A smart display is more than just another screen in your home. A gadget like the Echo Show can walk you through recipes, let you watch videos in bed or serve as a pint-sized digital photo frame. You can even check out the streams from compatible video doorbells. Explore all those possibilities and more with Amazon's Echo Show 5 while it's down to just $70 — for a limited time.
Amazon
This handy gizmo has a 5.5-inch screen, a powerful 1.7-inch speaker and a 2MP camera for video calls. If you're not comfortable with having a camera in your home, flip a switch to cover it.
Why is this a good deal? ????
$70 for an Echo Show 5? That’s a solid deal. Normally, this little smart display sits closer at $90 unless it's Prime Day or Black Friday, so you're looking at a nice chunk of savings. It’s the easiest way to dip your toes into the Alexa ecosystem — set timers, check the weather, control smart home gadgets, even make video calls without pulling out your phone.
Why do I need this? ????
The marquee feature of the Echo Show 5 is Alexa, the voice assistant that you can ask to do all sorts of things. Want her to play music, check the weather or turn the lights on and off? Sure! She's so easy to get up and running, too.
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The mini smart display is fantastic for video chats via Skype and Zoom and even streaming your favorite shows on the small screen from Hulu Plus and Prime Video. But that’s not all: it’s a handy kitchen companion too. Just ask Alexa for step-by-step recipes, from pancakes to veggie lasagna, and get access to Food Network Kitchen. When not in use, it doubles as a digital photo frame with Amazon Photos. That’s a ton of utility in a 5.5-inch package, if we do say so ourselves.
The screen makes a big difference compared to an audio-only Echo, especially if you like visual weather updates, recipes or just having a digital photo frame that actually updates itself. At this price, it's an easy "why not?" If you want to go slightly larger, check out the 10-inch version. It's not on sale, but it's hella cool.
Keep in touch with loved ones thanks to the Echo Show 5. (Photo: Amazon)
What reviewers say ????
Over 30,000 reviewers have given this smart device a perfect rating. 30,000!
Pros ????
"My mom has one of these and raved about it all the time, so I decided to give it a try. Alexa responds so well and the speaker has the best volume options, whether loud for music or quiet for sleep. She can do just about anything and I love the slide shows it has. You can add your pictures and I love the news slides," wrote one customer.
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Another fan raved, "I bought this to control my camera and robotic vacuum cleaner. It integrated into the Eufy apps well and does exactly what I wanted. I also use it now all the time to look at the front door, as a timer, to set reminders and to listen to the news."
One five-star reviewer loved the screen, even if it is only 5 inches (about the size of a cell phone). "This is a small screen but we love it we can use it with our ring cameras and play movies and music easily on it. It's easy to use and has good picture quality and plays music loud for how small it is."
Cons ????
One four-star reviewer was happy with everything except the color of the cord. "I replaced a 7-year-old large Echo Show with this one. It's nice and compact on my nightstand and has great sound. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it is charcoal in color but comes with a white power cord. All of my furniture is dark gray. The cord sticks out like a sore thumb. It should come with a black power cord."
A final reviewer rated it four stars because of the ads. "The only thing I don't like and didn't realize before I got this is that the display continually shows ads, and there seems to be no way to stop them. I'm sorry, but I didn't pay what I paid to be advertised to. At least they don't show during dark mode."
Amazon
This new release has added privacy controls — it's ready for everything, from controlling smart home devices to streaming shows and music. Could 30,000 five-star reviewers be wrong?
Looking for a screen-free experience? The Echo Dot may be your new BFF.
Amazon
Amazon's compact smart assistant is back on sale. This is one of the most powerful Echo Dots out there, complete with built-in temperature and motion sensors to streamline your routines. You can even link up a few to cover your whole home. And if you're big on privacy, no worries, just hit the mic's off switch. The listening function will be off, but she'll still be able to give you alerts.
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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