Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen)

Sets a new standard for Amazon's smart displays with a striking redesign, smaller bezels and vastly improved audio quality

- ANTHONY SPADAFORA

PRICE £150 (£180 inc VAT) from amazon.co.uk

The latest version of the Amazon Echo Show 8 is the best Alexa device with a screen we've seen. It comes with a fresh design, a larger display, better speakers than ever and more powerful internals for smoother performance. Although more expensive than the previous model (still available for £149 inc VAT), it's one of the most significant Echo upgrades in years - and as we discuss opposite, it also introduces Alexa+, Amazon's new AI-powered voice assistant.

The ups

The fourth-generation Echo Show 8 has a different feel to its predecessor.

Rather than squatting directly on your desk, the new design lifts up the display, so it looks like a tablet floating above the sphere-like base. You can choose from charcoal or glacier white finishes - both look smart, if a little lacking in character.

Luckily, the screen itself is more striking. The Echo 8's panel has grown from 8in to 8.7in, while the bezels around it have shrunk down to only half an inch - half the thickness of the previous model. Despite the smaller housing, the top of the frame still houses a 13MP camera (something you don't get on Google's rival Nest Hub), and it now supports auto-framing with 3.3x digital zoom, so you can look good on video calls without having to worry about carefully positioning yourself in the shot.

The volume and mute buttons have moved from the top edge to the right side of the display; although they're smaller than before, I found them easier to reach here, and beautifully responsive. And while it's a small thing, I appreciate how the included power cable is wrapped in braided fabric, giving it a more premium feel than the previous plastic sheath.