Amazon Echo Show Review: Is This Thing Worth it?

The Amazon Echo Show is Amazon's latest Echo "Alexa" smart speaker, but this is the first one to ever have a screen. But does the screen really add that much more in terms of features, or is it pointless? I think it can have some usefulness, but it's a mixed bag.

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[FilmFloozy]

Drop In is a good feature. Don't give it access to people you don't want to drop in on you. Use it the same way you would with a room monitor for infants and young children. It's intended to work like a video intercom.

[karenalderson]

'Drop-in' will enable my mother to continue to live independently in her home. This is the primary feature I am interested in!

[reggiehil]

A couple things... If you say the command "show youtube ( whatever you are searching)" it will in fact give you a list of about 30 search results. If you just say "play youtube..." it will just play the top result. Lastly, you don't need only another Echo Show for video calls. If you have the Alexa app on your phone you can video chat from an Echo show to a phone and vis versa. It's works very well...

[ThioJoe]

Would you get an Amazon Echo with a screen 🤔🤔🤔

[DrStinkbomb]

Drop in is awesome. We use it in our home as an intercom system with Echo Dots in multiples rooms. Love it. And if someone in a room needs privacy they just tap the MUTE button and you can't drop in on them. If you drop in and they don't want a drop in, they just ask Alexa to stop drop and mute.

[dm]

Someone will find a way to run Doom on it i guarantee it

[Macsking]

Why does it need to have a camera? That shit makes it even creepier.

[vandraiss]

I have 3 Shows. Some may complain about their weight but their weight makes it possible to use the touch screen without pushing the Show all over the table or desk. Using "Drop-In" I can view other areas of my house or communicate with family or friends when I authorize it. I can also bring up the views of 3 security cameras on the Shows to see what's happening on my porch or around the yard. The video screen adds great value to the calendar, shopping lists, timers, recipes or appointments. A Show can also "Drop-In" on a Echo Dot. I have a Dot in the garage and can drop-in on it with a Show or another Dot from the house. This makes it useful as an Intercom or to simply check out a noise you heard that may or may not be coming from your garage. Between my house and automobiles I have 10 Echo devices (Dots, Dashes, Shows, ROAV Viva, and the New Fire TV Cube). They control 24 devices including lights, Security alarms and cameras, door lock and video doorbell, home heating and cooling, weather station, cable box, TV, DVD and sound system. I use the Shows more than any other Echo product.

[mrbrewrites]

I appreciate the time and effort you put into doing this video. When considering a purchase I like to watch reviews that focus on the Pros as well as the Cons. I also add in the mix a review that just provides features and how they work. In another review I watched the reviewer was clearly in the Pro column and he pointed out exactly how I would use this and why it was a good choice for my needs. I won't be turning on the drop in feature on the ones that have screens but the one that has a screen is a great solution for communicating with my mom. From her having photos on it, to video calls with the family, to playing music, or watching a movie while she is cooking, setting timers, getting the weather, and news it will be a welcomed kitchen appliance for the both of us. No need for her to have to get out her phone and struggle with it to see my daughter when we call. Plus all she has to do is say "Alex, call my son". Thanks for your honest review and impression. Much appreciated. Keep them coming, I did give you a thumbs up even though I didn't come to the same conclusion that you did.

[thebets]

First off I love your reviews always find them helpful and thanks for always being so helpful. I thought the same thing about drop in but it proved to be highly helpful for my mother who is caring for my father who is unable to move on his own anymore. She can go to her garden or run an errand now and easily check in on him and with a voice command he can call her. Its proven to be very helpful for them. Baby cams have short ranges and Nest Drop- cams have poor intercom abilities compared to the Echo Show. So I have to say drop-in is extremely helpful in a small amount of cases such as ours and we love it (who wouldve thought).

[andrejnikolic]

It looks like vintage interpretation of future.

[TheTinkerDad]

Dude, you totally misunderstood the drop in feature...

[dnashj]

The DROP IN feature could be great for employers who have remote staff members. During certain work hours, the employees would need to be at their desk and be available for Drop In's, just like an employer would, on site. I think the main reason they added it is for parents to be able to check in on their toddlers. It's very much worthwhile in such cases.

[BatteryExhausted]

Drop in is AMAZING for caring for an elderly or disabled relative.
Good one for not being able to see past your own nose, mr selfish.

[thebigk]

Unless you're going on a long trip and then you can use it as a security camera or if you're out of you're house and then you can use it to talk to you're dog.

[Reedith]

i love drop in use it with my grandma every day

[josephfan]

Regarding YouTube videos, if you say “Alexa, search <content> on YouTube” it will bring up a list of videos for you to chose from.

[clydeosterhout]

I know this is an old review, but as Amazon is closing out its Gen1 Shows for a very low $99, potential buyers might want to know that the Gen1 model has been software updated to the Gen2 standard, making the screen much more useful. In addition the Gen1 show can run YouTube again, and it has a browser!
The drop in feature is one of the things we use most! We have two residences, and it is nice to be able to check on things when we are away. But we are very careful about who can access it!

[PerezRivera]

I got one for 136 price went down is no worth 200 bucks. But for the price i got it. I love it

[TechNetium]

I've used the drop-in feature on my Amazon Echo (standard) many, many times, and I love it!! My family is pretty bad about answering their phones when they're at home (I'm mutually guilty, tbh) and so the ability to drop in and talk to them has been tremendously helpful. If I get sick of waiting for a text response, if I call but get no answer, or even if I want to make sure no one is in my room when they aren't supposed to be, the drop in feature has been a fantastic tool.

So there's my 2 cents xD