Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025) review

Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025): Introduction

More than just an iterative improvement to the Echo Show 8 (3)^rd The new Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025) has a completely reimagined form factor with better audio and a faster processor.

A clear upgrade from the previous model, it’s the best smart display you can buy, although it’s a bit pricey compared to previous models.

design and components

Rather than tweaking the old Echo Show, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025) uses a completely different design, with a rounded base on the back that looks a bit like the Echo Studio (2025).

Available in two colors: Graphite or Glacier White, there’s plenty of choice to find the one that best suits your decor and taste.

An 8-inch screen rises from this base. This is a great effect, making the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025) a better fit in your home and much more stylish than older models.

The screen looks like it can be adjusted, but it’s not. The screen is angled to suit most uses, but if you want to adjust it, an optional stand is available that is compatible with this model and the larger 11-inch version.

There is a power input on the back. As is common with Echo speakers, there are no line outs or other ports.

On the right side, you’ll find physical controls such as volume and a mute button to turn off the camera and microphone. It’s a shame that there’s no longer a slider to move the shutter across the webcam.

Features

Like Amazon’s other recent Echo smart speakers, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025) is built for Alexa+, and you can get Alexa+ if you’re in the US. The new voice assistant is not available in the UK.

Under the hood, it’s powered by an AZ3 Pro processor with AI accelerator for faster Alexa responses. Additionally, it’s better able to respond to speaker requests and pick up my tweets to Alexa.

As a smart display, Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025) can do more than provide voice responses. You can view additional information such as upcoming weather by requesting the current report.

When on standby, the screen displays additional information such as news headlines and tips. It’s always worth going to the settings menu and turning off options you don’t need.

It has built-in visual ID, which uses the camera to recognize familiar faces and display customized information, such as a person’s upcoming events. Visual ID now works across multiple devices, so you can enroll once and use your profile on any compatible Echo Show device.

The display also enhances smart home controls. For example, when you turn on the lights with your voice, touch controls appear on the screen to adjust the brightness. For me, the Echo Show series offers the best Alexa experience overall.

Widgets are available to display recently played music tracks and calendars. There aren’t that many widgets to choose from, and some of them aren’t very good. I don’t like the smart home one because it pulls in devices I mark as favorites. That seems fine, but I need one set of devices as office devices. Your other devices should now appear on your Echo Show in the kitchen.

The smart home section provides quick access to your devices, but the controls can be confusing. You can turn all the lights in your office on or off and adjust their brightness with sliders, but you have to change the color and temperature of all the bulbs one at a time.

Echo Show 8 integrates Zigbee, Thread, and is compatible with Matter, making it easy to add and control smart devices. Stream video from supported cameras and answer your Ring doorbell directly from your device.

Omnisense uses advanced ultrasound for better detection than standard motion sensors, and combines cameras and presence sensors for smarter automation, like turning on a heater only when someone is present.

Omnisense also enables adaptive content, so the display shows slideshows from a distance and widgets from up close.

The Echo Show 8 plays videos through some apps like Prime Video and Netflix, but services like Disney+ and YouTube are only available through the built-in browser.

Sound and video quality

Amazon has enhanced the audio capabilities of this smart speaker compared to the previous version. Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025) has dual full-range drivers, plus a 2.8-inch woofer. This configuration is powerful and provides great audio.

A dedicated woofer improves bass response compared to previous models. When playing bass-heavy tracks like OK Go’s This Too Shall Pass, the Echo Show 8 maintains controlled bass output up to about 75% volume. Below this level, the device delivers considerable impact and depth. However, at higher volumes, you will experience some distortion and harshness.

Stereo speakers help reproduce detail, especially on some tracks. For example, Enough Space by the Foo Fighters has a guitar intro that swirls from left to right, making it useful for testing stereo separation. You won’t get the perfect stereo separation like you would with discrete speakers, but the swirl effect is clearly present.

The Echo Show 8 is pretty good when it comes to watching TV and movies on Netflix. The 1340 x 800 resolution is perfectly fine considering the screen size, with plenty of sharpness and detail.

Although it does not support HDR, the image quality is quite good. The screen is bright and evenly lit, and colors are vibrant, but blacks approach gray. Thanks to the woofer, the audio does not lag and can convey shocks such as gunshots.

Realistically, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025) is probably too small for dedicated movie viewing, but it’s useful for watching some TV shows.

Finally, there is a 13MP webcam on the front with auto-framing and tracking. If you like making video calls between Echo devices, it works very well.

final thoughts

Although considerably more expensive than previous models, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th generation, 2025) is worth it. Compatible with Alexa+ and upgraded audio is perfect for music.

Overall, this is the best smart display available and a worthy upgrade for anyone running one of the older models.

Test method

When we publish a review, you can rest assured that it is the result of long-term testing.

Smart displays typically exist within an ecosystem, or set of products that all work together in harmony. It is also designed to offer a variety of cleaning options. Therefore, it is impossible to use a smart display for a week and make a judgment.

We test smart home kits all day every day, so we know what’s important and how a particular smart vacuum compares to the alternatives you’re considering.

Our reviews are comprehensive, objective, and unbiased, and of course, we don’t receive direct compensation to review devices.