Our verdict
The Echo Show 8 suits a kitchen or family room. It has an 8-inch touchscreen (1280 x 800 pixels), two 2-inch stereo speakers with a passive bass radiator for fuller sound, and a 13MP camera with a built-in shutter. Ask Alexa for a timer while your hands are busy, check a compatible doorbell, make a video call or switch on lights without reaching for your phone. It also acts as a smart-home hub: it supports Matter, Zigbee and Thread, three ways smart devices connect, so some need no extra hub. Its adaptive screen changes what it shows depending on how close you stand. The catches are that it needs mains power and Amazon uses the home screen for suggestions.
Buy it if
- You already use Alexa and want one clear control point for a shared room
- Hands-free timers, lists, music and video calls would help your daily routine
- You want to see a compatible video doorbell without finding your phone
Skip it if
- You want a portable screen that works away from a power socket
- You strongly dislike promotional suggestions appearing on a home screen
- Your home is already centred on Apple Home or Google Home rather than Alexa
How it would fit your home
In the kitchen
Set several named timers, add items to a shopping list and play music by voice, with no need to touch the screen with wet or messy hands.
At the front door
With a supported doorbell, ask Alexa to show the camera and speak to the visitor from the screen.
Keeping in touch
Use the built-in camera for Alexa video calls, then close the physical shutter when the call is finished.
The details, in plain English
Everyday use
Voice timers, reminders, weather, shopping lists and music are quick to reach. The 8-inch screen runs at 1280 x 800 pixels, enough for recipes, camera views and a clock. Amazon's adaptive content uses on-device computer vision to change what is shown depending on how far away you are, so text and controls stay readable across a room.
Sound
Two 2-inch stereo speakers with a passive bass radiator, a small extra cone that adds low notes without a separate amplifier, handle music, radio and spoken answers. Amazon's speaker hardware is small, so if music matters most to you, a dedicated speaker is likely to sound better; we have not heard it ourselves.
Calls and cameras
The 13MP camera sits centrally, so video calls look natural, and auto-framing keeps you in view as you move. TechRadar found the picture not especially crisp and the framing a little slow. A physical shutter covers the lens and a button turns off the camera and microphones. Compatible Ring and Alexa cameras can also appear on the screen, although recording features may cost extra.
Smart-home control
The Echo Show 8 works as a Matter controller and Thread border router and supports Zigbee. Matter is a shared standard that lets devices from different brands work together; Thread and Zigbee are low-power ways for sensors and bulbs to connect. That can reduce the need for extra hubs, but check compatibility for each device before buying.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- 8-inch touchscreen: a practical size for kitchens and shared rooms
- Two 2-inch stereo speakers with a passive bass radiator for music and voices
- Built-in Zigbee, Matter and Thread support, so some smart-home devices need no extra hub
- Camera shutter and a microphone-off button give simple privacy controls
- Adaptive screen adjusts what it shows to how close you are
What to watch out for
- Amazon recommendations and promotional cards can make the home screen feel busy
- Needs a permanent mains connection, so it is not a portable tablet
- TechRadar found the 13MP camera image not crisp by current standards, and auto-framing slightly slow
- Some camera, music and security features depend on separate subscriptions or compatible services
Smaller smart displays cost less but are harder to use for recipes and camera views. Larger models give more screen space but need more room. The Echo Show 8 remains the most balanced size for most households already using Alexa.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd generation) (this one) | The best all-round Alexa screen for a shared room, if you accept Amazon's suggestions on the home screen and that it must stay plugged in. | £149.99RRP, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 TP-Link Tapo P110 | The easiest low-cost way to start with smart-home control, as long as you use Alexa or Google Assistant rather than Apple Home or Matter. | £11.99RRP, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus | A good battery doorbell if you are happy to pay for a Ring Protect subscription and can get a reliable Wi-Fi signal to your front door | £159.99RRP, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Reolink Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) | A clear, subscription-free video doorbell that makes answering the door from anywhere feel easy. | £139.99RRP · chime £23.99 extra, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
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Where our findings come from
Research-based review. We compared Amazon's published product information with TechRadar's independent review and translated the findings into common household uses. Specifications are as listed by TechRadar and Amazon; we did not test the device ourselves. UK price checked on 30 July 2026.