better design, more fluidity and ready for Alexa+

Artificial intelligence is already present in almost every corner of your life. You might even be a little tired of hearing about AI, especially because it seems like now everything is made by this technology or has it integrated in some way.

Our homes are not immune to this not-so-new technological wave either.. In this panorama of homes with ultra-smart devices and appliances that allow us to have a hyper-connected experience, there is a player that has always been there, but now has more reason than ever to demand our attention.

Amazon and its assistant Alexa are in Spain since 2018. According to the latest data offered by the Seattle company, users of this service in our country interact with it on average about 7 billion times a year. It is one of the manufacturers with the greatest penetration in the smart home ecosystem of Spanish homes. And now, with their new generation of products, they promise to further revolutionize our homes with Alexa+.

While waiting for the arrival of “Alexa super-ready” in Spain, for now we can test the hardware that Amazon has prepared for it. After several weeks of using the Echo Show 8 next generationthe feeling is clear: Amazon has not reinvented the formula, but it knew improve it where it was most visible. This model refines the design, gains fluidity and seems more solid and more “produced” than ever.

The result is a device that convinces from the first contact and this clearly indicates the future of Alexa, although in Spain we still have to wait to see all its potential fully deployed.

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Design and materials: feeling premium at home

I’ve been testing the new Echo Show 8 for a while and I think Amazon gets the design right again. This happens to me with this new generation of Echo in general: I like the finishes, the materials and the feeling of a well-made product that they convey right out of the box.

I love the speaker part, with this 3D effect mesh. It is soft to the touch, pleasant to look at and feels much more comfortable. prime than what we usually associate with this type of device. It may seem like it collects a lot of dust, but in practice it is very easy to clean and is not particularly dirty. Of course, if you are going to put it in the kitchen, my recommendation is clear: it is better to move away from the cooking area. Grease eventually gets into everything and this type of material exposes it more.

The frame and front of the screen are also very well finished.. Everything looks solid and well put together. Additionally, there is an optional base (sold separately) that allows you to tilt the screen forward or backward. It’s not essential, but when you put it on the device, it gains presence, it’s a little higher and gives even more of the feeling of a “good” product.

The big drawback for me is that there is no longer a physical tab to lock the camera. This is the detail I like least about this Echo Show 8 and, probably, its biggest negative point in terms of design and privacy.

Otherwise, the controls are the same as usual. We have the button to mute the microphones and the physical volume buttons. Everything is where you expect it to be and works as it should, without complications.

Screen HD which looks very good

8.7-inch HD screen delivers a crisp and smooth experience– Everything is clearly visible, from recipes to video calls to home automation control tiles. The touch response is fast and without delaysa noticeable improvement over previous generations and something that, as I will comment later, is also noticeable thanks to the improved processor.

In bright or backlit situations, visibility remains goodalthough (as with all devices with glossy panels) clarity is reduced somewhat if there is a lot of direct light. Of course: the general user experience is satisfactory for a device of this size. Amazon has been doing Alexa displays well for a while and here it delivers again.

It’s not a compressed nor does he pretend to bebut for the use it offers, the screen is up to par.

Performance: everything is going well

If there’s one area where I’ve noticed a clear improvement over previous models, it’s performance. This Echo Show 8 It incorporates a more powerful processor (AZ3) and this shows.

Navigation in the menus is fast, screen transitions fluid, immediate tactile response… in general those little jolts that some old Echos had disappear. Here everything responds much more immediately and this, on a daily basis, is greatly appreciated.

That is: compared to previous models, where it was common to feel small micro-shifts When switching between screens, this generation feels more agile and stable.

Sound: more than adequate for everyday use

The sound of Echo Show 8 (2025) It’s not meant to compete with a dedicated speaker or Echo Studio, nor does it need to be. But it is true that Amazon has improved this section and This is noticeable during daily use.

The device has two integrated speakers and a passive radiatorwhich results in a fuller sound with best bass than in previous generations. It’s not a flat or tinny sound, which happened in the first Echo with a screen.

For listen to musicpodcast or radio while you are at home, it works perfectly. The volume is enough to fill a kitchen or a small living room without problem and the voice is heard clearly even when the level is raised quite high. The bass is not spectacular, but it is there and gives body, which is precisely what we ask of a device of this type.

Where it works best is in everyday use: background music, playlists while cooking, video calls or Alexa responses. Additionally, in video calls, the audio is clean and does not distort, which is important when the Echo Show 8 is used as a point of communication.

Of course, you need to be clear about what it is and what it isn’t. Not intended for audiophiles nor to replace a good Bluetooth speaker or audio system, but for the type of product it isthe result is more than correct and significantly better than on old models.

In summary: It sounds good, it’s loud and it doesn’t botherwhat you’re looking for in a smart display.

Camera and privacy

THE 13-megapixel camera with auto-framing This is another strong point: video calls, even in low light, have significantly better clarity than expected on a smart display. And one this size.

However, as I said before, the lack of a physical tab to block the camera is the most obvious criticism from a privacy perspective. Although Amazon lets you turn it off from the app, many people, including me, prefer a physical switch that instantly ensures the camera is disconnected. This means that, for some users, “perceived” safety may be lesseven if the blockade since software also works correctly.

Connectivity and home automation control

This device is particularly distinguished by its hub Integrated smart home, compatible with Zigbee, Matter and Thread standards, making it a true device control center smart home. In my experience this translates to:

All this with a more stable and faster integration than in previous generations.

Another very favorable point is the configurationespecially if you already own other Amazon devices. Just scan a QR codecopy the configuration from another Echo and in a few minutes you have it working. Even starting from scratch, the process is simple and very guided from the start. application.

Alexa today…and Alexa+ tomorrow

The experience with Alexa as it is today in Spain remains useful and practical for classic tasks: shopping lists, home automation control, music, basic questions… but this is still quite limited in terms of natural language. You have to give him fairly specific commands.

What is interesting is that this device is Alexa+ readythe new version that Amazon presented and which I was able to see live in New York. Arriving in Spain, the jump should be significant. At the moment it is not available, although it has at least already left the United States, but this Echo Show 8 is ready to take advantage of it as soon as it arrives.

Summary

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025) it’s a mature smart screen: not only for what it already does well, but for what it promises to bring with Alexa+ and its powerful material prepared for AI. It’s a useful device for the connected home, with a solid track record.

This is not an economical product and that needs to be made clear.. Its official price is 199.99 euros, a figure that puts it above what many users expect to pay for a smart display. It is currently reduced to 179 euros on the official sales page.

After several weeks of use, the feeling is not that of being in front of an expensive devicebut rather a well-built, solid and consistent product with what it offers today and especially with what it promises to offer tomorrow. Currently it fulfills its function as a control center for the connected home, a screen for quick queries, music, video calls and visual support for Alexa, with a careful design and performance to match.

But Its real value is that it is a device prepared for the arrival of Alexa+which should mark a before and after in the user experience when it becomes available in Spain. In this context, its price is much easier to justify.

If you are already in the Amazon ecosystem, this is a logical evolution and highly recommended. And if not, this is one of the most complete and balanced options to access it. It’s not cheap, but it’s not expensive either for everything it offers and for everything it is expected to offer when Alexa+ finally arrives in our country. Either way, this device is definitely worth your attention.

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