Amazon announced a new upgrade to some of its devices. The Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 are getting a refresh with higher quality cameras, new color options to blend into your home decor, and more.
The updated Echo Show 5 features the same compact, 5.5 inch display and comes in Charcoal, Glacier White, and the new Deep Sea Blue. The new Echo Show 5 has an upgraded HD camera with double the pixels and a built-in camera shutter, making it perfect for video calls and more. Plus you can access the camera through the Alexa App to check in on your home or pets while you’re away.
You can even set up Alexa to be more proactive by creating a Routine that will turn the lights on as soon as you walk into a room, or conserve energy by turning off devices like Fire TV if you left it on at night.
The upgraded Echo Show 8 has a new, wider, 110-degree field of view that can pan and zoom to keep subjects in the center of the frame while you’re on a video call instead of turning the camera to follow like the Echo Show 10 does. It also boasts a new octa-core processor and dual stereo speakers for clear, balanced sound.
Soon, you’ll also be able to add AR effects to your screen while you’re on a call, like adding backgrounds and animated in call reactions like hearts, laughs, or confetti.
Plus, Amazon focused on minimizing the impact of the new Echo Show devices on the environment by using 100% post-consumer recycled fabric.
The new Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 are available for preorder now. That being said, if you’re not set on getting the latest and greatest version, the current version of the Echo Show 8 is on sale at Amazon for $109.99 down from $130, and the Echo Show 5 is now just $49.99, down from $90.