Live nowPrime Day 2026October 6 to 7, 2026Starts in--d--h--m--sSee the deals
Displays · Head to head

Amazon Echo Hub vs Amazon Echo Show 21

Full Smart Displays comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon.
2026 verdict
Amazon Echo Show 21 comes out ahead of the Amazon Echo Hub because it is a full smart display with a camera, not only a control panel.
Amazon Echo Show 21
Winner
Amazon Echo Show 21
$349.99$499.9930% OFF
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It pairs a 21-inch 1920 x 1080 screen with a camera and physical shutter for video calls, 6 GHz Wi-Fi and built-in Fire TV, and it is the better reviewed of the two. Both run Alexa, both are Zigbee coordinators, Thread border routers and Matter bridges, and both mount on a wall, so the hub side is a draw. The Amazon Echo Hub is the leaner answer for a wall dashboard: an 8-inch panel that weighs 365 g, adds Ethernet and an ambient light sensor, and costs considerably less. Choose the Amazon Echo Show 21 if the screen will also be your kitchen TV and photo frame, and the Amazon Echo Hub if all you want is a slim wall panel to run the house.
vs
Deals by email

Display prices change while you decide

We follow prices across the catalog and email you the best deals we find.

Smart home deals and news, straight to your inbox

Price drops, new releases and the smart home news worth knowing.

No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Please enter a valid email address.
Your subscription has been successful.
FeatureAmazon Echo HubAmazon Echo Show 21Winner
Price$179.99$349.99Amazon Echo Hub
Rating3.94.4Amazon Echo Show 21
Screen Size8"21"Amazon Echo Show 21
CameraNOYESAmazon Echo Show 21
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, 6 GHz WiFi, BluetoothTie
IntegrationsAlexa, Home AssistantAlexa, Home AssistantTie
HubZigbee Coordinator, Thread Border Router, Matter BridgeZigbee Coordinator, Thread Border Router, Matter BridgeTie
Voice AssistantAmazon AlexaAmazon AlexaTie
SensorsMotion, Ambient LightMotion, Ambient LightTie

What the differences mean

Screen and what it is for

The Amazon Echo Show 21 has a 21-inch Full HD screen built for streaming, photos and a family calendar. The Amazon Echo Hub has an 8-inch 1280 x 800 panel built to show device tiles and routines, not to watch shows on.

Camera

Only the Amazon Echo Show 21 has a camera, with a physical off switch, so it handles video calls and Drop In. The Amazon Echo Hub has no camera, which some buyers prefer for a panel in a hallway.

Size on the wall

The Amazon Echo Hub is 15 mm thin and weighs 365 g, close to a picture frame. The Amazon Echo Show 21 measures 540 x 350 mm and is a TV-sized object on the wall or on its stand.

Network

The Amazon Echo Show 21 adds 6 GHz Wi-Fi; the Amazon Echo Hub adds an Ethernet option. For a panel that must stay online, the wired connection can matter more than the newer band.

Hub roles

No difference here: both are Zigbee coordinators, Thread border routers and Matter bridges, so either one can be the hub of an Alexa home.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both Amazon devices use them the same way at least part of the time, as a wall dashboard that puts Ring and other camera feeds one tap away, and both groups say the built-in speakers are the weak spot, with Amazon Echo Hub owners routing audio to another Echo and Amazon Echo Show 21 owners adding a soundbar. Past that the two groups describe different products. Amazon Echo Show 21 owners love a screen readable across the room, Fire TV streaming every major app, synced calendars and a photo frame that looks like art, and they complain about Alexa+ misreading words, refusing portrait mode and updates that broke features. Amazon Echo Hub owners value one panel for devices, groups and routines and hands-free Alexa+, and complain about slow, glitchy software, a tricky in-wall power install and a device marketed as more than the control panel it is.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Amazon Echo Hub
  • Amazon Echo Show 21

Loading price history...

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Amazon Echo Hub or Amazon Echo Show 21?

The Amazon Echo Show 21 as an all-round device: it has a 21-inch Full HD screen, a camera, Fire TV and 6 GHz Wi-Fi, and it is the better reviewed. The Amazon Echo Hub is the better buy when all you need is a slim, affordable wall panel to control an Alexa home.

What is the difference between the Echo Show and the Echo Hub?

The Amazon Echo Show 21 is a smart display for watching, calling and organising, with a camera and Fire TV. The Amazon Echo Hub is a smart home control panel with no camera, built to sit on the wall and show devices, routines and camera feeds. Both are Zigbee, Thread and Matter hubs.

Are the Amazon Echo Hub and the Amazon Echo Show 21 both smart home hubs?

Yes. Both are Zigbee coordinators, Thread border routers and Matter bridges, so either can connect those devices to Alexa without a separate hub.

Can both be mounted on a wall?

Yes. The Amazon Echo Hub is designed for the wall and is only 15 mm thin. The Amazon Echo Show 21 also wall-mounts, or sits on a stand, but at 540 x 350 mm it is a much larger object.

Who should buy the Amazon Echo Show 21?

Alexa households that want one big screen for the kitchen or a common room: a TV with Fire TV, a family calendar, a photo frame, video calls and a smart home dashboard.

Who should buy the Amazon Echo Hub?

Alexa users who want a dedicated, slim wall dashboard for their devices, with Zigbee, Thread and Matter built in, Ethernet as an option and no camera.

Full comparison table

Compare all 16 Displays side by side

You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Displays in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.

  • 16 Displays
  • 42 specs compared
  • 38 filters
Open the full comparison
More Displays

Top Displays to compare next

16 smart displays from 5 brands compared: Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub and more. Screen size, sound, built-in hub, cameras and prices.

All Displays
Amazon

More Amazon products

A sharper look at other Amazon products worth comparing.

Explore Amazon
Independent · Not sponsoredBrands never pay for placement or rankings. Affiliate commissions never influence our comparisons.
© 2026 Smart Home Compared
Search