Amazon Echo Show 21 review

Amazon Echo Show 21: Introduction

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee, Sidewalk
• Ecosystems: Alexa, Matter

Alexa is bigger than ever before, thanks to Amazon taking the covers off of a brand new model for the smart display range… the Echo Show 21.

Launched in late 2024 alongside a 2nd-gen Show 15, the Echo Show 21, as the name suggests, boasts a 21-inch display and is by far the most substantial Echo Show yet, with nearly double the viewing area of the Echo Show 15.

Priced at $399.99 Stateside, £399.99 in the UK, the Echo Show 21 doesn’t come cheap but boasts improved sound quality with richer audio, double the bass of the original Show 15, and room-adapting technology.

Featuring built-in smart home hub capabilities, the Show 21 can act as a Matter controller, with Thread border routing skills, and Zigbee support too – putting it on a par with the likes of Echo Hub and the latest Echo Show 8.

I’ve had the Amazon Echo Show 21 stuck on my wall for the past couple of weeks, read on for my full review.

Design and build

• Full HD 1080p display
• Camera with privacy shutter
• Wall mountable or table stand
• Same mounting bracket as Show 15

The Amazon Echo Show 21 is almost identical to the Echo Show 15 (both generations) from a design perspective, though it does differ in terms of physical dimensions, of course.

The Echo Show 21 measures 540 x 340 x 380mm and, taking it out of the box for the first time, it feels like an absolute monster.

Designed to be wall-mounted, or sat upon a flat surface – in either portrait or landscape – the Show 21 has a black frame, with that 21-inch screen in the middle surrounded by a white bezel.

It has a camera positioned in the centre at the top when in a horizontal orientation and a privacy slider to shut off the lens of the camera. 

Along the top – when in a horizontal orientation, at least – the Echo Show 21 has a volume up and volume down button, and a button to turn off the microphone, which is in addition to the physical shutter on the camera.

Speakers are positioned at the back of the device, adding a fair bit of chunk to the mix. Still, it looks okay when wall mounted, and doesn’t stick out too far.

The good news, if you’re upgrading from the old Echo Show 15 to the bigger model, is that the mounting bracket that you get in the box is the exact same one you’ve already used before.

That makes upgrading a piece of cake but if it is your first wall mounted big-screen Show then don’t worry as mounting is as simple as screwing in four screws and popping the Show over the top using the back panel.

You also get a handy guide in the box too, so no need to get out the tape measure or spirit level.

The Echo Show 21 has a 21-inch display, with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. That means the new Echo Show 15 has a slightly better PPI count, but the 21’s screen is perfectly fine and that extra 80% of real estate makes a huge difference.

You can see the display clearly from across the room and the Show 21 is an ideal kitchen companion as you’ll easily be able to follow recipes and watch videos from a few metres away.

Speaking of watching videos and there’s an Alexa Voice Remote included in the box, designed to make the Fire TV experience a bit more streamlined.

I’ve wall mounted the Show 21 but you can also buy a countertop stand that makes the Show 21 look like a little TV.

In everyday use

• Zippy performance
• Adaptive Content on homescreen
• Touch screen widgets
• Fire TV mode

The Show 21 is powered by Alexa, Amazon’s digital voice assistant and, as such, is packed with an absolute plethora of voice and automation driven capabilities.

When you first plug it in, the on-screen visuals will guide you through connecting the Show 21 and getting it synced up with your Amazon account and the Alexa app.

However, I won’t dive too deep on those in this review; if you’re looking for specific information as to what Alexa can offer then check out some of our comprehensive guides:

It goes without saying though that Alexa underpins everything about any Echo speaker, which are voice-first devices despite the presence of a screen.

Therefore, you can do things like calling up video feeds from smart security cameras with a voice command, answer your video doorbell, or control smart lights and other smart home devices.

In short, it’s a competent Alexa device that can do anything any other Echo smart speaker can when it comes to managing your Alexa smart home system.

In fact, when it comes to managing your smart home, it offers the same options as the latest Echo Show 8 – i.e it’s a Matter controller that can directly connect with Wi-Fi, Thread, and Zigbee devices.

That’s the same radio connectivity you get with Amazon’s smart-home focused display, the Echo Hub, but you don’t get the dedicated smart home UI.

I get that the Show 21 is more than a touch panel for a smart home but I would like to have the option to use the Echo Hub’s UI at times, especially as the smart home widgets on the Show 21 still feel a bit clumsy.

Like other Echo Shows, you have to tap the screen an extra time just to get smart home controls to display. So that means you’ll be tapping twice to turn off a light, for example.

I understand Amazon wants to sell the Hub as a rival to high-end automation panels from the likes of Creston and Control4, but with essentially the same hardware and software on board the new Show 21 it seems a no brainer to allow a dedicated smart home screen UI for users to choose.

