Every Christmas season appears to bring the same old scramble to find thoughtful gifts that don’t require too much effort. Then along comes Amazon’s Echo Show 5, a handy little smart display that slides into a bedside or kitchen counter and immediately begins earning its keep. Currently, with a 33% discount, the price has dropped from $89.99 to $59.99, enabling Prime members snag one today for delivery by December 11th, just in time for the holidays.
Setting up the Echo Show 5 is simple, thanks to its fast CPU. Plug it in, connect to WiFi, and Alexa will lead you through the procedure with clear voice prompts. No apps to download, no instructions to read—just plug it in and turn it on. The 5.5-inch screen lights up immediately, with all sorts of customizable options to pick from, such as a clock face or a feed of family photos pulled straight from Amazon Photos. Since Prime members have unlimited storage, you can add all of your vacation photos or your children’s school images, and the frame will automatically cycle through all of your memories.
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible...
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now...
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
Audio-wise, the Echo Show 5 certainly delivers, as the speakers pump out deeper bass and sharper vocals than ever before, filling a bedroom or small office with sound that seems authentic and distortion-free. When you stream a playlist from Spotify or Amazon Music, the device handles the changes effortlessly and even picks up on casual requests like ‘play that lively jazz for cooking’. Podcasts just come in without any skips, and the built-in alarm is fantastic; it wakes you up with a steady increase in volume, rather than a jolt from a booming siren.
Video calls to distant relatives becoming commonplace. The front-facing 2 MP camera captures clear images of everyone’s faces, and the screen size is ideal for propped-up talks without dominating the space. With a single command, “call Mom,” it dials directly through Alexa, connects with other Echo devices or applications in seconds, and takes you away. Grandparents appreciate the large text and voice commands, which make responding easy, while children enjoy waving at cousins across states without the need for their own devices.
Smart home control sneaks up on you with extra convenience, and you don’t even realize it until it becomes an essential part of your everyday life. Connect it to your compatible lights, plugs, or thermostats, and “switch off the living room” now works from the other end of the house with no fuss. When you’re cooking, recipes display on screen with step-by-step pictures, and the most essential feature is the timer, which syncs with the speakers so you don’t have to think about it.
- Charge your smartphone, earbuds, and more using the accessible 7.5 W USB-C charging port.
- Easily tilt your Echo Show 5 forward or backward to improve your viewing angle.
- Quick and secure magnetic attachment.
Aside from the standard features, it’s also very useful for entertainment purposes. Looking for a fast YouTube video to learn how to do something new? Want to watch a full-length episode of your favourite show on Prime Video? All of these and more may be controlled with your voice. The screen is smart enough to adapt the brightness to match the environment, so you don’t strain your eyes late at night.
