Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025) Review: Would Owners Buy It Again?
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this review was made: We did not test this display in person. This verdict is based on our analysis of expert reviews and owner sentiment summaries, all listed at the end of this article. The model launched in late 2025, so long-term durability data is still thin. Our method.
The best mid-size Echo Show yet, if ads and the missing shutter do not bother you
Experts like the 2025 redesign: Tom's Guide gave it an Editor's Choice badge, TechRadar calls it a solid all-around upgrade, and Expert Reviews would not recommend the 2023 model over it. The bigger, brighter screen, deeper bass and faster AZ3 Pro chip earn consistent praise, and Alexa+ makes conversations more natural in the US. Owners like the screen, sound and smart home control, but recurring complaints include sponsored content on the home screen and photo frame, an interface some find cluttered or laggy, and the loss of the physical camera shutter. Buy it again? Yes for US Alexa households that want a kitchen hub; less compelling outside the US, where Alexa+ is not yet available, or for anyone who hates ads.
Check current price on Amazon → Prices and availability change often, so we don't list them here.Buy it again if you…
- already use Alexa and want a screen for recipes, cameras and calls
- want early access to Alexa+ in the US
- want a Zigbee, Thread and Matter hub built into a display
Skip it if you…
- dislike sponsored content on home screens and photo slideshows
- want a physical cover over the camera
- live outside the US and mainly want Alexa+
The Echo Show 8 (2025), also called the 4th Gen, is Amazon's redesigned 8-inch-class Alexa display. It was announced in September 2025 and released that November. It replaces the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) from 2023 with a larger 8.7-inch screen, a new AZ3 Pro chip with an AI accelerator, a 2.8-inch woofer, Omnisense sensors and early access to Alexa+.
We combined expert reviews with owner sentiment summaries. Experts are clearly positive; owners are happy with the hardware but raise software and privacy points, so we weigh both.
What owners say, at a glance
Bars show our editorial summary of how consistently owners praise or complain about each area across all sources — not a lab measurement.
The key specs
| Screen | 8.7 in, 1340 x 800 touchscreen, slim uniform bezels |
|---|---|
| Camera | 13 MP with auto-framing; camera and mics disabled electronically (no physical shutter) |
| Audio | 2.8-inch woofer plus two full-range drivers, spatial audio, room adaptation |
| Processor | AZ3 Pro with AI accelerator |
| Sensors | Omnisense: presence, temperature and ambient light |
| Smart home | Zigbee, Matter, Thread Border Router; Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth |
| Assistant | Alexa, with Alexa+ early access (US only at review time) |
What changed from the 2023 model
The 3rd Gen Echo Show 8 from 2023 had an 8-inch 1280 x 800 screen, thicker bezels and a physical camera shutter. The 2025 model trades that wedge design for a thinner "floating" display, a larger and brighter screen, a dedicated woofer and a faster chip, and adds Omnisense sensors and Alexa+. Owners note that stands and plugs from the 3rd Gen do not fit the new model, and Tom's Guide points out the adjustable stand is a separate accessory.
What owners love
What owners complain about
How it holds up over time
The model has only been on sale since late 2025, so we found no long-term durability data. One owner summary notes that software updates fixed earlier freezing problems. Most complaints are about software and ads, which can change with updates in either direction.
Tips from owners
- Set up a photo album to shuffle; TechRadar found this reduced suggested content on the home screen.
- Use the camera and mic button when you want privacy, or add a cover sticker.
- Do not reuse a 3rd Gen stand, since older accessories do not fit.
- Build routines with Omnisense presence and temperature sensing.
Pros and cons
What owners love
- Larger, brighter 8.7-inch screen with slim bezels
- Noticeably deeper bass than the previous model
- Fast AZ3 Pro chip
- Built-in Zigbee, Thread and Matter hub
- Alexa+ early access in the US
What owners complain about
- Sponsored content on the home screen and photo frame
- No physical camera shutter
- Interface can feel cluttered or laggy
- Alexa+ is region-limited
- Older stands and accessories do not fit
Other options owners compare
These are the smart displays most often compared with the Echo Show 8. If you can find the 2023 3rd Gen, it keeps a physical camera shutter but has an older, smaller screen.
| Model | Style | Consider it if… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025) (this review) | 8.7-inch Alexa display with hub | You want the newest mid-size Alexa screen with Alexa+ | See on Amazon |
| Amazon Echo Show 5 Read our review | 5.5-inch compact Alexa display | You want a bedside clock and smaller footprint | See on Amazon |
| Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) | 7-inch Google Assistant display, no camera | You use Google Home or want a camera-free screen | See on Amazon |
Want the newest Alexa screen for your kitchen?
Check the current price and colors on Amazon.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)?
No. This is the 2025 model, sometimes called the 4th Gen. It has an 8.7-inch screen, a new AZ3 Pro chip, a dedicated woofer and Alexa+ support. The 3rd Gen from 2023 has an 8-inch screen.
Does it have a camera cover?
No physical shutter. You can turn off the camera and mics with a button or in the Alexa app.
Does it include Alexa+?
It includes Alexa+ early access in the US. Outside the US, availability was limited at review time.
Can I turn off the ads?
You can reduce suggested content, for example by shuffling a photo album, but reports in 2026 describe sponsored content that cannot be fully disabled.
Is it a smart home hub?
Yes. It supports Zigbee, Matter and Thread Border Router.
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Sources we analyzed
- TechRadar: Echo Show 8 (4th gen, 2025) review — specs, sound, sensors, Alexa+ region, suggested content
- Tom's Guide: Echo Show 8 (4th Gen) review — Editor's Choice, bass, Alexa+, no shutter
- Expert Reviews: Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th gen) review — display, sound, interface, verdict vs 2023 model
- GIGAZINE: Full-screen ads on the Echo Show — 2026 photo frame ad reports
- Tom's Guide: Full-screen ads on the Echo Show — ad complaints
- Buyary: Echo Show 8 (2025) review summary — owner praise and complaint themes
- ShopSavvy: Echo Show 8 (Newest Model) summary — owner themes, accessories, shutter
Figures reflect each source as of October 13, 2026 and may change. We summarize owner feedback in our own words and do not reproduce retailer reviews.