Skip to main content

Echo Spot vs. Echo Show 5: Is the new Echo Spot the better smart device?

The Amazon Echo Show (3rd Gen) on a table.
Amazon

The Echo Show 5 is one of the smallest smart displays on the market. However, the new Echo Spot also boasts a tiny touchscreen — though it’s more of a smart alarm clock than it is smart display. But if you’re seeking a compact and connected display for your home, is one a better option than the other?

Here’s a closer look at the Echo Spot and Echo Show 5 to help you decide which is better for your needs.

Recommended Videos

Pricing and design

The Echo Spot showing the time.
Amazon

The Echo Spot and Echo Show 5 cost about the same. The new Echo Spot is $80, while the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is slightly more expensive at $90. Their designs are radically different, however, as the Echo Show is a rectangular gadget with its entire front consumed by its display, while the Echo Spot features a circular design with its top half filled with a touchscreen. Both products look great in person and are built for small spaces like home offices, cramped kitchens, or bedroom nightstands.

Winner: Echo Spot

Display size and quality

The third-generation Amazon Echo Show 8.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

The Echo Spot has an ultra-compact touchscreen that’s just 2.83 inches. It gets you a 320 x 240 resolution, which sounds lackluster, but works fine on a screen this size. The Echo Show 5 feels massive in comparison, with a 5.5-inch touchscreen and a 960 x 480 resolution. So if you’re looking to actually stream TV shows or access apps that display a wealth of information, you’ll find the Echo Show 5 to be much more appealing.

Winner: Echo Show 5

Features and smart home connectivity

The Echo Spot on a shelf.
Amazon

Many features are shared between the Echo Spot and Echo Show 5. This includes motion detection, support for Alexa, and the ability to control connected smart devices. However, there are a few big differences to note.

The main difference is the touchscreen size, which makes the Echo Show 5 a better entertainment hub than the Echo Spot. The Echo Show 5 also features a built-in camera for video chats. As for its audio system, you’ll get a 1.75-inch rear-firing speaker. That’s slightly larger than the 1.73 front-firing speaker on the Echo Spot, though both should sound decent and have no problems filling small rooms with soundwaves.

As for the Echo Spot, there’s little found here that can’t be found on the Echo Show 5. It’s slightly smaller than the Echo Show 5 at 4.5 inches wide compared to 5.8 inches wide, so if size is your main concern, the Spot will be easier to cram onto a crowded desk or bedside stand.

Winner: Echo Show 5

Which is better for your home?

If you’re looking for a tiny gadget that fills a variety of roles, the Echo Show 5 is your best option. Not only can it show you the time, let you check the weather, or stream your favorite show, but it’s also compatible with Alexa so you can control the rest of your smart home.

The Echo Spot also works with Alexa, though its tiny screen really limits its functionality as a central entertainment hub. But if you’re seeking a gadget for a nightstand, the Echo Spot truly shines. Not only is it tiny, but it’s purpose-built as a smart alarm clock, making it easy for you to see and control all your alarms at a glance. It’s also slightly cheaper than the Echo Show 5.

You’ll get a lot more bang for your buck with the Echo Show 5, but the Echo Spot is a nice addition to the Amazon lineup for those seeking a compact bedside companion.

Topics
Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
The new smart ice maker from Govee is affordable and versatile
The Govee Ice maker on a black background.

Govee makes all sorts of smart-home products, but one of its most obscure gadgets is the Countertop Ice Maker. Capable of making up to 26 pounds of ice per day and compatible with Alexa, it's a strange (but useful) appliance to have in the kitchen. The company is now giving it an upgrade with the arrival of the GoveeLife Countertop Smart Ice Maker 1s, which takes ice-making to a whole new level.

Along with the ability to produce 26 pounds of ice per day, you can choose from three different ice cube sizes, schedule ice-making and cleaning routines, or take manual control via the Govee mobile app. Along with Alexa and Google Assistant, the Smart Ice Maker 1s also supports Matter -- so you should have no trouble creating powerful automations for your kitchen.

Read more
Eufy’s new smart lock is the company’s first with Matter support
The Eufy Smart Lock E30 on a white background.

Eufy, a smart home brand from Anker, has officially revealed the Eufy Smart Lock E30 -- the company’s first smart lock with Matter support. It’s now available on the Eufy store for $170, and it looks like a nice addition to Eufy's smart lock lineup, joining products like the Video Smart Lock S330 and Smart Lock S230.

If you love syncing all your smart home gadgets together and creating powerful automations, the Smart Lock E30’s Matter compatibility is a big win. This allows you to control the device via hubs like Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Amazon Alexa, giving you more flexibility than you’ll find on most other smart locks.

Read more
Narwal Freo Z Ultra vs. Dreame L40 Ultra: Which is the better robot vacuum?
The Narwal Freo Z Ultra next to furniture.

Several new robot vacuums were revealed at IFA 2024, including the Narwal Freo Z Ultra and Dreame L40 Ultra. The two gadgets share a lot of similarities (including a $1,500 price tag), and there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled upon both if you’re in the market for a robotic floor cleaner.

Thankfully, you can’t go wrong with either. Our Dreame L40 Ultra review found it to be a stellar robot vacuum -- and the same goes for our Narwal Freo Z Ultra review, which called it a marked improvement over the existing Narwal Freo X Ultra.

Read more