The most expensive devices may cost you as much as $250. I’ll cover the costs of these devices in a minute, but you can expect to pay around $20–100 dollars for most of them. The most useful aspects of Alexa do require an Echo smart speaker or a Fire TV device, though. You could download the Alexa app to your smartphone right now and try it out without ever spending a penny. There are currently no monthly fees or subscription costs for the Alexa voice assistant. Just note that unlike on Amazon’s Fire TV devices and Google’s own Nest Hub smart displays, YouTube isn’t easily available on any Echo Show.What’s Next? Is There a Monthly Fee for Alexa? Thanks to the fact you can watch Netflix on all Echo Show models, they’re a good choice for entertainment. It’s not as versatile as the 360° Echo Show 10, but it’s a great addition nonetheless. This is used in video calls to keep you in the middle of the frame even if you move around the room – just like the Facebook Portal and latest iPad Pro’s Centre Stage feature. Plus, this second-generation model has a 13Mp camera which has plenty of resolution for digital zoom. It may not have the Zigbee hub that’s included in the more expensive – and larger – Echo Show 10, but this model offers the best compromise of features, screen size and audio quality.Īnd at this price, those aren’t compromises you’ll ever regret making: Alexa is just as capable here as she is on the Echo Show 10, able to show the video feed from compatible cameras lyrics for many songs from Amazon Music and much more besides. Also note that there is no built-in Zigbee hub here. You can use the Show 15 for video calls, but it’s a shame that the camera doesn’t keep you in the frame like the Echo Show 8 and 10. It’s great as a digital photo frame, but as with other Echo Shows, images can only be pulled from Amazon Photos or Facebook, which is quite limiting.Īnd, because of the thin picture-frame design, sound quality isn’t the Echo Show 15’s strong suit: you’ll want to choose the Echo Show 10 if you plan to listen to a lot of music. Thanks to ‘Visual ID’ Alexa can recognise who’s in front of the screen and display personalised information in those widgets. It’s only a shame that there are still no third-party widgets and the selection is tiny. These can display useful information such as your calendar, favourite smart home device controls and a weather forecast. This is a touchscreen, though, so it’s simple to use if you’re sitting close enough to reach the screen.Įven without the Fire TV update, the Echo Show 15 has one feature not found on Amazon’s other smart screens: widgets. The update will also bring support for the latest Alexa Voice Remote, which is preferable to trying to navigate using your voice. This is a game-changer and means you can easily access YouTube, live news and other video which is either awkward or impossible to watch currently. Soon – Amazon has said before the end of the year – an update will bring the Fire TV interface from Amazon’s Firestick to the Show 15. It works well in a kitchen where it doesn’t take up any space on your worktops and can show recipes which you can navigate with your voice using Alexa. You can buy an optional desk stand, shown here, but it’s designed to be hung on the wall. The Show 15 has biggest screen on any Echo at 15.6 inches.
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