Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd gen) review: A compact smart display on a budget

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When it comes to furnishing a smart home, Amazon's latest Echo Show 5 is a handy alternative to a typical smart speaker. It carries over many of the Alexa functions that you get on a regular Echo or Echo Dot while adding a touchscreen for extra features that only the best smart displays can offer.

With the Show 5's built-in display, you can do things like view recipes, scroll through playlists, browse photos, check security camera feeds, make video calls, and stream apps like Prime Video and Hulu. 

However, the Show 5 isn't ideal for every use case, specifically because of its small size. Though a solid option on a budget, the Echo Show 5 is best used as a casual smart display rather than a dedicated smart home hub or video-calling device, and here's why. 

A compact display for basic smart home needs

The smallest of the Amazon Echo Show lineup, the Show 5 offers the most compact footprint you can have without forgoing an interactive screen. That means it's perfect for busy surfaces like countertops, bedside tables, and desks because it doesn't add too much clutter. 

With its 5.5-inch touchscreen and 960 x 480 resolution, it's a great choice for poking through playlists, referencing recipes, or acting as a digital picture frame or clock when not in use. However, its tiny size does have drawbacks.

If you plan to add a smart display to your setup as a smart home hub, I don't recommend the Show 5. Though there is a menu to control all of your compatible smart home appliances, you have to scroll a lot because of how small the screen is, which results in a lackluster user experience for checking statuses. And unlike the Show 8 and 10, this model does not have built-in Zigbee smart home hub support. 

The Show 5 is also too small to make the most of its on-demand streaming capabilities. Though you can use your voice to open your Prime Video library or scroll through movies on select apps like Hulu and Netflix, it's far from an ideal viewing experience. If you're looking for a smart display that's big enough to enjoy movies on, the Echo Show 10 or Echo Show 15 would be a better option.

Alexa is a great smart home assistant, but setting up skills is clunky

Alexa is an incredible smart assistant that offers snappy responses with little thinking time. Compared to Google Nest devices I've tested, I've found the Show 5's implementation of Alexa to be quicker to react and control various smart home features. From dimming lights to turning on the TV, I prefer Alexa over Google Assistant. "Echo" or "Alexa" are also much less of a mouthful compared to the wake words "Hey, Google" from Nest. 

But while Alexa works great once it's set up, I found getting Amazon's assistant paired with my smart home devices to be a bit tricky. Though the Alexa app offers a lot of guidance for initial setup, when it comes to initializing automations with third-party TVs and plugs, the app offers no direction. Alexa's Skills, as they're called, are hard to find and hidden away in menus. I actually had to Google how to set up a handful of my own home automations, which is a process that's much more intuitive on a Google Nest device. 

However, once you get it up and running with all your other smart gadgets. the Echo Show 5 is a joy to use. It just takes some effort to get to that stage.

Improved speakers and updated design

The latest Echo Show 5, released in 2023, is the third-generation model. Compared to the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen), this new model's biggest changes include a seamless, flush-front display, a rounder form factor, and improved sound with better bass.

It's a solid upgrade, making this generation nicer to have on display and use for very casual music or podcast listening. Its performance is in line with an Echo Dot, but don't expect the range or low-end kick you'd get on Amazon's full-sized Echo or any traditional pair of stereo speakers.

Though asking Alexa to play music will default to using Amazon Music, you can link to a different streaming platform using the Alexa App. Some of the best music streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music, are supported.

The camera is mediocre but works well enough to keep an eye on your home

If you need to keep tabs on your home while you're away, the Echo Show 5 has you covered with its built-in 2MP camera with privacy shutter. The image quality is nothing mindblowing, but it's enough for answering calls and basic home monitoring for pets, kids, or valuables. This feature is missing from Google's competing entry-level Nest Hub, giving the Echo Show 5 a leg up. You won't necessarily need a separate security camera with this device. 

However, the Echo Show 5's camera lacks some features you may consider essential for advanced security use, like night vision and recording, so customers who need those capabilities will be better off opting for an extra indoor cam.

The camera also enables video calling via your contacts and the Alexa app. However, third-party apps like Zoom are not supported on this model. This feature works well enough, but the small screen limits the benefits of video calling unless you're sitting right in front of it. For example, imagine video calling as a family and cramming multiple people in front of the tiny screen to see video playback. The integrated camera gets the job done, but the experience is better on a larger smart display, like the Show 8 or 10.

Should you buy it?

If you want to build out your Alexa smart home or just get started, the Echo Show 5 is an excellent smart display for basic needs. It adds a lot of utility that regular smart speakers lack, like support for video calling, viewing recipes, and flipping through photos, all without taking up too much space. Its camera is a nice bonus that can provide an extra angle to your home security. It's also a good choice for kids' rooms, and there's even a specific Kids Edition available with parental controls. 

And compared to Google Nest, it's easy to recommend the Echo ecosystem as a whole. Alexa is a great listener that responds quickly, and the Show 5 is handy for viewing recent Amazon purchases if you're a frequent shopper. In light of Google cutting several of its Google Assistant features, I would suggest choosing Amazon Echo over Google Nest any day. I can't even knock the Show 5 for constantly trying to advertise to me, either, since you can easily turn that off in the settings. 

As the smallest of the Echo Show lineup, this model is also the cheapest. But in exchange, it lacks some features that other models have. The Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 10 both have better 13 MP cameras, larger screens with higher resolutions, and spatial audio. But if you need something compact or don't want to spend extra, the Echo Show 5 is a solid entry-level smart display and a worthy option for any smart home. So long as you're not planning to use it for family video calls or streaming videos, its utility is a nice way to increase your home's IQ.