Amazon has just launched the second generation of the Echo Show 5 right before Prime Day. While there are some upgrades, the new device is still a bit disappointing in some ways. However, the Echo Show 5 still remains a popular option for customers, particularly for those looking for a budget smart speaker. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) and why it’s a great kids’ smart display.
The new Echo Show 5 has three basic upgrades: the 1 megapixel camera is now a 2 megapixel camera, it comes in blue, and there’s no auxiliary port on the back anymore. While the upgrades are nice, they’re not particularly impressive. The 2 megapixel camera is functional for video chatting, but it’s not great. The fact that the show 5 is now available in blue is cool, but it’s not a groundbreaking feature. Finally, the removal of the auxiliary output is frustrating, particularly for those who wanted to hook it into larger stereo systems.
Compared to the Echo Show 8, the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) is a worse smart display on almost every level. The small screen and garbage camera make it difficult to follow recipes in the kitchen or to video chat often. However, if you’re in the market for a budget smart speaker, the Echo Show 5 is a great option. It allows you to display photos, has a clock, and offers slightly better sound quality than other budget speakers. Additionally, you can occasionally video chat or watch a video on YouTube, and the show 5 will do a serviceable job.
While the regular 2nd Gen Echo Show 5 is a bit disappointing, the Echo Show 5 Kids shines. It comes with a chameleon color skin, custom clock faces, and one year of Amazon Kids Plus for free. The device also comes with a two-year warranty since kids tend to break stuff. Parental controls are mostly the same as usual, except that you can’t allow drop-in for any devices outside the household, which is a nice privacy measure.
Kids love the Echo Show, and with Amazon Kids Plus, they can have the voice assistant read them stories and do other fun stuff. Parents can also use the camera to check in on their kids. Overall, the Echo Show 5 Kids is easily the best kid-facing smart display on the market.
In conclusion, the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) may not be the most impressive device on the market, but it’s still a great option for those looking for a budget smart speaker. The Echo Show 5 Kids is particularly great for kids, as it offers fun and educational features for children.