Amazon's Echo Show 8 can be a good option for people looking for an affordable smart display that is capable of more than playing music. This is also a great option for those who can live with the mediocre display and auto-frame video camera.
The Echo Show 8 has an 8-inch touchscreen with a resolution that isn't the highest of all Echo devices, but it is still bright and clear enough to view most media. There is also a 13 megapixel camera that has a large field of view. It can frame your subject for you automatically, and the tracking feature keeps you in the picture when you make video call.
Alexa allows you to easily control your music, movies and TV shows with voice commands. You can watch TV shows and movies on Amazon Prime Video, or ask it to play your favorite music from Amazon Music, Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Music, Hungama Music, Gaana, or other services.
You can also add widgets that give your Echo device a more personal touch. Weather, calendars and fun sticky notes are all included. Each of these widgets is easy to create and can be easily added with a simple command. These widgets may not be as customizable on other Echo devices but they're a great tool to personalize the smart home experience.
The voice-activation feature can be turned off by using the microphone mute button, which is located on the right side of your device. You can also use the microphone mutes button on the right-hand side of the device to mute your camera when not in use.
The device can be controlled by your Android or iOS phone, the Amazon App or any Bluetooth enabled device. You can use an Echo Show in conjunction with a compatible Bluetooth speaker to create a stereo set and add additional bass and treble.
You can use a Show in conjunction with other Amazon Echo devices which support Alexa video calling. That way, you can talk to your family and friends right from the comfort of your living room. This feature is especially useful when video calling remote coworkers and friends who do not have a Show.
Sound Quality
The echo show 8 has a good sound, but at low volumes it is a little bass-heavy. It is possible to overcome this problem by either playing your favourite music louder or by changing the volume in the Alexa application on your smartphone.
It's disappointing that this device is not equipped with an auxiliary port of 3.5 millimeters to connect external speakers. This is a pity, because it would've been more versatile.
The echo show 8 requires an Amazon Account to be used. Alexa is available on iPhones and Android devices.