Displays · Head to head

Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)

Full Smart Displays comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon.
2026 verdict
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the better smart display of the pair, with a bigger, sharper 8-inch screen and a full Zigbee, Thread and Matter hub, while the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) fits spots the larger one will not.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
Winner
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)

Last recorded priceOct 10, 2026$149.99

Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA
Both run Alexa, join 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, have a camera with a privacy switch and a motion sensor, and skip Google Home, HomeKit and SmartThings. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) also adds an ambient light sensor and a screen at 1280 x 800 pixels against 960 x 480. The Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is a Matter bridge only, and it weighs under half as much at 456 g. Pick the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) for a kitchen or a smart home hub, and the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) for a nightstand or a desk.
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FeatureAmazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)Winner
Rating4.24.4Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
HubMatter BridgeZigbee Coordinator, Thread Border Router, Matter BridgeAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
Screen Size5.5"8"Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
SensorsMotionMotion, Ambient LightAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, BluetoothTie
IntegrationsAlexa, Home AssistantAlexa, Home AssistantTie
Voice AssistantAmazon AlexaAmazon AlexaTie
CameraYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Screen size and sharpness

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) has an 8 inch screen at 1280 x 800 pixels. The Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) has a 5.5 inch screen at 960 x 480, which is enough for a clock, a timer or a glance at the weather but small for a recipe or a video.

Smart home hub

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is a Zigbee coordinator, a Thread border router and a Matter bridge, so it can run Zigbee and Thread devices directly. The Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is a Matter bridge only, with no Zigbee or Thread radio.

Sensors

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) adds an ambient light sensor next to the motion sensor both have. It lets the screen adjust its brightness to the room.

Size and weight

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) weighs 456 g and is 147 mm wide, which fits on a nightstand. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) weighs 1,034 g and is 200 mm wide, so it wants a counter.

Speed

Owners of the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) describe menus that lag and slow voice responses, while owners of the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) call it snappy.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both Echo Show models praise sound that is better than the size suggests, an easy guided setup, the physical camera cover and everyday use for timers, alarms and video calls. Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) owners like it as a bedside clock and a small kitchen display, and complain about a slow processor with laggy menus, a clock screen that can go blank and ads that have to be switched off one by one. Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) owners call it well balanced, with a snappy screen, spatial-audio sound and built-in hub, and they report that the move to the new Alexa+ app disturbed speaker groups, camera display and music preferences for some, and that it is a weaker long-term member of multi-room music groups.

Upgrading from the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)?

Moving from the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) to the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) buys a larger, sharper screen, a Zigbee coordinator and Thread border router, an ambient light sensor and a faster feel. It is worth it if you use the display in a kitchen or as your main smart home hub. If yours sits on a nightstand as a clock and timer, the extra size mostly adds counter space you may not have.

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 Show 5 (3rd Gen)
  • Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) or Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)?

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen), for its larger screen, higher resolution, ambient light sensor and built-in Zigbee and Thread hub. The Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is the better choice for a small space.

What is the difference between the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) and the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)?

Size and hub features. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) has an 8 inch screen and works as a Zigbee coordinator and Thread border router, while the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) has a 5.5 inch screen and is only a Matter bridge.

Do the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) and the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) work with Google Home?

No. Both work with Alexa, and Home Assistant is only partial. Neither supports Google Home, Apple HomeKit or SmartThings.

Does the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) have a camera like the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)?

Yes. Both have a camera with an off switch, plus a mic off switch and a motion sensor, so both can make video calls.

Who should buy the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)?

People who want a kitchen display or a smart home hub that runs Zigbee and Thread devices, and who value a faster, sharper screen.

Who should buy the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)?

People who want a compact Alexa display for a nightstand or a desk and are fine with a slower processor and a smaller screen.

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