Yes—if you will use its screen or camera. The Echo Show 5 adds a compact display for glanceable information and compatible camera feeds, plus a camera for video calls. If your current Alexa speaker already handles the voice commands and audio you need, and you do not want those visual features, the Show 5 is likely redundant.
What the Echo Show 5 adds to an Alexa speaker
The clearest difference is that the Show 5 can show information and video rather than only respond by voice. Amazon describes the current compact display as having a 5.5-inch screen and a 2 MP camera, making it a close-viewing device for a bedside table or desk rather than a screen intended to be seen across a room. Amazon’s Echo buying guide lists news and weather at a glance, video calls, compatible smart-home camera viewing, and streaming music and shows.
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- Glanceable information: Check items such as calendars, timers, reminders, lists, news, and weather without asking Alexa to read everything aloud.
- Camera feeds: View compatible security camera or doorbell feeds on the display. Compatibility depends on the exact camera, service, and market; Amazon’s announcement does not certify every third-party product.
- Video calls and Drop In: The built-in camera enables video calling, while the display supports Drop In. These are useful only if you expect to make calls from the device and the people you contact use compatible services.
- Smart-home controls: Manage compatible devices by voice or by tapping the screen. Many voice-controlled tasks, such as asking Alexa to turn on a device, may already work on your speaker.
- Shared Echo features: The Show 5 can join multi-room music groups with other Echo devices, so it can be part of an existing Echo setup as well as a screen in one room.
Amazon’s third-generation India announcement describes the camera-feed, calling, smart-home, calendar, timer, reminder, list, and multi-room capabilities. The practical question is whether you will use the visual or camera-based functions often enough to justify another device; voice control and ordinary audio playback alone are weaker reasons to add one.
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It makes sense if you want a nearby screen
Consider the Show 5 if you want a bedside clock with glanceable information, a desk display for reminders or calendars, a way to see a compatible doorbell or security-camera feed, or a device for video calls in a compact space. Its small footprint is an advantage where a larger display would be intrusive.
#1 Best Overall
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
Keep your speaker if voice and audio are enough
If you mainly ask Alexa questions, control smart-home devices by voice, or play audio, your existing speaker may already meet those needs. The Show 5 still performs voice and audio tasks, but its screen is the main incremental reason to buy it. If you will rarely look at that screen or use the camera, paying for a display may not add meaningful value.
Compare a larger Show if you need more room to see or hear
A 5.5-inch display is best judged at close range. For viewing from farther away, a larger screen may be more practical. Amazon’s buying guide describes the Echo Show 8 with an 8-inch HD screen, spatial audio, two 2-inch speakers, and a built-in hub compatible with Zigbee, Matter, and Thread. Those listed hub features belong to the Show 8; do not assume the Show 5 has them. Amazon also lists the larger Show 10, 15, and 21, but specifications vary by generation, so compare the exact model sold in your market.
Rank #2
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
| Consideration | Echo Show 5 | Echo Show 8 (as described in Amazon’s guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5 inches | 8-inch HD |
| Audio configuration | Third-generation India announcement: one 1.7-inch rear-facing speaker | Two 2-inch speakers; spatial audio |
| Built-in smart-home hub | Not established in the cited Show 5 sources | Compatible with Zigbee, Matter, and Thread, according to the buying guide |
| Best fit | Close viewing on a bedside table or desk | More screen area and the listed hub features |
Amazon says the third-generation Show 5 has double the bass and clearer vocals than the previous generation. That is the manufacturer’s comparison, not an independent listening test; it does not establish that the Show 5 will sound better than your current speaker.
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Amazon announced the third-generation Echo Show 5 in India on 29 July 2025. The announcement gave a discounted launch price of INR 10,999 for India. That is a historical launch offer, not a current price or a figure that applies in other countries. Check the local listing for the generation, availability, and current price before you decide.
Rank #3
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
Amazon UK’s support table lists the Echo Show 5 (3rd generation) for security updates at least through 31 December 2030. This is a UK-market security-update statement; it does not establish the device’s feature-update schedule or Alexa+ eligibility. Amazon’s May 2026 Alexa+ visual-shopping announcement names the Echo Show 15 and 21 as available devices and says the feature is rolling out to more devices. It does not confirm Show 5 eligibility, so do not buy the Show 5 assuming it supports that feature.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Privacy and camera compatibility
Amazon documents a built-in camera shutter, a microphone on/off button, and the ability to view and delete voice recordings in the Alexa app. These are manufacturer-described controls, not an independent privacy assessment. If camera feeds are central to your decision, verify support for the exact camera or doorbell model and service in your country before purchasing; a general statement that compatible feeds can display is not a guarantee for every product.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Charge your smartphone, earbuds, and more using the accessible 7.5 W USB-C charging port.
- Easily tilt your Echo Show 5 forward or backward to improve your viewing angle.
- Quick and secure magnetic attachment.
- Color matched with Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen).
- Made with 44% recycled materials.
Rank #4
- Like-New Amazon Echo Show 5 (newest model) is refurbished, tested, and certified to look and work like new and comes with the same limited warranty as a new device. Like-New Amazon devices may be packaged in generic Amazon-branded boxes.
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
