Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) Review: a solid smart screen for Alexa users, with a few annoying quirks

I’ve been using the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen, 2023) in my kitchen for a few weeks now, and it’s the first smart display I don’t just forget about after two days. It sits on the counter next to the coffee machine and basically runs in the background: clock, weather, music, timers, quick news, all that stuff. I already had a couple of Echo Dots, so this was more about adding a screen than discovering Alexa from scratch.

Right away, the thing that stood out is how simple the setup is. I plugged it in, logged into my Amazon account, and most of my smart home stuff (lights, plugs, a camera) synced automatically. No messing around with hubs or extra apps for half of it, since this version has Zigbee, Matter and Thread built in. For someone who’s already in the Alexa ecosystem, it’s almost plug-and-play.

Day to day, I mostly use it for music, timers, and recipes. That’s the honest reality. All the marketing about spatial audio and adaptive content is fine, but in practice, I’m shouting “Alexa, set a 10‑minute timer” with flour on my hands or “Alexa, next step” while cooking. The screen helps a lot for that kind of thing, especially recipes and seeing what’s playing.

It’s not perfect though. The home screen is pretty busy, Amazon likes to push its own content, and some settings are buried. The camera is decent for video calls, but not the kind of thing that makes you go “wow”. Overall, it gets the job done, feels pretty solid for the price, but you need to be okay with Amazon being very present in your daily life.

In terms of value, I think the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) hits a decent sweet spot. It’s not the cheapest Echo, but compared to buying a separate smart speaker, hub, and some kind of small screen, this combo is pretty reasonable. You get a good-sized display, better sound than a Dot, and a built-in smart home hub that supports Zigbee, Matter, and Thread. For someone starting or expanding an Alexa setup, that’s a lot in one box.

Where the value really shows is if you’re already using Alexa routines, smart bulbs, and cameras. Then this device becomes a central control panel and feels worth the money. Being able to see camera feeds, manage multiple rooms, and get visual feedback on routines without grabbing your phone every time is genuinely useful. For me, that cut down on the number of times I had to open different apps.

If you’re not deep into the Amazon ecosystem, the value is more questionable. A basic tablet plus a Bluetooth speaker could give you more flexibility, especially if you want to use other video call apps or have more control over what’s on screen. Also, you’ll probably want to pay for at least one streaming service (Spotify, Amazon Music, Netflix, etc.) to get the most out of it, which adds to the overall cost of ownership.

Overall, I’d say it’s good value for money if you: already use Alexa, have or plan to have smart home gear, and like the idea of a fixed screen in the kitchen/bedroom. If you just need a speaker, a regular Echo or Echo Dot will be cheaper. If you want a full entertainment device, a tablet is more versatile. This sits nicely in the middle for people who specifically want a smart display tied into Alexa.

Design-wise, the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is pretty basic and practical. It’s a wedge-shaped block with an 8" screen on the front and a fabric-covered back. Mine is the Charcoal version, which is just dark grey and blends in fine on a counter or bedside table. It’s not a design piece you’re going to show off, but it doesn’t look cheap either.

The footprint is roughly 200 x 139 x 106 mm and about 1 kg. On the counter, it feels stable and doesn’t slide around when you tap the screen. Because of the wedge shape, it’s already tilted at a comfortable viewing angle, so you don’t need a stand. I can see the screen clearly when I’m standing, and my partner can see it fine when sitting at the table. No need to keep adjusting it.

On the top edge, you’ve got the physical camera cover switch, the volume buttons, and the mic/camera off button. The camera cover is a simple sliding shutter you can see from across the room, which is reassuring if you’re a bit paranoid about that. I like having a real piece of plastic blocking the lens instead of just trusting software.

The downside of the design is that it’s still a bit bulky. On a crowded kitchen counter, it takes up more space than a simple smart speaker, and you do need to plan where the cable will run. Also, the bezels around the screen are not tiny, so it doesn’t have that modern “edge-to-edge” look. For the price, I think it’s fine: simple, functional, and you forget about it after a few days, which is kind of the point.

On the build quality side, the Echo Show 8 feels more solid than I expected. It’s about 1 kg, so when you tap the screen it doesn’t wobble or feel hollow. The plastic and fabric don’t feel premium, but they don’t feel cheap either. After a few weeks in a pretty rough kitchen environment (steam, grease flying around, kids poking it), it still looks new after a quick wipe with a cloth.

The buttons and camera cover are reassuring. The volume buttons have a clear click, the mic/camera off button works instantly and lights up red, and the physical shutter for the camera slides smoothly and doesn’t feel loose. I’ve opened and closed it a lot just out of habit, and there’s no sign it’s wearing out quickly. For something that will probably be used dozens of times a day, that matters.

