(NEW-Open Box) Amazon Echo Show 8 by Alexa (3rd Gen) (2023)

The Amazon Echo Show 8 certainly has its merits, especially if you catch it on a good deal, but it's not without its frustrations. I'm giving it 3 stars because while it excels at a few key tasks, it falls short on others, particularly for those wanting a truly customizable smart home dashboard. My primary use for this device is as an automatic camera display, and for that, it works quite well. Having my security camera feeds pop up automatically is a huge convenience, and the screen quality is good enough to make out details. The sound is also surprisingly decent for its size, which is a nice bonus for casual music listening or video calls. However, the "smart home hub" aspect feels pretty limited in practice. I was hoping for more robust integration and control, but it often feels like a closed Amazon ecosystem. The constant stream of ads and "low price offers" that are difficult to disable or customize is a persistent annoyance. It's like having a billboard in your living room. I wish there were better options to curate the content displayed when it's not actively in use. Furthermore, the inability to easily integrate with Home Assistant is a significant drawback for anyone with a more diverse smart home setup. It forces you to rely on Alexa's native capabilities, which aren't always as flexible or powerful as other platforms. The loss of third-party grocery list support is another minor but irritating regression that highlights Amazon's push towards its own services. Pros: * Excellent Camera Display: Works flawlessly for automatically showing camera feeds, which is a big plus for security monitoring. * Good Screen Quality: The 8-inch HD display is clear and bright for viewing content. * Decent Sound: Surprisingly good audio for its size, suitable for music and calls. * Built-in Smart Home Hub (Limited): Offers some basic smart home control, especially for Zigbee, Matter, and Thread devices. * Value for Money (on sale): Can be a good deal if you find it discounted, making it an accessible entry point to a smart display. Cons: * Intrusive Ads and Offers: Constant "low price offers" and advertisements clutter the screen and can't be easily turned off or customized. * Limited Smart Home Dashboard: Not as versatile or customizable as a dedicated smart home controller, struggles with broader integrations like Home Assistant. * No Easy Home Assistant Integration: Difficult to incorporate into more advanced smart home setups outside of the Alexa ecosystem. * Removed Third-Party Grocery List Support: Forces reliance on Amazon's own shopping lists, which may not be preferred. * Can Feel Restrictive: The overall experience is very Amazon-centric, limiting choices for certain functions and third-party services. Ultimately, the Echo Show 8 is a good, but not great, smart display. It has its niche uses, especially for camera viewing, but if you're looking for a truly open and flexible smart home command center, you might find its limitations frustrating. It's a deal if you understand its specific strengths and tolerate its Amazon-centric shortcomings.