Quick verdict
The short answer
The Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the sweet spot of Amazon’s smart display lineup: an 8-inch HD touchscreen with room-filling spatial audio, a sharp 13MP auto-framing camera, and — uniquely at this price — a full smart home hub with Zigbee, Matter, Thread, and Sidewalk built in. At $149.99 list (often $90–$130 on sale, and $80 refurbished), it does nearly everything the bigger models do for far less money.
The wrinkle in 2026 is that Amazon now sells a 4th-gen Echo Show 8 ($179) with a larger 8.7-inch display, the AZ3 Pro chip built for Alexa+, Wi-Fi 6E, and better audio. The 3rd Gen remains on sale and fully supported, and at clearance prices it’s arguably the better value — but go in knowing the newer model exists. If you want one great all-around Alexa display for a kitchen, bedroom, or office, the Show 8 3rd Gen at ~$100 is still one of the best deals in smart home.
Longevity is worth a word. The 3rd Gen launched in late 2023, and Amazon’s track record with Echo Show software support is strong — even much older Shows still receive updates. The AZ2 chip handles current Alexa duties comfortably, and the Zigbee/Matter/Thread radio stack is the same one in the 4th Gen, so as a smart home hub it isn’t outclassed. The main thing you’d miss versus the 4th Gen is the newest Alexa+ experiences and Wi-Fi 6E — relevant if you’re buying into Alexa+ heavily, less so if you just want a dependable display that controls your home and plays music.
This is a research-based review. We have not tested the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) hands-on; every fact below comes from the manufacturer’s published specs, pricing, and independent reporting. Prices and specs checked September 30, 2026.
Key specs
| Display | 8-inch HD touchscreen, 1280 x 800, edge-to-edge glass |
| Processor | Amazon AZ2 Neural Edge processor |
| Camera | 13MP centered camera with auto-framing and built-in shutter |
| Audio | 2 x 2-inch neodymium stereo speakers with passive bass radiator; spatial audio processing |
| Voice assistant | Alexa; adaptive content that changes when someone approaches |
| Smart home hub | Zigbee, Matter (over Wi-Fi/Thread), Thread Border Router, Amazon Sidewalk |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Dual-band Wi-Fi 5; Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Microphones | 4 far-field microphones; mic-off button |
| Power | 30W adapter with 4.9 ft cord |
| Size / weight | 200 x 139 x 106 mm (7.9 x 5.5 x 4.2 in); 1,034 g (2.28 lb) |
| Colors | Charcoal, Glacier White |
| Newer model | Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025): $179, 8.7-inch 1340×800 display, AZ3 Pro chip, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Price and availability
The Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) lists at $149.99, but Amazon discounts it relentlessly: $89–$129 is the typical sale range (it hit $89 as an all-time low), and certified refurbished units have appeared for $80 with a 90-day warranty. There’s also a bundle with an Alexa Emergency Assist subscription ($5.99/month) for a few dollars more, aimed at households with elderly relatives.
The existence of the 4th Gen ($179, 2025) complicates the decision: it has a bigger screen, newer AZ3 Pro silicon for Alexa+, Wi-Fi 6E, and upgraded audio. Our take: at $90–$110, the 3rd Gen is the value king and does everything most households need; at $149.99 full price, the 4th Gen’s $30 premium is worth serious consideration. Confirm both prices before deciding.
What it’s good at
- The complete smart home hub: Zigbee, Matter, Thread border router, and Sidewalk in a $90–$150 display is unmatched. It can directly pair Zigbee bulbs, sensors, and locks with no extra bridge — the Show 15 2nd Gen can’t even do that.
- Excellent audio for the size: Dual 2-inch drivers with a passive bass radiator and spatial audio processing produce room-filling sound that reviewers rate among the best in any 8-inch display. It doubles as a genuinely good kitchen or bedroom speaker.
- Best-in-class voice pickup: Independent testing measured ~94% voice recognition at 20 feet — the strongest far-field performance in the Echo lineup — with adaptive listening that recalibrates to ambient noise.
- Great video calling: The centered 13MP camera with auto-framing keeps you in frame as you move, and the shutter gives a physical privacy guarantee. It also works as a motion-triggered smart camera for routines.
- Adaptive, glanceable display: Content intelligently shifts based on proximity — detailed up close, glanceable from across the room — and the edge-to-edge glass looks far more premium than the price suggests.
- Fire TV Channels and widgets: It runs Fire TV’s channel experience for countertop TV duty and supports home-screen widgets for calendars, weather, and smart home shortcuts.
Where it falls short
- Superseded hardware: The 4th Gen (2025) brings a larger, sharper display, the AZ3 Pro chip purpose-built for Alexa+, Wi-Fi 6E, and better audio for $30 more at list. The 3rd Gen’s AZ2 is fine today but is now last-generation silicon.
- 8 inches is small for shared spaces: It’s perfect for a desk or nightstand, but as a family kitchen hub viewed from across the room, the Show 15’s 15.6-inch screen is meaningfully more glanceable.
- Tabletop only: Unlike the Show 15 or Echo Hub, there’s no wall-mount option — it needs counter or shelf space near an outlet.
- Alexa-only ecosystem: No HomeKit support and limited Google Home integration. If your household isn’t Alexa-first, a Nest Hub fits better.
- Amazon’s content layer: Rotating suggestions and sponsored content on the home screen require some settings-tweaking to tame, and the experience nudges you toward Amazon services.
Who should buy it
Alexa households that want one versatile display per key room — kitchen for recipes and timers, bedroom as a smart alarm clock with tap-to-snooze, office for video calls and music. It’s also the cheapest path to a full Zigbee/Matter/Thread smart home hub with a screen attached. At $90–$110 on sale, it’s the default recommendation for most buyers.
Who should skip it
Anyone who wants the newest Alexa+ hardware (get the 4th Gen), households needing a wall-mounted panel (Echo Hub), Google/Nest or HomeKit-first homes, and buyers who need a large shared-family display (Echo Show 15). If it’s selling at full $149.99 with no sale in sight, the 4th Gen at $179 deserves a long look.
Verdict
4.6 / 5 — The best all-around Alexa smart display for most people: superb audio, the strongest voice pickup in the lineup, and a full smart-home hub at a price that regularly dips near $100. Only the newer 4th Gen keeps it from scoring higher.
FAQ
What’s the difference between the Echo Show 8 3rd Gen and 4th Gen?
The 4th Gen (2025, $179) has a larger 8.7-inch 1340×800 display, the AZ3 Pro chip built for Alexa+, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, upgraded audio (2.8-inch woofer + full-range drivers), and 5 mics. The 3rd Gen ($149.99 list, often ~$100 on sale) has the AZ2 chip, Wi-Fi 5, and slightly smaller screen — but the same 13MP camera and full Zigbee/Matter/Thread hub.
Does the Echo Show 8 work as a Zigbee hub?
Yes — unlike the Echo Show 15, the Show 8 (3rd Gen) includes a built-in Zigbee hub plus Matter, Thread border router, and Amazon Sidewalk, so it can directly control Zigbee bulbs, plugs, sensors, and locks without a separate bridge.
Can I make video calls on the Echo Show 8?
Yes. The 13MP centered camera with auto-framing supports Alexa-to-Alexa video calls, Drop In intercom-style calls to other Echo devices, and calls to the Alexa app on phones. A physical shutter covers the camera when not in use.
Can it be wall-mounted?
Not officially — the Show 8 is designed for tabletop use with its built-in angled stand. For a wall-mounted Alexa panel, look at the Echo Hub instead.
Where to buy
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