Amazon now has two humble saucy speakers with displays , both useable for a very similar price .

That crap life a little snatch confusing , so should you buy the newerAmazon Echo Spot ( 2024)or the somewhat olderAmazon Echo Show 5 ( 3rdGeneration ) ?

That ’s what I ’m here to aid with , as I put the two smart show head - to - head .

The design is very different depending on the model you choose

The two devices are radically different in looks , each designed with a specific purpose in mind . The Amazon Echo Show is design as a standard fresh display and has a regular 5.5 - inch screen ( 960 x 480 ) that dominates the front .

evaluate 147 x 91 x 82 mm , this saucy show will fit on a bedside table , but it ’s also designed for employment in other area where you need a cover but do n’t require a gadget that will take up too much room . That could be on an office desk or in a kitchen .

The Echo Spot ( 2024 ) has a rounded display and looks like a more or less largerEcho dada . It measure 113 x 103 x 111 mm , which bring in it a touch narrower than the Echo Show but magniloquent and slenderly deeper . Overall , both devices take up a similar amount of room .

With its smaller 2.83 - inch concealment ( 320 x 240 ) , which is focussed on showing the current time , the Echo Spot is design as a smart clock first and first , so is more at home on a bedside table .

Both machine have interchangeable controls on top , with strong-arm volume control and microphone mute buttons . The Echo Show also has a camera privacy yellow-bellied terrapin , which physically turns off the integrate 2MP webcam , as well as blocking its opinion . With no webcam , the Echo Spot ( 2024 ) does n’t require this control .

Features and screen

In term of spokesperson features , as both devices have Amazon Alexa built - in , you’re able to do the same things with both devices , from asking about the current conditions to find out what upcoming appointments you have or controlling a impertinent home gimmick .

The differences amount down to what the screens can do , with the Echo Show 5 offering a all-embracing range of features . With the Echo Show 5 , you get the same canonical user interface as with the majority of the other Echo Show devices .

By default , the screen spread out through information page that show late headlines , the upcoming weather , recipe recommendations , and more , as well as a clock varlet . It ’s quite a busy port , although the preferences varlet lets you pick out which minute of selective information ( if any ) you require to see .

In contrast , the Echo Spot ’s CRT screen shows a pick of clocks , ranging from a digital clock that demonstrate the engagement and weather to an analog pick . It ’s far less cluttered from the beginning , and directly out of the boxwood , the Echo Spot is a little more focussed .

How the screens can be used varies between equipment . The biggest difference is that the Echo Show 5 can show video , whereas the Echo Spot ca n’t . With an Echo Show 5 , you may learn recipe videos or even catch up on Prime Video subject ; however , my chief purpose of the Echo Show 5 is for answering myRing Battery Video Doorbell Pro .

As the berth does n’t support any picture eat it can only sound an audible alert when someone press my doorbell , but I have to get my sound out to see who ’s there or to serve the call . For me , this make water the Echo Show 5 a better choice .

The two gimmick share some features : ask about the weather , and both will show the forecast on screen ; controlling a smart twist using your vocalism brings up skin senses controls to make fitting , such as a slider to change a light ’s brightness ; and play music , and there are playback ascendancy and go after skip release .

Even so , the Echo Show 5 can do more , thanks to its high resolution screen . For example , ask for local restaurants , and the Show 5 will show the outcome on - screen ; the Echo Spot can only read out the listings , the same as a regular Echo Dot .

At night , both devices can dim their screens mechanically , show just a clock that ’s bright enough to register , but dip enough that they do n’t raise up you . Both reserve warning equipment to be set , and you may doze ( but not stop ) and warning signal by tap the top of either twist .

Thanks to its build - in webcam , only the Echo Show 5 can make video calls . For some mass , having a webcam in a bedchamber is a big no , which makes the Spot a right choice if absolute privacy is your main worry . However , the Show 5 does have a physical tv camera shutter , so you could permanently turn off the camera if you do n’t want to employ it .

The Audio quality is very similar

The Echo Show has a 1.75 - inch speaker , and the Echo Spot has a 1.73 - inch front - firing speaker . Audio quality is very similar between the two equipment . I found that there ’s a good amount of bass on each , and the maximum book is good , but the audio sounds coarse at the high end , and there ’s not much detail .

Speech character is very dear , so both smart Speaker are ripe for talk radio , Alexa responses and podcasts . For euphony , periodic enjoyment is okay , but if you want better audio character , theEcho Show 8 ( 3rdGeneration)is a well smart display , and theEcho ( 4thGeneration)is a better smart talker .

Which one is best?

If you just want a smart clock , the focussed Echo Spot is a straight machine . It adds a act extra thanks to the small touchscreen show . However , it ’s only a piddling gimcrack than the Echo Show 5 , which has more features thanks to its better screen and it integrate comfortably with Ring doorbells . That will make the Echo Show 5 a better choice for most people .

If you do n’t care about having a showing , theEcho Dot ( 5thGeneration)has similar intelligent tone , but is cheaper than both merchandise . The nonaged caution is that during its launch period over Prime Day , until July 18 , the Echo Spot costs just £ 49.99/$44.99 for Prime member , which is great value .

Full specifications