is a versatile smart display combining an 8-inch HD touchscreen, immersive spatial audio, and robust smart home integration. Ideal for entertainment, video calls, and home automation, it’s perfect for families, tech enthusiasts, or anyone upgrading their smart home setup. This 500-word review highlights its key features, pros, cons, and value for Amazon UK shoppers.
The Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) elevates entertainment with its 8-inch HD touchscreen and room-filling spatial audio, enhanced by room adaptation technology that fine-tunes sound based on your room’s acoustics. Streaming Prime Video, Netflix, or Fire TV Channels feels immersive, while Alexa supports music playback from Amazon Music, Spotify, or Apple Music (subscriptions may be required). The 13MP auto-framing camera with noise reduction ensures crisp video calls, automatically keeping you centered, and the Top Connections widget simplifies one-tap calling to other Alexa devices. As a smart home hub, it supports Zigbee, Matter, and Thread protocols, allowing seamless control of compatible lights, cameras, and thermostats via voice or the touchscreen. Motion-activated routines, like turning on lights when you enter a room, add convenience without needing a separate hub.
Setup is quick via the Alexa app, and the Glacier White design, with edge-to-edge glass and a centered camera, looks sleek in any room. Amazon Photos transforms the screen into a digital photo frame with adaptive color for vibrant images in any light. Privacy is prioritized with a mic/camera off button, a physical camera shutter, and encryption, addressing concerns about data security. The device uses 29% recycled materials and 99% recyclable packaging, earning a Carbon Trust Reducing CO2 label for sustainability. Users praise its audio quality, with one Amazon UK reviewer noting it rivals premium speakers like the Apple HomePod, and another appreciating the “crystal-clear” video calls.
Drawbacks include limited app customization, as some users miss direct icons for Spotify or Pandora on the music interface, requiring voice commands or manual navigation. The absence of Netflix in some regions or setups frustrates a few users, and Alexa+ (an upcoming subscription for enhanced AI) is limited to US personal accounts, potentially locking UK users out of future features. The touchscreen response, while improved, can lag slightly during heavy use. Compared to the Echo Show 5, the larger screen and better sound justify the price, but it lacks the Echo Show 15’s wall-mountable size.
The Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is ideal for kitchens, living rooms, or offices, offering entertainment, smart home control, and clear video calls. Its spatial audio, hub capabilities, and privacy features make it a top pick for Amazon UK shoppers, despite minor app and regional limitations. For a versatile smart display, it’s a compelling choice
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