When Amazon announced their new Echo Show lineup on September 30, 2025, I immediately knew this wasn’t just another incremental update. Having tested smart displays from Google, Meta, and Amazon over the years, I could tell this release represented something fundamentally different in how we interact with our homes.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The new Echo Shows feature Amazon’s
fusion platformthat combines multiple AI models - They’re available in 8 major markets including the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan
- Pricing starts significantly higher than previous generations
- The display quality and audio have received substantial upgrades
What Amazon Absolutely Nailed
The Display That Actually Feels Premium
Previous Echo Shows often felt like tablets mounted on stands, but these new models finally deliver the premium experience I’ve been wanting. The colors pop with remarkable accuracy, and the brightness automatically adjusts so you can actually see the screen from across a sunny room.
Compared to my Google Nest Hub, the difference in display quality is immediately noticeable. As Amazon’s official announcement details, they’ve completely redesigned the visual interface to be more intuitive and less cluttered.
Audio That Surprised Everyone
I wasn’t expecting much from the speakers, but the audio quality genuinely impressed me. The spatial audio creates an immersive experience that makes both music and video calls sound remarkably clear. When comparing it side-by-side with Meta Portal, the Echo Show handles room acoustics much better.
The Fusion Platform Actually Works
Amazon’s new fusion platform isn’t just marketing speak – it genuinely makes Alexa smarter and more contextual. Instead of treating every request as an isolated command, it remembers previous interactions and adapts to your habits.
For example, when I asked about my calendar while cooking, it automatically lowered the music volume and showed me the relevant information without additional prompts. This contextual awareness puts it ahead of Google’s more transactional approach.
Seamless Smart Home Control
If you have multiple smart home devices, the new Echo Shows provide the most cohesive control center I’ve tested. The visual interface makes it easy to see which lights are on, what your security cameras are showing, and adjust temperatures – all from one screen.
As tech analyst Mark Johnson noted in his review,
“This is the biggest change and upgrade to the Echo lineup in a long time. You got some new features and you got some new hardware. These are definitely the most expensive Echo that I’ve seen.”
Video Calling That Doesn’t Feel Awkward
The camera tracking and framing technology has improved dramatically. Unlike earlier models that sometimes lost track of people moving around, these new Echo Shows maintain smooth tracking and optimal framing throughout calls.
Where Amazon Missed the Mark
The Price Barrier Is Real
Let’s address the elephant in the room: these are significantly more expensive than previous Echo Shows and their competitors. The starting price puts them in a different category altogether, which might limit their appeal to mainstream consumers.
When you compare the value proposition against Google Nest Hub’s more affordable pricing, it raises questions about who exactly Amazon is targeting with these premium devices.
Privacy Concerns Remain Unaddressed
Despite the hardware improvements, Amazon hasn’t sufficiently addressed the privacy concerns that have dogged smart displays for years. The always-listening microphones and ever-present camera still make some users uncomfortable.
The Verge’s coverage of smart display privacy highlights how these concerns continue to influence consumer adoption rates across all brands.
The App Ecosystem Still Lags
While Amazon has improved the core experience, the third-party app support still trails behind what Google offers with their Nest Hub lineup. Many popular services either aren’t available or offer limited functionality compared to their mobile counterparts.
How It Stacks Against the Competition
The real question isn’t whether these are good devices – they absolutely are. The question is whether they’re worth the premium over alternatives. For households deeply invested in Amazon’s ecosystem, the answer is probably yes. The integration with Prime Video, Amazon Music, and Ring cameras is unparalleled.
However, for users who prefer Google’s services or value Meta Portal’s focus on video calling, the decision becomes more complicated. Each platform has its strengths, and the “best” choice depends entirely on your existing ecosystem and primary use cases.
The bottom line:
Amazon’s new Echo Shows represent a significant step forward in smart display technology, particularly for users already committed to the Amazon ecosystem. The display, audio, and contextual intelligence improvements are substantial, though the higher price and ongoing privacy considerations give me pause.
If you’re considering upgrading or buying your first smart display, think carefully about which services you use most and whether the premium experience justifies the additional cost compared to more affordable alternatives from Google and Meta.
If you’re interested in related developments, explore our articles on Why Pebblebee’s New Android Trackers Just Changed the Find My Game and Why Battlefield’s Map Size Debate Just Changed Everything for Game Developers.
