5 ways the new Amazon Echo Show improves upon the original

When Amazon added a screen to the Echo and came up with the Show our minds boggled with the possibilities. Ultimately, however, it didn’t really deliver on the promise. Alexa didn’t have a whole lot of screen-enhanced capabilities, plus the hardware was clunky and underwhelming. Now, though, there’s a second-gen Show on the scene and its redesigned form factor and improved innards have got our minds boggling all over again. Here’s why it might just be the pick of Amazon’s 2018 litter.

1. The screen is much larger

On the original Echo Show, the 7in touchscreen was surrounded by loads of bezel, above huge speakers that didn’t really prove to be worth the space they took up. One glance at the new model shows a pretty massive change in that regard: a 10.1in touchscreen owns the vast majority of the front of the device. Not only does it provide about twice the screen area than before, but the new model doesn’t give off the impression of loads of wasted space. It’s the main attraction, just as it should be.

2. It’s not as boxy and awkward

The immense bezel wasn’t the only problem with the way the first Echo Show looked. It was big, boxy, and oddly angular. While it got the job done, it didn’t feel as aesthetically polished as most of the other modern devices in our lives. The 2018 Echo Show is clearly not the same device; the corners are rounded instead of pointy. And there are curves! Swapping the dull, all-over plastic for fabric on the back also helps create a device that shouldn’t stand out as much in your home. That’s a good thing.

3. It’s a better smart home hub

Putting a screen on the Echo Show meant that it could be used for previewing video doorbells or the feed from a baby monitor – that was a big perk for anyone who had invested in a connected home setup. The new version can function as a Zigbee smart home hub as well, so it’s easy to set up compatible light bulbs, plugs and switches. There’s also now a two-way talk feature for Ring and August video doorbells, so you can see and chat to whoever’s on the other side of your door without actually opening it.

4. The sound quality is improved

Despite a pair of 2in speakers on the front, the sound quality from the first Echo Show was confined and sometimes muddled. Amazon says that’s not the case with the new one. Thanks to the reimagined design, the 2018 Show has a pair of side-firing 2in Neodymium drivers, a passive radiator for boosted bass, and Dolby processing alongside. Early hands-on reports do suggest a noticeable improvement, so we’re hopeful.

5. It’s made to entertain

With that big 10.1in screen front and centre on the new Echo Show, it’s certainly better built for watching video. We can see ourselves taking in an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel while washing dishes. Unfortunately, Amazon’s spat with Google means that the Echo Show still doesn’t have YouTube support, but its enhanced interface is better integrated with other video apps. And if you snag Amazon’s new Fire TV Recast DVR device, you can also call up recorded shows and content on your Echo Show, wherever it might be sitting in your flat.