Amazon’s hosting its big device-focused event for 2023 today, where the company usually takes the stage for a whirlwind hour filled with new gadgets ahead of the holiday season. While today’s event is focused on big upgrades to Alexa — it is the year of AI, after all — it didn’t take long for the company to unveil its first big refresh. Amazon isdelivering a new Echo smart display, and you won’t have to wait too long to get your hands on it.
This is the third-gen Echo Show 8, andfor its first update since 2021, the company is adding some crucial new features. It’s got a slightly refined look, complete with a newly centered camera that should make it easier to place calls without appearing to look awkwardly off-camera. Considering Google is effectivelyshuttering the ability to make video calls on the Nest Hub Max, Amazon’s decision here couldn’t have come at a better time. The company says background noise should be minimized as well, though I can’t imagine how much that really matters in a home.
Under the hood, Amazon is using a faster processor for improved performance, specifically when interacting with the display. Sound-wise, you’ll find the industry’s latest buzzword here — spatial audio — alongside room adaption technology that Amazon says should make it a betterspeakeroverall. By sensing the acoustics of your house, the Echo Show 8 will automatically adjust your music playback for better sound.
As for its smart home features, the Echo Show 8 now uses a new adaptive home screen that adjusts depending on contextual situations — think news headlines, the time, or much more. We’ve seen this sort of thing on Google’s hardware, as my kitchen-based Nest Hub Max automatically senses when I’m approaching to change what’s on screen, but Amazon is really pushing that experience here. This Echo also acts as a smart home hub with Matter support, which should make it futureproof as the standard continues to see adoption.
Amazon’s latest Echo Show 8 is hitting store shelves next month, but it’s up for pre-order today. It can be yours for $150, a $20 price bump over the last-gen model, but considering Amazon has a big sale planned for next month — not to mention Black Friday — expect to see it on sale before the end of the year.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen, 2023)
Amazon’s third-gen Echo Show 8 looks to improve on its predecessor in nearly every way. Spatial audio support ups its quality as a speaker, while a centered camera makes it more viable for video calls. It’s also a better hub than ever for controlling your smart home, and features an improved Alexa that should be better than ever for voice commands.