Obviously, this is not a rugged device. There’s no water resistance rating, and I wouldn’t put it right next to a sink or anywhere it might get splashed a lot. But for regular indoor use on a counter, shelf, or bedside table, it feels like it’s built to last a few years without drama. The weight and rubber on the base keep it stable, so it’s not easy to knock over by accident unless you really hit it.

Amazon mentions at least four years of security updates after it stops being sold new, which is decent. It doesn’t guarantee the thing will never slow down or feel outdated, but at least you know it’ll stay safe for a while. Overall, I’d say durability is pretty solid for the price: not bulletproof, but good enough that I’m not babying it, and I’m not worried about it dying after a year.

In terms of speed, this 3rd Gen Show 8 feels snappier than older Echo devices I’ve tried. The Octa-Core SoC with the Amazon AZ2 chip basically means Alexa responds quickly and the interface doesn’t lag much. When I say “Alexa, show me the front door camera”, the feed pops up in a few seconds. Swiping through menus is smooth enough, not tablet-level smooth, but good for a smart display.

The 8" HD touchscreen is decent. Text is sharp, colours are fine, and brightness is strong enough for a bright kitchen. I haven’t had issues reading recipes even with sunlight coming in. Viewing angles are wide: I can stand off to the side and still see what’s on screen. It’s not a high-end tablet display, but for checking the weather, watching a YouTube video in the browser, or catching a bit of Netflix/Prime Video, it does the job well.

The sound is where this model is clearly better than a Dot. The two 2" drivers with a passive radiator give you decent bass for a small box. At low volumes, like background music while cooking, it sounds clear but a bit thin, like one of the Amazon reviewers mentioned. Once you crank it up to medium or higher, it fills a room pretty well and feels fuller. Don’t expect real hi-fi, but for a kitchen, bedroom, or office, it’s more than enough. I’ve run Spotify and radio on it for hours without feeling the need to switch to another speaker.

Voice recognition is also pretty reliable. Even with the extractor fan on and music playing, it usually picks up the wake word and commands on the first try, as long as I’m not mumbling from the other end of the house. The only annoyance is sometimes it feels a bit too eager and answers from the Show instead of another Echo in another room, but that’s more of an Alexa ecosystem quirk than this device specifically.

On paper, the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is an 8-inch HD smart display with spatial audio, a 13 MP camera, and a built-in smart home hub (Zigbee + Matter + Thread). In practice, it’s basically a smart alarm clock / mini TV / speaker / video phone that sits on a shelf and waits for you to talk to it. If you’ve used any Echo device before, this is just Alexa with a face.

My use has broken down like this most days:

• 40% music and radio (Spotify and Amazon Music)
• 30% timers, reminders, shopping lists
• 20% smart home controls (lights, plugs, cameras)
• 10% video stuff (Prime Video, YouTube via browser, a couple of video calls)

The new Adaptive Content thing basically means the screen changes depending on how close you are. When I walk past from a distance, I see big clock, weather, maybe a photo. When I’m closer, it starts showing news cards, suggestions, and widgets. It’s handy, but sometimes it shows random tips or promos I don’t care about. You can tweak some of it, but not fully wipe all the Amazon noise.

The built-in smart home hub is the part that quietly makes a difference. I connected a couple of Zigbee bulbs and a sensor directly to it, no extra hub. Routines based on motion (when I walk into the kitchen, lights on, radio on low volume) work pretty reliably. If you’re just starting with smart home, this simplifies things. If you’re already running everything off a separate hub (like Home Assistant or Hue), it’s less of a big deal, but still nice to have as a backup.

For me, the real test of a gadget is: do I actually use it without forcing myself? With the Echo Show 8, the answer is yes. It’s become the central “information board” at home. I check the weather in the morning, start music, see calendar events, and yell at it for timers all day. After a week, I realised I was using my phone less for basic stuff, which is exactly what I wanted.

The smart home control is where it really helps. Instead of opening an app, I just say “Alexa, dim the living room lights to 40%” or tap the tile on the screen. The built-in hub meant I could add a Zigbee bulb straight to it without extra hardware. Routines based on movement are handy: when I walk into the kitchen after 7pm, lights go on and a radio station starts at low volume. It’s not perfect 100% of the time, but it’s consistent enough that I trust it.

Video calling is usable but not mind-blowing. The 13 MP camera with auto-framing keeps me in the centre when I move around, which is nice if I’m cooking and talking to family. Sound on calls is clear, and the person on the other side hears me fine. But this only really shines if the other person also has an Echo Show or at least the Alexa app. If your friends all use WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Zoom, you’ll probably still use your phone for most calls.

Where it’s less effective is the “extra” stuff. The news cards, random suggestions, and some widgets feel a bit cluttered. You can customise a bit, but not fully. Also, the touch interface is just okay: it works, but compared to a tablet or phone, it feels slightly slower and more basic. So if you’re buying this to use as a mini tablet, you’ll be disappointed. If you want a hands-free helper with a screen that handles the boring daily tasks, it’s pretty solid.