Amazon has announced the second generation of the Echo Show smart displays, specifically for the 5″ and 8″ models. Both of which come with a few new updates compared to the first generation alternatives, given the series a bit of a facelift for the modern needs.
The All-New Echo Show 5 ($85) will feature a 2MP front-facing camera (2x the resolution of the previous model). It will be available in Charcoal, Glacier White, and Deep Sea Blue (the latter being a new option). Beyond that, there haven’t really been any changes outside of the new Echo Show 5 Kids Edition, which comes with a new chameleon theme and parental controls.
The All-New Echo Show 8 ($130), however, comes with a few more enhancements. One of these is a jump from 1MP to 13MP for its front-facing camera. It also moved from the MediaTek MT 8163 quad-core processor to the MediaTek MT 8183 octa-core processor, which should provide a heavy boost to its performance. Both of which are major selling points for Amazon to drive buyers toward the more expensive ($45 more) option.
The camera on the All-New Echo Show 8 also now has the ability to automatically pan, zoom, and frame to make the user is the focus of the chat at all times.
It also has an over-priced (in our opinion) stand accessory you can buy for it to prop it up with. You’ll likely soon find project files online floating around that will let you 3D print your own though (as well as some generic options, for sure).
Both models will be launching next month. Although pre-orders are active, allowing you to be one of the first to get your hands on one once they do begin shipping on June 9th. You can find the links to the pre-orders of each in the above bold text.
