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

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

Full Voice Assistants comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon.
2026 verdict
Screen or no screen? The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the stronger pick, adding a touchscreen and a full Zigbee, Thread and Matter hub the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) skips.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
Winner
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
$149.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
Its 8-inch display shows Ring and Blink feeds at a glance, runs video calls with a physical camera-off switch, and its built-in hub controls Zigbee and Thread accessories without another box in the room. The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) answers back with a lower price, a higher owner rating, and a temperature sensor the Show 8 leaves out, and it is still the pick for a nightstand or a second room where a screen would be wasted. Both are Alexa-only, with no Google Home or Apple HomeKit, and both gate glass-breaking and smoke alarm alerts behind a subscription. Buy the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) for a kitchen or living room that wants a hub and a screen in one box, and the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) for an affordable speaker anywhere else.
vs
Deals by email

Voice Assistant 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 Dot (5th Gen)Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)Winner
Price$39.99$149.99Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Rating4.74.4Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Warranty90 days1 yearAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
HubMatter BridgeZigbee Coordinator, Thread Border Router, Matter BridgeAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
ScreenNOYESAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, BluetoothTie
IntegrationsAlexa, Home AssistantAlexa, Home AssistantTie
SensorsMotion, TemperatureMotion, Ambient LightTie
AlertsGlass breaking, Smoke/CO alarmGlass breaking, Smoke/CO alarmTie
Voice MatchYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Smart home hub

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is a Zigbee coordinator, Thread border router and Matter bridge, so it can run compatible accessories directly. The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) only bridges Matter, so it needs another hub for Zigbee or Thread devices.

Screen

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) has an 8-inch touchscreen for camera feeds, video calls and recipes. The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) has no display at all, so anything visual is out of scope.

Size and weight

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) weighs 1034g against the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)'s 304g, so the Dot is the one that tucks onto a nightstand or travels between rooms without a thought.

Warranty

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) carries a one-year warranty, while the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is covered for only 90 days.

Sensors

The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) has a temperature sensor the Show 8 lacks, useful for simple heating or cooling automations. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) instead has an ambient light sensor that adjusts its screen to the room.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both Echo devices praise the same core things: fast, responsive Alexa and audio that ends up fuller than the size suggests, several calling the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) sound a real step up over their older Echoes. Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) owners specifically like calling up Ring or Blink camera feeds on the touchscreen and lean on the built-in Zigbee and Thread hub to skip buying separate hardware, but they mention a home screen that keeps cycling through suggestions and an occasional audio glitch that routes sound to the wrong speaker. Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) owners talk more about how much bass comes out of such a small speaker and how quickly it sets up, while flagging a status light that is hard to see off to the side and a short warranty.

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

Loading price history...

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the stronger overall pick, adding an 8-inch touchscreen and a full Zigbee, Thread and Matter hub. The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is the pick if you want an affordable, highly rated compact speaker instead.

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

A screen and a hub. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) adds an 8-inch touchscreen plus a built-in Zigbee coordinator and Thread border router, while the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is screen-free and only bridges Matter.

Can the Echo Dot (5th Gen) work as a Zigbee or Thread hub?

No. It bridges Matter only. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the one that acts as a Zigbee coordinator and a Thread border router, so it can run those accessories on its own.

Which one has a temperature sensor?

Only the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen). The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) has an ambient light sensor instead, which adjusts its screen brightness to the room.

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

Buy the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) if you want a mid-size touchscreen for camera feeds and video calls, plus a built-in Zigbee, Thread and Matter hub, in a kitchen or living room.

Who should buy the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)?

Buy the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) if you want an affordable, highly rated compact Alexa speaker with a temperature sensor for a bedroom or extra room.

Full comparison table

Compare all 19 Voice Assistants side by side

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

  • 19 Voice Assistants
  • 49 specs compared
  • 45 filters
Open the full comparison
More Voice Assistants

Top Voice Assistants to compare next

19 voice assistant devices from Amazon, Google, Apple and Nabu Casa compared: assistants, built-in hubs, screens, privacy controls and prices.

All Voice Assistants
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