Big A Meets Big B

Amazon’s new Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) sits comfortably between the lower-end Echo Show 5 and the high-end Echo Show 10.

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AMAZON ECHO SHOW 8 (2ND GEN)

Privacy please Go incognito by covering the camera with the mechanical shutter and muting the mics with the physical button.

The “new” Echo Show 8 looking like the old Echo Show 8? That’s because it does. The wedge-like design remains, and so do the fabric-wrapped speakers and the 8in display. The touch screen is surrounded by chunky bezels that seem to have been borrowed from the first-ever Apple iPad.

Setup is as easy as applying for a Maldives visa, only without all the unnecessary paperwork. The process seems to be getting easier every year, and makes the Echo devices feel more accessible than rival smart devices.

Being screen-first, you will find yourself looking at things more than listening to Alexa say it. Have some time between your office meetings? Ask Alexa to play an episode of Good Doctor on Prime Video. Feeling Master Chef-y? Ask Alexa to show you how to make a fancy chicken dinner.

Despite the compact size, the pair of 2in neodymium drivers and a passive bass radiator surprise you with their power. The sound can fill a decentsized room without losing clarity and nuance. The sound won’t impress an audiophile, but then, it’s not meant to.

You can switch to Amitabh Bachchan’s voice to talk with or answer your queries. Just ask Alexa “introduce me to Amit ji” to enable this feature. But you need to pay ₹199 to truly unlock all the abilities, which feels a tad excessive.

Tech specs