Echo Show 8 1st Gen vs. 2nd Gen: What’s the Difference?

Smart assistants have come a long way as they’ve transitioned from apps to hardware and devices like Nest Hub and Echo Show. Amazon has produced several versions of its smart speaker, and we’re going to take a look at two of the more popular options in our Echo Show 8 1^st Gen vs. 2^nd Gen review.

Echo Show 8 1^st Gen vs. 2^nd Gen: Side-by-Side Comparison

Echo Show 8 1^st Gen vs. 2^nd Gen: What’s the Difference?

While released several years apart, the Echo Show 8s have comparable features. That can make choosing a smart assistant more challenging, especially when you factor in pricing and refurbished models from Amazon.

Design

If you stood the 1^st generation Echo Show 8 next to the Echo Show 8 2021, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. While the company removed the auxiliary jack from the new model, they both measure 7.9” x 5.4” x 3.9” and weigh 36.6 ounces. The camera cover, buttons, and microphones are in the same places as well.

Our Pick

Echo Show 8 (1st Gen)

• 8" HD screen
• Dual-band Wi-Fi
• 1 MP camera with built-in shutter
• 2.0” neodymium speakers with passive bass radiator

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These smart displays won’t take up much space, and there are still two colors to choose from. The 1^st generation Echo Show 8 was launched in Charcoal and Sandstone. The newer model is still available in Charcoal, but Sandstone has been replaced by Glacier White.

If you’re debating between the Echo Show 8 1^st Gen vs. 2^nd Gen based on the design, it’s a draw unless you prefer Sandstone to Glacier White. The omission of the aux jack is significant if you plan to use an external speaker, however.

Display

One of the reasons the Echo Show 8 is so popular, aside from the price, is the roomy touchscreen display. The Show 8 gives users more room to work with than the Echo Show 5, but it doesn’t take up nearly as much space as the Show 15.

While the display strikes the nice balance tablet users are accustomed to, Amazon didn’t change anything with the new model. The original Echo Show 8 has an 8-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1,280 x 800. The resolution is the same as you’ll find on the original 10.1-inch Echo Show from 2018 and the newer 3^rd generation model.

The Echo Show 8 2^nd generation also has an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1,280 x 800. You won’t notice a difference between these touchscreen panels when it comes to color or clarity.

Hardware

You may not be able to see a difference in the design or display of the new Echo Show 8, but Amazon did make a change under the hood. The older model runs off the MediaTek MT8163. It’s an entry-level quad-core chip that is popular on Android tablets.

Great Functionality

Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen)

$129.99

• 13 MP camera with built-in shutter
• Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support
• 8.0" touchscreen
• MediaTek MT 8183 processor

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04/27/2023 07:53 pm GMT

It has 8 GB of onboard storage, which is backed by the cloud. The Echo Show 8 2^nd Gen has the same amount of storage. We assume the RAM is the same, although Amazon doesn’t provide those details. The difference is the processor, as the new model has a MediaTek MT8183.

This is also a popular chip for tablets and other Android-based tech, but considerably faster than the MT8163. It has four more cores with a higher clock speed, which results in a smoother experience on the 2^nd Gen Echo Show 8.

Audio & Video

Consumers use the Echo Show 8 for a number of activities, from watching tutorials to conversing with family and friends. While the display makes that possible, a smart display should have a solid camera and speaker system if you care about audio or video quality.

Ever since the original Echo Show arrive in 2017, Amazon has used cameras and microphones in this lineup. The first two models had a 5MP camera, but Amazon decreased the size in iterations of the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8. These smart speakers have a 1MP camera, which was a significant downgrade.

Well, things improved with the 2^nd Gen Echo Show 8. Amazon upgraded the camera to a 13MP sensor. It’s the same one used on the latest Echo Show 10, and it makes a huge difference in the new model. It has an edge with video, although both systems have dual 2-inch speakers and a passive bass radiator.

Features

We won’t spend much time here, but will give a brief overview for people buying their first Echo Show. Otherwise, if you expected Amazon to roll out new features for a new device, you’ll be sorely disappointed — with maybe one exception.

Both versions of the Echo Show 8 allow you to make video calls, but there is more clarity on the new model. It can also “follow” users to a degree thanks to the new sensor which helps keep you in the frame.  It won’t make a difference if you’re listening to Spotify, but people on the other end of your video calls will appreciate the change.

Voice functionality is excellent on the show thanks to Alexa. You can call up the virtual assistant to get information, tell a joke or check on the weather. Through the app store, you can extend the capabilities of the Echo Show with popular additions like Netflix, or sync up security cameras and video doorbells.

Price & Availability

Pricing on the Echo Show 8 2^nd Gen is straightforward. It had an original MSRP of $129.99 but is frequently on sale for around $75 or less through Amazon promotions. The older Echo Show 8 is actually around the same price — if you can find one in new condition still in stock.

Amazon only has used or refurbished models available, and stock varies with retailers locally and online, as well. The Echo Show 8 Gen 1 is cheaper if you can find it new, and you’ll certainly save a few bucks on factory refurbished models.

Amazon Echo Show: 4 Must-Know Facts

1. Eight versions of the Echo Show have been released since 2017.
2. The Echo Show 15 is the company’s largest Echo Show to date.
3. Echo Show displays have a Drop-In feature that enables an intercom-style function in a home.
4. Amazon revamped the design of the Echo Show beginning with the 2^nd generation.

Echo Show 8 1^st Gen vs. 2^nd Gen: Which One Is Better?

Sometimes, when a company launches an upgrade, choosing between an older and newer model can be incredibly challenging. With that in mind, that’s not the case with the Echo Show 8 1^st Gen vs. 2^nd Gen, as the new model is clearly the winner.

Advantages of the Echo Show 8 Gen 1 include the auxiliary jack if you want to add an external speaker, and it is more affordable due to its age. The Echo Show 8 Gen 2 may have the same speakers and display, but the processor is faster and the camera is more than 10 times better than the one found on the original — literally.

Unless you’re considering buying the older Echo Show as a secondary device, the Echo Show Gen 2 is the superior option in our opinion. While the Echo Show is simple to set up, if you need help getting started, this guide will walk you through the steps.