Should you pick the Echo Show 8 or the Echo Show 10? We’ve compared the two smart displays
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Amazon’s Echo Show line up is extensive, offering four models in total – and that’s before we even get to the Echo Hub. The Echo Show models deliver a blend of smart home control, entertainment, and information, and they are a great addition to a kitchen, living room or bedroom.
We’ve compared the Echo Show 10 and the Echo Show 15 in a separate feature, though it is worth noting that the Echo Show 15 appears to be unavailable now, suggesting it could be replaced at some point. We’ve also compared the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 elsewhere in case you’re after a slightly smaller smart display.
Here though, we are focusing on the two middle models in the Echo Show portfolio – the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 10. They share similar core functionalities but differ significantly in design and performance. Here’s a deep dive into the key differences between these two smart displays so you can figure out which is right for you.
Amazon Echo Show 8 vs Echo Show 10: Price
The Amazon Echo Show 8 is the cheaper of the two models being compared here, costing $149.99 / £149.99 when it is full price. It comes in Charcoal and Glacier White colour options and it is available globally.
The Amazon Echo Show 10 is the larger of these two models and therefore slightly more expensive. It costs $249.99 / £259.99 when full price, and it comes in Charcoal Fabric and Glacier White Fabric colour options. It too is available globally.
It is worth noting that both these devices often get discounted during Prime shopping days like the Prime Big Deals Days taking place between October 8-9, Black Friday that takes place on November 29 this year, and Prime Day in July. At the time of writing, the Echo Show 8 cost $84.99 / £94.99 and the Echo Show 10 cost £179 in the UK, but remains full price at $249.99 in the US.
Amazon Echo Show 8 vs Echo Show 10: Design
The Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 10 might both be smart displays, but as we mentioned, they are quite different in terms of their actual designs. The Echo Show 8 adopts a more traditional smart speaker design with a compact shape.
Its 8-inch display is positioned horizontally and features a camera in the centre at the top, with reasonably large bezels around the screen. Behind the display and acting as a stand, is a fabric-covered speaker with a rounded back. On the top of the display, there is a physical camera cover switch, a microphone off button and volume control buttons.
The Echo Show 10 takes a more innovative approach to design. It features a motorized base that allows the device to rotate 175 degrees, ensuring that the screen follows you when you’re on video calls, for example. The display itself is larger than the Echo Show 8 too at 10.1 inches and it is also positioned horizontally.
The screen can tilt as well and it has a floating-style design, sitting on a more substantial fabric-covered speaker base than the Echo Show 8. A front facing camera sits in the top right corner of the display within the surrounding bezel, while the volume up and down buttons sit on the top. There is a camera cover switch in the top right, as well as a microphone/camera on and off button.
Amazon Echo Show 8 vs Echo Show 10: Features
The beauty about Echo devices is that they offer many of the same features. Both the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 10 offer comprehensive smart home integration for starters. You can control compatible devices using voice commands or through the touchscreen interface and this includes lights, thermostats, security cameras, and plenty more, depending on what your home setup looks like.
Both models also support streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video, allowing you to watch movies and TV shows while you’re cooking dinner, or perhaps if your kids have taken your main TV hostage. You can also play music from popular streaming services platforms like Spotify and Amazon Music through both the Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 10.
Both devices feature a built-in camera for video calls with friends and family too, though the Echo Show 10’s rotating base does enhance this experience, following you around the room as you move and talk. The Echo Show 8 does have auto-framing and both the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 10 have a 13-megapixel camera so the resolution and detail is the same, but the Echo Show 8’s display doesn’t follow you, it will just keep you in frame.
Amazon’s Alexa is present on both the Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 10, as you would expect, and that grants access to an array of skills including setting alarms, checking the weather, playing games, and controlling smart home devices, as we mentioned. You can also use both the Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 10 as a digital photo frame, displaying your photos when you’re not using them to watch cooking videos, play music or turn the lights down.
Amazon Echo Show 8 vs Echo Show 10: Performance
Both the Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 10 have built-in speakers and they both deliver decent sound performance. The Echo Show 8 has two 2-inch full range neodymium drivers with a passive bass radiator, while the Echo Show 10 has two stereo 1-inch tweeters and a 3-inch woofer. Overall, the Echo Show 10 offers superior sound quality due to its larger size and more powerful drivers, but the Echo Show 8 is more than adequate for most tasks.
As mentioned, the cameras on both models are comparable in terms of resolution and image quality, though the Echo Show 10’s rotating base does give it the edge in this department.
The Echo Show 8 has one thing in its favour however, with Matter support and the ability to act as a Thread Border Router. It’s great for if you’re planning to use your Echo Show for smart home related tasks as you should be able to negate the need for extra hubs or bridges like the Philips Hue Bridge, connecting compatible devices directly to the Echo Show 8.
Neither the Echo Show 10 or the Echo Show 8 are wall mountable, like the Echo Show 15 and Echo Hub so if you want something on your wall, these aren’t the right smart displays for you. The Echo Show 10 also launched three years ago, while the Echo Show 8 is newer so that’s worth keeping in mind in terms of potential upcoming replacements.
Amazon Echo Show 8 vs Echo Show 10: Which one is right for you?
The Amazon Echo Show 10 has the larger display of these two smart displays, which makes it the better pick if you are planning to streaming lots of video content, and it also has the better speaker setup for a superior sound quality. The display also spins, meaning it’s the top pick for video calls.
The Echo Show 10 is more expensive though, and two years older than the Echo Show 8. The screen of the Echo Show 8 also has a higher pixel density resulting in more detail, and the Echo Show 8 can also act as a Thread Border Router.
Both the Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 10 offer pretty much the same features however so either is a great pick for Alexa. The decision will likely therefore come down to price, as well as where you’re planning to keep your smart display. If you have a big space, the Echo Show 10 may do a better job of filling it, while if it’s a smaller space, the Echo Show 8 is a super smart display and a very reasonable price now too.
