Amazon's Echo line-up is designed for Alexa+, Amazon's newer, more conversational assistant. All four devices here play music, answer questions, set timers and control compatible smart home gear. What changes is how good they sound, whether you get a screen, and whether they can act as a smart home hub.
Speakers: Echo Dot vs Echo Dot Max
The Echo Dot is small and clear, and is ideal for a bedroom or home office. The Echo Dot Max adds a much bigger sound with nearly twice the bass, so it fills a living room and is much better for music. It also has a smart home hub built in, which lets it connect compatible devices directly.
Displays: Echo Show 5 vs Echo Show 8
The Echo Show 5 is a compact screen that works well as a smart alarm clock and for quick video calls. The Echo Show 8 has a much larger 8.7" screen, spatial audio and a sharper camera, which makes it the better choice for following recipes, watching video and calling family.
Privacy
Each Echo has a microphone off button, and the Echo Show models have a built-in camera shutter.
How to pay less
Echo devices are among the most heavily discounted products during Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days and Black Friday, and Amazon often sells bundles with a stand or smart bulb. Use the Check price buttons to see today's price.
1. Echo Dot Max
A bigger-sounding Dot with nearly twice the bass, room-filling sound and a smart home hub built in.
What we like
- Nearly 2x the bass of Echo Dot
- Room-filling sound for living rooms
- Built-in smart home hub
- Can be stereo-paired
Watch out for
- Costs more than Echo Dot
- No screen
- Type
- Smart speaker
- Screen
- No
- Sound
- Woofer + tweeter, nearly 2x Dot bass
- Smart home hub
- Yes
- Camera
- No
- Best for
- Living rooms, music
2. Echo Show 8 (2025)
The best all-round Echo for the kitchen or living room: an 8.7" screen, spatial audio, a sharper camera and a smart home hub.
What we like
- 8.7" screen for recipes, video and photos
- Spatial audio
- Sharper camera for video calls
- Built-in smart home hub
Watch out for
- Most expensive of the four
- Bigger footprint
- Type
- Smart display
- Screen
- 8.7"
- Sound
- Spatial audio
- Smart home hub
- Yes
- Camera
- Yes, with shutter
- Best for
- Kitchens, living rooms, video calls
3. Echo Dot
Amazon's compact Alexa+ speaker: clear sound for its size, motion and temperature sensors for routines, and a tiny footprint.
What we like
- Lowest-priced Echo speaker
- Compact for bedrooms, kitchens and offices
- Built-in motion and temperature sensors for routines
- Works with Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music and more
Watch out for
- Limited bass
- No built-in smart home hub
- Type
- Smart speaker
- Screen
- No
- Sound
- Single speaker
- Smart home hub
- No
- Camera
- No
- Best for
- Bedrooms, offices, first Echo
4. Echo Show 5
A small smart display that works as an alarm clock, photo frame and video-call screen, with twice the bass of the previous model.
What we like
- Compact 5.5" screen for bedsides and desks
- See the time, weather, timers and cameras
- Video calls with camera shutter
- 2x the bass of the previous Show 5
Watch out for
- Small screen for video
- Basic camera
- Type
- Smart display
- Screen
- 5.5"
- Sound
- Single speaker
- Smart home hub
- No
- Camera
- Yes, with shutter
- Best for
- Bedside, desk, alarm clock
The verdict
Echo Dot Max is the best speaker for most homes. Echo Show 8 is the best if you want a screen for recipes and video calls. Pick the Echo Dot for a small room on a budget and the Echo Show 5 for the bedside.
FAQs
Of these four, the Echo Dot Max, with nearly twice the bass of the Echo Dot. The Echo Show 8 is the best-sounding display thanks to spatial audio.
Only if you want to see recipes, video calls, camera feeds or photos. For music and voice control, a speaker is cheaper.
Yes. All four are designed for Alexa+.
The Echo Dot Max and the Echo Show 8 have a smart home hub built in.
