The Echo Show 8 has always been the size that makes the most sense: big enough to read a recipe from across the kitchen, small enough to live on a counter. The 2025 model keeps that idea and fixes the two things that held it back, the screen and the sound.
Screen and sound
The display grows to 8.7 inches with 15 per cent more viewing area than the 2023 model. Recipes, calendars and camera feeds are easier to read at a glance. Amazon also reworked the speakers: spatial audio, crisper vocals and up to twice the bass. It fills a kitchen for music and podcasts in a way the older Show 8 never quite managed.
Alexa+
This is the first Echo Show 8 built for Alexa+, Amazon's more conversational assistant. You can ask follow-up questions without repeating the wake word, plan meals around what you like, or ask it to find a specific photo. It is included with Prime; without Prime it is a paid service. Like any new assistant it is still improving, so expect the occasional misunderstanding.
Smart home and cameras
A built-in smart home hub lets compatible lights, plugs and sensors pair directly without a separate bridge. Camera feeds from doorbells and indoor cameras show up on screen, which makes it a natural companion to a Ring doorbell or a Blink camera. The Omnisense sensors can trigger routines based on presence or room temperature.
Video calls and privacy
The camera auto-frames and keeps you centred as you move around the kitchen. A single button disables the microphones and camera, and the indicator makes it obvious when they are off.
What owners report
Setup is quick and the screen and sound get consistent praise. The weak spot is software reliability: some owners report glitches or devices that need re-pairing. Keeping it updated and restarting it after major updates solves most of these.
Which Echo to buy
| If you want | Buy |
|---|---|
| A screen for recipes, calls and cameras | Echo Show 8 |
| Voice only, smallest price | Echo Dot |
| A bigger screen for the living room | Echo Show 11 |
Making it useful in the kitchen
A few habits turn it from a clock into a tool. Name your timers ("pasta timer", "oven timer") so several can run at once without confusion. Add items to the shopping list the moment you run out, and the list follows you to the Alexa app in the shop. Save recipes you like so you can ask for them later without searching again.
Set the home screen to show the information you glance at most: the calendar, the weather, or a rotating photo album when nobody is using it. Placing it at eye level on the counter, away from the hob and the sink, keeps the screen clean and the camera useful for calls.
Privacy settings worth checking
In the Alexa app you can review and delete voice recordings, choose how long they are kept, and turn off features you do not use. The physical button disables the microphones and camera completely, which is worth doing in a room where you want quiet. Guests can see at a glance when both are off.
Should you buy it?
Buy the Echo Show 8 if you want one screen in the kitchen for recipes, timers, music and video calls, especially if you already use Alexa. Skip it if you only need voice control, where an Echo Dot does the job for far less.
Key features
8.7-inch HD display
15% more viewing area than the 2023 Echo Show 8.
Spatial audio
Crisper vocals, a wider stage and up to twice the bass of the 2023 model.
AZ3 Pro chip
Faster responses and on-device processing for Alexa+.
Smart home hub
Pairs compatible lights, plugs and sensors without a separate hub.
Auto-framing camera
Keeps you centred on video calls, with zoom and noise reduction.
Privacy controls
A button disables the microphones and camera.
Pros & cons
What we like
- Bigger 8.7-inch screen that is easy to read across a room
- Much fuller sound than the previous model
- Built-in smart home hub, no separate bridge
- Auto-framing camera for video calls
- Physical switch to disable mics and camera
- Alexa+ included with Prime
What could be better
- Some owners report software glitches
- Best features lean on Amazon services
- Alexa+ costs extra without Prime
Specifications
Frequently asked questions
A larger 8.7-inch screen with 15% more viewing area, up to twice the bass, the faster AZ3 Pro chip and Alexa+ out of the box.
It is included with a Prime membership. Without Prime it is available as a paid monthly service.
For many devices, yes. It has a built-in hub, so compatible lights and plugs can pair directly.
Yes. Compatible camera feeds can be viewed on the screen or by asking Alexa.
Yes. The screen is large enough to follow step-by-step recipes from across the counter, and timers and shopping lists are voice-controlled.
Press the microphone and camera button. The indicator shows when they are off.
Final verdict
The best-sized Echo screen for a kitchen or desk, with sound that finally matches the display. Alexa+ is the headline, and it rewards patience.
What owners report
Gathered from what long-term owners consistently say, not from a single test.
Setup is described as quick and the screen as clear and large enough for several people to see from across a room. Sound quality gets consistent praise. The weak spot owners report is reliability of the software and connections: some units work perfectly out of the box, while others describe glitches or smart devices dropping off until they are re-paired.
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