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Voice Assistants · Head to head

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) vs Google Nest Audio

Full Voice Assistants comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Google site.
2026 verdict
Video calls, recipes and doorbell feeds are what tip this pairing: the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the more capable voice assistant than the Google Nest Audio.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
Winner
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
$149.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
Beyond its 8-inch touchscreen and a camera with its own off switch, it is a Zigbee coordinator and Thread border router and carries motion and ambient light sensors. The Google Nest Audio is the more affordable pick, keeps play and pause buttons, comes in five colors and can run its conversation agent locally, but it is a speaker with no screen. Both carry a one year warranty, a mic-off switch and a Matter bridge. Go with the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) for an Alexa kitchen or bedroom display, and the Google Nest Audio for a Google home that only needs sound and voice control.
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FeatureAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)Google Nest AudioWinner
Price$149.99$119.99Google Nest Audio
HubZigbee Coordinator, Thread Border Router, Matter BridgeMatter BridgeAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
ScreenYESNOAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
SensorsMotion, Ambient LightNoneAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
Rating4.44.4Tie
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, BluetoothTie
IntegrationsAlexa, Home AssistantGoogle Home, Home AssistantTie
AlertsGlass breaking, Smoke/CO alarmGlass breaking, Smoke/CO alarmTie
Voice MatchYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Screen and camera

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) has an 8-inch touchscreen and a camera for video calls, recipes and camera feeds, with a switch that turns the camera off. The Google Nest Audio has no screen and no camera, so all feedback is spoken.

Assistant and ecosystem

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is Alexa only and the Google Nest Audio is Google Assistant only. Neither supports Apple HomeKit or SmartThings, so pick the one that matches the platform your devices already use.

Smart home hub

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is a Zigbee coordinator, a Thread border router and a Matter bridge. The Google Nest Audio is only a Matter bridge, so Zigbee and Thread devices would need another hub.

Sensors

Motion and ambient light sensors let the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) wake the screen and adapt its brightness as you walk in. The Google Nest Audio has no motion or light sensing.

Physical controls

The Google Nest Audio has play and pause controls on the device, which the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) lacks; both have volume controls and a mic-off switch.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both devices praise the audio and a setup that takes minutes in the app, and both groups mention the mic-off switch. Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) owners single out the pairing of a sharp screen with spatial audio, use it to check Ring or Blink cameras at a glance, and value the built-in hub; their complaints are a home screen that cycles through suggestions and ads, and software quirks such as audio routing to the wrong speaker. Google Nest Audio owners talk about balanced sound with solid bass, touch volume controls and how easily it joins other Nest devices, while a few report Bluetooth dropping and trouble getting a music service to play the exact song requested.

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 8 (3rd Gen)
  • Google Nest Audio

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) or the Google Nest Audio?

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) does more: an 8-inch touchscreen, a camera, motion and light sensors and a built-in Zigbee and Thread hub. The Google Nest Audio is the better choice only if your home runs on Google and you want a speaker rather than a display.

Google Nest vs Amazon Echo Show: what is the main difference?

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is an Alexa smart display with a screen and camera, while the Google Nest Audio is a Google Assistant speaker with no screen. Each works only with its own platform.

Do the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) and the Google Nest Audio have the same warranty?

Yes. Both the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) and the Google Nest Audio are covered for one year.

Can the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) or the Google Nest Audio replace a smart home hub?

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) can for many homes, since it is a Zigbee coordinator, Thread border router and Matter bridge. The Google Nest Audio is only a Matter bridge.

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

Alexa households that want a kitchen or bedside display for video calls, recipes and camera feeds, and a built-in hub for Zigbee and Thread devices.

Who should buy the Google Nest Audio?

Google Home households that want an affordable shelf speaker for music and voice control, with no need for a screen or camera.

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