Extra tap woes aside though, and the Show 21 really is a great smart home operator, especially for anyone already firmly in Camp Alexa wanting to make that Matter jump.

I’ve paired Matter devices over both Thread and Wi-Fi, and also Zigbee bulbs directly to the Show 21 and it all works as seamlessly and as snappily as you’d want with direct, local connections.

A neat feature is that the smart home screen will also allow you to have a thumbnail live view of a compatible security camera or doorbell from the likes of Ring or Blink.

But there’s much more to the Show 21 than as a smart home controller. It’s more of a centralized family hub and that’s why I think it’s a device that works so well in the kitchen.

The new Echo Show big boy both ship with an Alexa Voice Remote control for Fire TV, which you switch to from the regular widget-led homescreen.

In fact, the first thing you’re asked to do when setting up the Show 21 is to configure your Fire TV settings and get the remote paired.

I’m pleased to report that the Fire TV experience on the new Show 21 is a million miles from the buggy disaster that it has been since it was introduced on the 1st-gen Show 15.

Because of that screen size, you really do feel like you’re getting an actual ‘TV’ experience, rather than just streaming choppy videos on a tablet.

The apps that you’ll get depend on the region you’re in but the good news is that YouTube is on board, so no need to do the Silk-based browser workaround as you do with the likes of the Show 5 or 8.

Away from Fire TV and the homescreen offers a pretty nifty touchscreen experience with customizable widgets that allow easy access to calendars, shopping lists, to-dos, smart home device favorites and more.

There’s also a refreshed audio widget for managing music and podcasts, along with the ability to play content across multiple speakers at once.

This content can be further personalized if you have Visual ID set up through your Amazon account.

For example it could show me my calendar schedule if it recognizes me, or show some Alexa Kids content to my daughter when she’s nearby.

However, the widget selection is still pretty limited and even though have space for nine widgets, with larger ones taking up three spaces, you can only have one of these large ones though, which seems dumb.

If you just use your Show to display photos and nothing else, you’ll have to go through the rigmarole of turning off the ever-growing list of nonsense that Amazon insists on showing you, through the Home Content settings.

Like other recent Show models, the Show 21 also has the Home Monitoring remote view mode, which allows you to check in on your home when you’re away from the Alexa app, essentially turning your smart display into a makeshift smart security camera.

An alert pops up on the Show 21, so anyone in the room will know they’re on camera. You can’t record or store these videos.

The camera is a 13-megapixel wide angle camera with auto framing, and there is 3.3x zoom on offer, so it’s easy to stay in frame when video calling, even if you’re not right next to the device.

As with all recent Show models, there’s also auto tracking tech built in so during calls, if you’re walking around the room, the camera will zoom in and try and keep up with you.

Performance

Powered by Amazon’s Octa-core SoC with Amazon AZ2 neural network engine, the Show 21 is noticeably nippy, with hardly any lag on voice or touch prompts.

The display, albeit not in the OLED league, really pops and you’ll easily be able to use the Show 21 as a miniature bedroom or kitchen TV.

Streaming is also quicker than ever as the Show 21, along with the new Show 15, are the first Echo devices equipped with Wi-Fi 6E.

The sound is decent, but not amazing. Amazon made a big song and dance about the enhanced audio capabilities and, while the pair of 2-inch woofers and two 0.6-inch tweeters definitely take the Show 21 away from their tinny stablemates, you’ll soon hit some hollowness and a bit of distortion when turned up loud.

So it’s fine for some casual video watching or radio listening, but it shouldn’t be a main music speaker in any room. If you want an Alexa display with a speaker capable of that, the Show 10 is your best bet.

Talking of which, you can play music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify on the Show 21. If you subscribe to Amazon Music, it scrolls the lyrics of the songs on the display, so can double as a fun karaoke machine too.

Noise reduction technology is included, which definitely helps when you are on a video call and I found that Alexa heard my instructions much better than it did on my 1st-gen Show 15.

Final thoughts

Amazon has delivered a powerful punch with the Echo Show 21, blending the flexibility of a smart home hub with the usability of a Fire TV-equipped screen.

The large display and seamless integration with Matter, Thread, and Zigbee make it a future-proofed option for smart home enthusiasts.

However, it doesn’t quite replace a dedicated music speaker or high-end smart home panel like the Echo Hub.

But for those willing to invest, the Echo Show 21 is a versatile addition to any home, particularly in communal spaces like kitchens or living rooms.

How we test

When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.

Smart speaker usually live within, or even control, a smart home ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a connected speaker for a week and deliver a verdict.

Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular smart speaker compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.

Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.

Read our review process for smart speakers to learn more.

FAQs

Amazon Echo Show 21: Specifications