Amazon Echo Show (1st gen. 2017)

Amazon has made some notable changes to its mid-sized Alexa-enabled smart display with the Echo Show 8 bringing a sleeker design, better audio and some clever software tweaks that make it easier to use.

Great display ; Smart home control at your fingertips ; Excellent audio quality ; Can watch Amazon Prime Video

Relatively expensive ; Poor YouTube access

The Echo Show was a trend setter, but it's since been superseded by the new Amazon Echo Show Gen 2

Useful screen ; Video calling works well ; More intuitive than other Echo devices ; Best-sounding Echo so far

Expensive ; Not the best-looking thing

In many ways, the best Amazon Echo experience.

Awesome voice recognition ; Visually rich touchscreen ; Competent smart home hub

Speaker still sounds shallow ; Video calling is limited

The Echo Show is more of a fun, ancillary device than a necessity, like the Echo or the Dot. It adds value by combining devices you already have and ones you could buy at a lower price elsewhere – just look at the Amazon Echo Dot, for example. But all...

Responsive touchscreen ; Bright display ; Louder and better speakers than Echo ; Fully-fledged Alexa experience ; Video calls and Drop In mode

Low resolution ; Not a truly high-end speaker ; No app store or deep interface ; Few touch-enabled skills

Amazon has turned its Alexa voice-control assistant into a wider platform. And the Echo Show, which is essentially an Echo with a touchscreen, expands what you can do with Alexa and how useful the service is.

The concept of the Lenovo Tab 4 tablet mated with Home Assistant is a great alternative to an Amazon Echo Show thanks to its Alexa integration. In its current state however, it doesn't leverage the right level of usability to be deemed as a better...

Spinning functionality works well ; Large display ; Doubles as a pretty good smart speaker ; Alexa remains a great voice assistant

Expensive ; Still lacking app support across the board ; Large display bezels ; Demands more room than ever

A useful, but inessential upgrade to the Echo Show

Effective smart home hub ; Alexa is still a helpful ally ; There’s potential to tap

Needs a lot more visual apps ; Underwhelming speakers ; Clunky design

The Echo Show has potential, but it’s mostly unrealised so far

The Echo Show offers everything you love about Alexa, complete with new video and touchscreen controls. It shines best as a dedicated, hands-free video calling command center.

The uninspired design feels dated. At launch, the touchscreen visuals don't do enough to bring Alexa to life, or make her much easier to use -- though that could change with the arrival of new screen-specific Alexa skills.

Amazon's touchscreen Alexa device shows potential for people interested in video chatting with friends and family members, but it needs a little more development before we'd recommend it.