Amazon shrinks Echo Show with new $90 5.5-inch model
Amazon has revealed a new model in its Echo product lineup, with the Echo Show 5 being a compact version of the original screen-based assistive device, this time equipped with a 5.5-inch display and a low price tag of $90.
The third Echo device to have a display following the larger stablemate the Echo Show and the circular Echo Spot, the Echo Show 5 is a more affordable version that provides the same functionality as the big-screen model, in a smaller frame and at a lower cost.
Like the original, the Echo Show 5 can be used to ask questions of Alexa, to control a smart home, and to perform the same automation and entertainment functions as one of Amazon's Echo speakers. This also includes connecting to various third party services, including Apple Music and Spotify for music streaming, audio books, and podcasts.
The visual nature also means the results of queries can appear on the display, as well as recipes and to-do lists, photographs, and a clock. The unit is also able to perform video calling and messaging with those using the Alexa app, an Echo device with a display, or Skype using its built in camera and microphone, and can even display a live video feed from the Ring Video Doorbell.
For privacy, it is possible to deactivate the camera and microphone with a button press, and an additional hardware slider can be put in place over the camera lens to ensure nothing visual can be captured by the device.
This time the Echo Show 5's 5.5-inch display has a resolution of 960 by 480, a step down from the 10.1-inch 1280 by 800 display in the larger model. The dual 10-Watt speakers with passive radiator and Dolby processing in the original has been exchanged for a single 4-Watt speaker, and the 5-megapixel camera has been replaced by a 1-megapixel shooter in the new version.
Released on June 26 in the United States, the Echo Show 5 is available to pre-order now at $89.99, less than half the price of the $229.99 Echo Show.
The third Echo device to have a display following the larger stablemate the Echo Show and the circular Echo Spot, the Echo Show 5 is a more affordable version that provides the same functionality as the big-screen model, in a smaller frame and at a lower cost.
Like the original, the Echo Show 5 can be used to ask questions of Alexa, to control a smart home, and to perform the same automation and entertainment functions as one of Amazon's Echo speakers. This also includes connecting to various third party services, including Apple Music and Spotify for music streaming, audio books, and podcasts.
The visual nature also means the results of queries can appear on the display, as well as recipes and to-do lists, photographs, and a clock. The unit is also able to perform video calling and messaging with those using the Alexa app, an Echo device with a display, or Skype using its built in camera and microphone, and can even display a live video feed from the Ring Video Doorbell.
For privacy, it is possible to deactivate the camera and microphone with a button press, and an additional hardware slider can be put in place over the camera lens to ensure nothing visual can be captured by the device.
This time the Echo Show 5's 5.5-inch display has a resolution of 960 by 480, a step down from the 10.1-inch 1280 by 800 display in the larger model. The dual 10-Watt speakers with passive radiator and Dolby processing in the original has been exchanged for a single 4-Watt speaker, and the 5-megapixel camera has been replaced by a 1-megapixel shooter in the new version.
Released on June 26 in the United States, the Echo Show 5 is available to pre-order now at $89.99, less than half the price of the $229.99 Echo Show.
Comments
2. Easy access to Alexa, which provides control of more devices than HomeKit.
3. Form factor preference. In a living room, a self-contained screen/stand/power supply may be preferred over a tablet on a stand. The size may also be a consideration.
4. Ease of use. It’s ready to go out of the box. It doesn’t require user setup and configuration to interact with Alexa-compatible devices.
2. What devices does Alexa control that HomeKit doesn’t?
4. So, I can buy one of these, bring it home and turn it on and it will control all the ‘smart home’ stuff in my house without me doing anything?
Everything requires some user setup, and this is
no exception. Setting up a new iPad is also simple.
Any device I could want is on HomeKit, and is more secure because of it. Google-owned Nest
is the only exception due to being anti-user, but even that still has an app.
I have mentioned before that a friend of mine has an Echo Dot in her kitchen that she primarily uses to listen to music and set the occasional timer. It sounds terrible. I mean terrible. I don’t know why anyone would buy such a thing just to listen to music through. Personally, I’d rather listen to no music than music through an Echo Dot. But it was cheap so she thinks it’s great. And I’m sure she isn’t alone.
4. Everything has some sort of setup, but linking smart home devices to Alexa is objectively easier than HomeKit, and it’s not very close.
And by the way, Apple could do well to enter this space. Imagine a “clock radio” with built-in FaceTime functionality for under $100. That could be a huge hit for Apple.
I’m curious, what is the setup process to add a smart home device to Alexa? It usually takes me less than 2 minutes to add a HomeKit device (not including installation, of course) and I don’t find it particularly time consuming or confusing. All I have to do is add the code in the Home app, name it and assign a room.
I imagine that Apple could make a bigger move into the home security area, perhaps by acquiring SimpliSafe or a company like it and rolling it in through HomeKit with Apple branding. Maybe I'm missing the obvious, but HomeKit feels like it's in a vapor locked state with insufficient third party product delivery and almost no Apple branded device options in the mix, other than Apple TV and iPad.
It may be price competitive to the Google Home Hub (Google Nest Hub) but by June I believe GHH will lower the price.
What I don’t like GHH is that it doesn’t have Chrome installed and can’t pair a Bluetooth keyboard. Can Amazon Shoe 5 better than a GHH?
How many of the previous iteration (the ugly, sharp-edged boxy one) did Amazon sell? What kind of numbers are we talking? Or revenue?
Please detail the number of steps of an Alex device vs a HK device, if it is objectively easier as you say. My HK devices were very easy - a camera-scanner, or worst case inputting a device ID.
Evolution. Remember when houses only had a single landline phone? In the kitchen? Then people starting putting phones in several rooms.... bedrooms, dens, etc. Remember when homes used to have a single television set in the living room? Then people starting putting TVs in several rooms... bedrooms, dens, kitchens, etc.
These "smart" home devices bring the experience to you, instead of you having to carry around an iPad to every room (unless you do?).
So, you may not want these devices, but many consumers will, because they bring convenience to where life happens.
The Spot was/is a little over priced at $130, but was recently on sale for $90.
On board, it's not if but when. I almost pulled the trigger on the $90 Spot but didn't, and I'm glad. I like this Show 5 and there's a space on my night stand with the 5's name on it. I'll read up some more on it. The Spot is cute (and it reminds me of my Cube speakers) but even at $90, I was on the fence.
A big plus for me would be the ability to illuminate the display as an alarm function, making it increasingly brighter like the many 'sunrise' lamps on the market, with and without an alarm sounding. That may already be a possibility with Alexa and/or IFTTT. So yeah, when not if for me too.
I like the integration with a doorbell camera. I'd like to see somebody make a good door viewer camera. There are some out there but they'er crap. I'd like a door viewer camera that looks like a basic $7 viewer, that could be monitored from a phone or a Show or Spot.