus reinforcing the omnipresence of the low and low mids. The reproduction system struggles to reproduce voices (they seem to be muffled), even for simple voice communication. We would have liked to be able to save the furniture with the integrated 3-band equalizer, but this is hardly lost as its effect on the rendering is almost imperceptible …
Design and features of the Amazon Echo Show 8
If the screen of the first Echo Show was only 7 inches, its angular and bulky design was really not a success. The second generation 10 inch model offered a more streamlined design. However, the Google Nest Hub, launched at the same time, was clearly more attractive with its 7-inch screen and a better finished design.
8 inch or 20 cm diagonal screenDimensions 20 cm x 13.5 cm x 9.9 cm for 1 kg.1 MP cameraWIFI connectionAudio with 2 52mm speakersNevertheless, with the Show 8 Amazon is back in the race. With the same resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels as the Show 10, however, it is not Full HD.
Good thing, like Show 5, you find the physical shutter to hide the camera and the button to mute the microphone. Guaranteed privacy.
The good surprise comes from the sound of the Echo Show 8
Amazon installed a pair of 2-inch speakers in the Show 8, which are just a bit smaller than the 10-inch speakers. Result: the sound is surprisingly good, significantly better than on Show 5.
In addition, you can change the equalization settings from the app when you turn up the volume.
Karaoke with the lyrics display on the screen.
The Poor Support for Streaming SourcesUnfortunately, this is where the Echo Show 8 is currently lacking. The main services are currently limited to Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and NBC. But, no Netflix or HBO.
Video Prime (included in Amazon Prime subscription – 30 day free trial)YoutubeAccess TV channels with the Molotv Tv skillWatch clips on Vevo,Video calls compatible with Skype (fairly limited free offer).Audio or audio video calls with your contacts with the Alexa app on their smartphone, an Amazon Echo speaker or one of the Alexa built-in speakers.In the US: NBC, BBC iPlayer.Too bad for those who enjoy cooking with a Netflix series.
But the most frustrating is the YouTube experience, which only works inside a browser and is awkward at best, boring at worst. Despite the fact that Amazon and Google have reconciled somewhat, the YouTube app has still not arrived on Echo Show devices.
In addition, Alexa tends to not understand a generic search request from YouTube. This means that it will treat any request as a video search rather than a general question. You will therefore have to exit the YouTube browser to access a standard search.
The center of your smart health home connected with the Echo Show 8
From Echo Show 8 you can control more than 20,000 connected devices from 3,500 different brands with your voice.
The particular advantage of the Echo Show range is that you can combine it with surveillance cameras (indoor, outdoor and baby surveillance camera), but also connected video doorbells. So you can see and talk with the person who rings at your door or monitor the children from the screen of your Echo Show.
Now, in addition to giving voice commands to Alexa, you can turn off your lights using the touchscreen controls directly on the screen. You can also view the temperature of your connected thermostat or quickly access recently used devices.
Best Price
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CONCLUSION
The Amazon Echo Show 8 is a good alternative to the small screen of Show 5 and the big one of the second generation Show. If the Echo Show 8 offers features similar to those of the 2nd generation Show, its 8 inch screen is less comfortable for watching movies or series. On the audio side, we always salute the delicacy of the voice recognition and we continue to deplore the poor quality of sound reproduction of the speakers.