Product Review · Smart Speakers · #5 Ranked
Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)
Smart display / mid · Reviewed by Drew · amazon.com live, Sept 28 2026
Why it scored a 81
A complete redesign — a thin 8.7-inch screen floating on a fabric speaker base, a 13MP auto-framing camera and the Zigbee/Thread/Matter hub. Features score high; Value and Satisfaction are held back by the $124.99 price after the August increase and the lack of a physical camera shutter.
What you're getting
- 8.7-inch 1340 x 800 in-cell touch display with wider viewing angles
- 13MP auto-framing camera with 3.3x zoom for calls and home monitoring
- No physical privacy shutter; mic and camera off button only
- Front-facing stereo: 2.8-inch woofer plus two full-range drivers, spatial audio
- AZ3 Pro chip with Alexa+ Early Access
- Built-in hub: Zigbee, Matter and Thread border router; Wi-Fi 6E plus Bluetooth
- Omnisense: temperature, presence, brightness and Visual ID face recognition
- About 8.3 x 5.9 x 5.1 in; optional Adjustable Stand bundle
ViperScore breakdown
At a glance
- 8.7-inch 1340x800 in-cell touch display
- 13MP auto-framing camera with 3.3x zoom
- Front-firing stereo speakers + 2.8-inch woofer; Zigbee/Matter/Thread hub
- Price$124.99
- TierSmart display / mid
- Category rank#5 of 10
Should you buy the Amazon Echo Show 8?
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) is the Alexa smart display for someone who wants a big, bright screen, a 13 MP auto-framing camera for calls, and the full smart-home hub radios in one device. The redesign puts a thin 8.7-inch panel on a fabric speaker base. At $124.99 after the August price increase, it ranks fifth among smart speakers. If you do not need a camera, the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is $100 less; if you want more music, the Echo Studio.
Where it earns its score
- Features of 92. AZ3 Pro chip, Alexa+ Early Access, Zigbee, Matter, Thread, Wi-Fi 6E, and Visual ID face recognition.
- Quality of 86. Front-facing stereo with a 2.8-inch woofer, plus a 1340 x 800 in-cell display with wider viewing angles.
- 13 MP auto-framing camera. Keeps you centered on video calls and doubles as a home monitor with 3.3x zoom.
- Full smart-home hub. The same Zigbee, Matter, and Thread border router as the Echo Studio.
What to know first
- Warranty is the weakest ViperScore factor. It scores 55.
- No physical camera shutter. Only a button to turn the mic and camera off electronically, which some buyers will not accept.
- Value is 78. The August price hike to $124.99 hurt it.
- Alexa only. No Google, no Apple, no AirPlay.
Our verdict
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen) scores 81, a Good Buy, and ranks fifth among smart speakers. Buy it if you want a high-quality Alexa display with a camera and hub in one. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) at 82 is the better value if you can skip the camera, and the Echo Studio at 84 is the better speaker.
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Questions buyers ask
Does the Echo Show 8 4th Gen have a camera shutter?
No. It has a mic and camera off button but no physical shutter.
Is the Echo Show 8 4th Gen a smart home hub?
Yes. It includes Zigbee, Matter, and a Thread border router.
What size is the Echo Show 8 4th Gen screen?
An 8.7-inch 1340 x 800 in-cell touch display with wider viewing angles than previous generations.
Ready to check it out?
Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) · ViperScore 81 · Good Buy · $124.99
How the other 9 smart speakers scored
84Sonos Era 100
84Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen, 2025)
83Amazon Echo Dot Max (2025)
82Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
81Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
80Apple HomePod mini
79Amazon Echo Pop (1st Gen)
79Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
76Google Home Speaker (2026, Gemini)
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