Should you opt for the Echo Show 5 Kids or stick with the standard Echo Show 5?
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Amazon’s Echo range is extensive. There is everything from the cute and compact Echo Pop speaker to the huge Echo Show 21. You’ll also find Kids editions of a couple of those Echo devices too though, including both the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Dot.
We’ve covered off how the Echo Dot and Echo Dot Kids compare in a separate feature, but here we are looking at the differences between the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 5 Kids.
Amazon Echo Show 5 vs Echo Show 5 Kids: Price
Both the Amazon Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 5 Kids are available globally, including in the US and the UK. The Echo Show 5 costs $89.99 / £89.99. It comes in three color options of Charcoal, White and Cloud Blue.
The Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids meanwhile, is a little more expensive at $99.99 / £99.99, but it does come with 12 months of Amazon Kids+ free, which is normally $4.99 / £4.99 a month, so you more than make back that extra $10/£10.
It comes in one design for kids, which is called Galaxy and is a space themed design, and the Echo Show 5 Kids also has a two-year Worry-Free Guarantee where Amazon will replace it free of charge if your child was to break it.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that both the Amazon Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 5 Kids are typically discounted during sales periods like Prime Day, Black Friday and holidays. When these discounts appear, they are both usually 50 per cent less than full price so it’s worth waiting until those opportunities where possible.
Amazon Echo Show 5 vs Echo Show 5 Kids: Design
The Amazon Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 5 Kids are near enough identical in design. They are the same size at 147 x 82 x 91mm, same weight at 456g, the same shape and they have the same controls, as well as the same internals.
They don’t look identical however, and that’s because the Echo Show 5 has a plain material covering in one of the three available color options, while the Echo Show 5 Kids has the Galaxy-themed covering, which makes it more tailored for little ones.
With the Echo Pop Kids, you can simply remove the insert that makes it more child-friendly, but that’s not the case with the Echo Show 5 Kids. Once you invest in that Galaxy design, it isn’t going anywhere.
Both the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 5 Kids have volume up and volume down buttons on the top of their wedge-shaped designs though. They also have an Action button and a microphone mute button. Both also have a camera in the top right corner and a camera cover switch at the top.
Amazon Echo Show vs Echo Show 5 Kids: Performance
When it comes to sound quality and performance, the Echo Dot and Echo Dot Kids are identical here too. They both have the same 1.75-inch full-range speaker and both deliver decent sound performance.
Neither is going to fill a room with sound if you’re having a party – you’ll need the Echo Studio for that, which of course doesn’t have a screen, or you could consider the Echo Show 10 that has very good sound performance. But for some casual tunes in a kitchen, office or the kid’s bedrooms or playroom, the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 5 Kids are more than capable.
Amazon Echo Show 5 vs Echo Show 5 Kids: Features
When it comes to features, the Amazon Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 5 Kids are similar, but there are a couple of differences. Starting with what’s the same though, both devices have Alexa built in, as you would expect, and that brings a number of features.
Both support Alexa Drop In and Alexa Calling for example, and you will be able to use Alexa or the interface on both the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 5 Kids to control compatible smart home devices. You can also set up Alexa Routines, set alarms, ask for weather, find out general information, and stream music, books and podcasts.
The Echo Show 5 Kids has a child-friendly version of Alexa however, so it’s an age-appropriate version of Amazon’s assistant that can filter out explicit lyrics in music for example, or give kid-friendly responses to questions.
Children can still use Alexa on Echo Show 5 Kids to control smart home devices, set alarms, audio call and video call contacts and listen to audiobooks and music, as well as get help with homework and answers to questions. But contacts available to call are approved by parents and music and books are age-appropriate.
We mentioned the Echo Show 5 Kids comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, and that means they will get access to age-appropriate educational content, kid-friendly Audible books, interactive games and educational Alexa skills, including content from Horrid Henry, Numberblocks and Harry Potter, with the Echo Show 5 Kids. The Echo Show 5 Kids also has a Parent’s Dashboard for setting volume and daily time limits, and reviewing activities.
The Echo Show 5 Kids also has tap gestures, which the standard Echo Show 5 doesn’t.
Amazon Echo Show 5 vs Echo Show 5 Kids: Which one is right for you?
If you have children between the ages of 3 and 12, then the Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids is a no brainer if you’re planning on putting it in a room they use regularly. It not only offers the same sound performance as the Echo Show 5, but it has many of the same features but with age parameters in place.
The Echo Show 5 Kids design is more exciting for kids too, and even when those kids grow up, the Echo Show 5 Kids can then switch to functioning just as the Echo Show 5, apart from in a more childish design.
If you don’t have young kids in your home, then the Echo Show 5 is probably the one you’ll want out of these two, unless of course you prefer the design of the Echo Show 5 Kids.
FAQs
Yes, Amazon’s Echo Show 5 Kids has Alexa but it is a child-friendly version.
You get one year of Amazon Kids+ free with the Echo Show 5 Kids, and that unlocks that subscription on other Echo speakers you might have. After the year, it costs $4.99 / £4.99 a month.
