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The Amazon Echo Show has always struggled with a mild identity crisis. So far, it ‘s been easy to write off as an “Amazon Echo with a screen,” even though new models in various sizes have emerged over the past two years.
But the company has taken a big step forward with the third-generation Echo Show 10. Its new design, and Amazon’s ongoing focus on improving the overall user experience has made the speaker smarter. this to feel new, and make a difference in a crowded area.
As they say, the third time is the charm.
The swiveling base of Echo Show maintains its screen and center at all times
Brandt Ranj / Rolling Stone
The first thing you see about the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is its new design. The 10-inch HD screen is attached to a base that resembles a smaller version of its Echo Studio speaker. This new look has a modern feel, and raises the screen off the ground, making it easier to see while standing. I’ve tested a generation or two of Echo Display, and this is a very welcome development.
Amazon didn’t make this change just for aesthetic reasons, this is because the base of Echo Show 10 can go awry, always keeping the screen towards you. This feature is enabled by Echo Show’s 13 megapixel camera, which will be able to track your movements and turn the smart speaker into you.
In my experience this feature worked remarkably well. The Echo Show would change in real time as I walked around, stopping when I stopped, continuing as I took the next steps. If you are worried about privacy, don’t worry, you can disable this feature completely by closing the Echo Show’s physical camera shutters.
Brandt Ranj / Rolling Stone
The Echo Show streaming feature was designed to support two of the device’s major features: watching videos, and making video calls. I’m waiting for an Amazon update promising video call support over Amazon Chime and Zoom to test that feature, but you have some experience watching videos on the device.
I have to admit, keeping videos in a frame while I walked around the kitchen gathering and washing dishes was very helpful, and a better experience than trying to find the right place. find to pick up my phone. Amazon’s smart speaker comes with pre-installed apps for services like Netflix and Hulu, so you can ask Alexa to see your favorite shows without touching its screen.
If you want to watch YouTube, you need to use the mobile version of Silk (Amazon web browser) or Firefox. You can still say “Alexa, open YouTube,” but the experience of tapping and typing on the screen is a bit tedious. However, some previous versions of the Echo Show could not play YouTube videos at all, so this is an improvement.
Overall, I’m a big fan of the new Echo Show 10 design, but I wish Amazon had opted to build a full HD display instead of sticking with a 720P screen. It looks okay, but I noticed a clear difference in the video quality of the TV shows and YouTube clips I watched.
Its state-of-the-art audio system creates a Crystal Clear, Sound-Filling Sound
Brandt Ranj / Rolling Stone
The third-generation Echo Show has the same three-driver audio system as the latest Amazon Echo, and it delivers in a big way.
The mid-bass woofer and dual tweeters handled the Led Zeppelin front Dazed and upset without any problem. Robert Plant’s cries and John Paul Jones’ bass playing were clear and distinctive. The sharp guitar and synths on Pulp’s Ordinary people they were equally clear, although the chaotic sieges could get a little muddy at the highest measurement setting.
I usually kept the measurement at 50% or 60% and had no problem hearing music anywhere in a large open kitchen. If you plan to use an Echo Display in your bedroom or office, you may be able to get away with listening at around 40%. While it’s a single speaker, the Echo Show did a pretty good job showcasing stereo separation, which was a good advantage.
While the Echo Show basically plays music from Amazon Music, you can connect your Spotify or Apple Music account in the Alexa app on your phone. Once connected, you can set up the Echo Show to use these services as their main music store. You also have the option to ask the Echo Show to enter Bluetooth pairing mode, and connect your phone, tablet, or computer to it just like any other speaker. I connected my iPhone and MacBook Pro to the Echo Show without any problem.
Amazon used to get a lot of taste for making smart speakers that didn’t feel very good, but they’ve taken a big leap forward recently. In the end I would rather listen to music on the Echo Show than Echo Studio, which focuses on sound recordings. One of my favorite little features is that the Echo Show displays lyrics to the song you’re listening to.
It is possible to use the Echo Show almost completely hands-free thanks to Alexa
Brandt Ranj / Rolling Stone
One of the biggest selling points of Echo Show is that Alexa, Amazon’s smart sponsor, is so capable. This smart speaker has a 10-inch touchscreen, but I barely used it during my test (YouTube banned) because Alexa allowed me to handle almost anything hands-free.
I could set a timer, ask to play a specific TV show on a streaming service (Arrested improvement on Netflix and SpongeBob Squarepants on Amazon Prime Video), download and install Apple Music Skill, get a news report, and see a five-day weather forecast with as little as a tap.
Alexa was so good at answering my questions it was a bit tricky when it came to short stature. I asked about local pizza places, and the Echo Show showed a list of local spots. I continued to ask for more information about the first restaurant on the list, and met with silence. Situations like that stand out because Alexa is usually so good at getting things right.
Although I didn’t really need to touch the screen, it worked well when I did. The Echo Show will feature news clips with a large play button on them, which would start after a quick tap. You can scroll down from the top of the screen to access system settings such as brightness, and left from the right side of the screen to set a timer, access your music, or check your smart home resources.
Alexa’s leadership over competitive smart assistants will keep the Echo Show one step ahead of the competition. If you’re shopping for your first smart speaker, this is a prime spot in Echo Show’s favor. It’s possible out of the box, but you can extend the functionality by downloading third-party skills.
The bottom line: The Echo (3rd Gen) display is the screen-preferred smart speaker
The Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) removes most of the rough edges present in previous versions, while incorporating some useful features on the way. It will work well anywhere, but I found my favorite experiences in the kitchen, a central place where I spend a lot of time.
It may be a little too big for a bedside table – that’s what the Echo Show 5 is for – but it’ll be fine on a medium-sized desk. If you’ve been on the fence about getting a sleek speaker with a screen, and you already have an Echo speaker in your house, the Echo Show is a no-brainer. After spending some time with it, I can recommend it to anyone who uses a competitive smart speaker and has been thinking about making the switch.