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Voice Assistants · Head to head

Amazon Echo (4th Gen) vs Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)

Full Voice Assistants comparison in 2026

Updated September 2026
Data from Amazon.
2026 verdict
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Winner
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
$99.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is the stronger voice assistant here, earning a higher owner rating, adding a temperature sensor, and offering fuller smart home hub support with a Zigbee coordinator and Thread border router that the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) does not include. The Echo Show 5 fights back on things the sphere lacks: a compact 5.5-inch touchscreen, a camera, and a longer one-year warranty against the Echo's 90 days, plus a lower price that makes it an easy bedside display. Both are Alexa-only, both add motion sensing and a Matter bridge, and both keep the assistant in the cloud. Pick the 4th Gen Echo for a better-rated speaker that also runs Zigbee and Thread, and the Echo Show 5 if you want an affordable small screen for the nightstand.
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FeatureAmazon Echo (4th Gen)Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)Winner
Price$99.99$59.99Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)
Rating4.74.2Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Warranty90 days1 yearAmazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)
HubZigbee Coordinator, Thread Border Router, Matter BridgeMatter BridgeAmazon Echo (4th Gen)
ScreenNOYESAmazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)
SensorsMotion, TemperatureMotionAmazon Echo (4th Gen)
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, BluetoothTie
IntegrationsAlexa, Home AssistantAlexa, Home AssistantTie
AlertsGlass breaking, Smoke/CO alarmGlass breaking, Smoke/CO alarmTie
Voice MatchYESYESTie

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 (4th Gen)
  • Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Amazon Echo (4th Gen) or Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)?

The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is better overall, with a higher owner rating, an added temperature sensor, and full Zigbee/Thread hub support. The Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is the pick if you want a screen and camera on a smaller budget.

What is the biggest difference between the Echo (4th Gen) and the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)?

Hub capability and display. The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is a full Zigbee coordinator and Thread border router but has no screen, while the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) adds a 5.5-inch touchscreen and camera but only bridges Matter and cannot control Zigbee or Thread directly.

Does the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) work as a Zigbee or Thread hub?

No. The Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) works only as a Matter bridge and is not a Zigbee coordinator or Thread border router, so it needs a separate hub for those protocols. The Echo (4th Gen) handles all three.

Which one has a longer warranty and a screen?

The Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) has a one-year warranty plus a 5.5-inch touchscreen and camera, while the Echo (4th Gen) has a 90-day warranty and no display, relying on voice and the Alexa app.

Who should buy the Amazon Echo (4th Gen)?

Buy the Echo (4th Gen) if you want a highly rated speaker that also runs your Zigbee, Thread, and Matter devices and you do not need a screen.

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

Buy the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) if you want an affordable small touchscreen and camera for a nightstand or kitchen counter, plus a longer one-year warranty.

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