Upgrade your smart home experience with the Amazon Echo Show 5 (Newest Model), a compact yet powerful smart display with Alexa designed to simplify your daily routine. This latest iteration boasts significantly improved audio, delivering 2x the bass and clearer sound for an immersive listening experience, whether you're enjoying music, podcasts, or video calls. With its vibrant 5.5-inch display, you can get glanceable information, manage your smart home devices, and stay connected with ease.
An independent look at the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen), based on Amazon’s published specs, PCMag and Android Central reviews, and recurring feedback from verified owners on Reddit and Amazon. We have not tested this unit ourselves, so this review focuses on what the specs and other people’s testing show, including the lag complaints that don’t appear in Amazon’s marketing.
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Introduction
The Echo Show 5 is positioned as an alarm clock, a smart home hub and a small kids’ display in one low-priced device. The 3rd-generation refresh adds better sound and a faster chip, but owner reports point to a recurring software lag that Amazon’s listing doesn’t mention. That trade-off is worth knowing before you buy.
Quick Summary Box
Best For: Bedside alarm clocks, basic smart home control, budget-conscious Alexa users
Display: 5.5-inch touchscreen (960×480)
Camera: 2MP with built-in privacy shutter
Speaker: 1.75-inch driver (up from 1.65″ in the 2nd Gen)
Processor: MediaTek 8169 B + AZ2 Neural Edge chip
Price: around $55-$90 for the standard model, around $110 for the Kids edition (prices change often, check Amazon)
Voice Assistant: Amazon Alexa
Bottom Line: Better audio and a faster chip at a low price, but many owners report lag, unresponsiveness and on-screen ads.
What’s New in the 3rd Generation
Audio
The 3rd Gen uses a 1.75-inch driver instead of the previous 1.65-inch one. Reviewers and owners who upgraded from the 2nd Gen generally describe fuller sound and more bass, which helps with music and alarms. It still can’t compete with a dedicated speaker.
Processor
It runs a MediaTek 8169 B chip with Amazon’s AZ2 Neural Edge processor, aimed at faster voice processing than the 8163 in earlier models. In practice, owner feedback suggests software behavior matters more than the chip (see below).
Camera and Privacy
The 2MP camera supports video calls through Alexa Communication, Amazon Chime and Zoom. A physical sliding shutter covers the lens, and a button turns off the mics and camera, which is useful for bedrooms and kids’ rooms.
The Lag Complaints
Slow Responses
A common theme in Reddit and Amazon feedback is delayed responses. Some owners say routines or simple questions can take many seconds, and in the worst reports close to a minute, to respond. Others say it works fine, so results appear to vary by unit, network and software version.
Freezing and Ads
Several owners report the screen freezing or interrupting commands when promotional content appears. The Echo Show 5 shows ads and suggestions as part of the standard home screen experience.
Voice Recognition
Some owners say the 3rd Gen picks up their voice less reliably than older Echo devices, and that the wrong Alexa device sometimes answers when several are in the house. If you already own multiple Echo devices, keep this in mind.
Echo Show 5 Kids Edition
Amazon sells a separate Kids edition with parental controls and a kid-friendly case. According to Amazon’s listing, it includes:
- Content filtering for age-appropriate responses and music
- A free Amazon Kids+ trial period with books, videos and educational content
- A Parent Dashboard with activity reports
- Approved-contact lists for video calls
- Bedtime schedules, daily time limits and the option to disable shopping
The standard model has the same camera shutter and mic button, but parental controls need to be set up manually. Check the current listing for exact inclusions, since bundles and warranties change.
What It Does Well
- Bedside alarm clock: the compact 5.5-inch size suits a nightstand, and the display shows time, weather and calendar. It supports snooze by tap and a sunrise-style alarm.
- Smart home control: it can show camera feeds and control compatible lights, thermostats and locks from the touchscreen.
- Video calls and Drop In: the 2MP camera is adequate for calls with family.
- Kitchen use: timers, conversions and voice-guided recipes are handy, and the touchscreen helps when your hands are messy.
Competitive Comparison
| Feature | Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) | Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) | Echo Show 8 (4th Gen) | Lenovo Smart Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $54.99-$89.99 | $99.99 | $179.99 | $79.99 |
| Screen | 5.5″ (960×480) | 7″ (1024×600) | 8″ (1280×800) | 4″ |
| Camera | 2MP with shutter | None | 13MP | None |
| Speaker | 1.75″ driver | 1 full-range | 2x 2.0″ stereo | 1.5″ |
| Voice assistant | Alexa | Google Assistant | Alexa | Google Assistant |
| YouTube | Browser only | Native app | Browser only | Basic |
| Sleep tracking | No | Yes (Soli radar) | No | No |
| Kids edition | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Prices and specs are from manufacturer listings and change often. Check the current listing before buying.
Pros
- Low price for a smart display with a camera
- Audible audio improvement over the 2nd Gen
- Physical camera shutter and mic mute button
- Compact size for nightstands and desks
- Wide smart home device compatibility
- Kids edition available with parental controls
- Three color options (Charcoal, White, Cloud Blue)
Cons
- Owner reports of lag, freezing and slow responses
- On-screen ads and promotions
- Voice recognition complaints, especially with several Alexa devices
- Low 960×480 resolution
- No native YouTube app (browser only)
- Single speaker, no stereo sound
- Needs constant Wi-Fi, and Amazon data collection is a concern for some buyers
Who Should Buy the Echo Show 5
A good fit if you: want a cheap bedside alarm clock with smart features, already use Alexa, want a basic smart home control panel, or want to try a smart display without spending much.
Skip it if you: need fast, consistent responses every day, dislike ads on your home screen, have several Alexa devices in one home, want native YouTube with voice search, want stereo sound, or prefer the Google ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Echo Show 5 good for kids?
The Kids edition is built for that, with content filtering, time limits, bedtime schedules, approved contacts and a Parent Dashboard. The camera shutter and mic button add privacy. Check Amazon for the current price and what’s included.
Why is my Echo Show 5 slow?
Many owners report lag on the 3rd Gen, and it appears to be software-related rather than a hardware limit. Common fixes owners mention are restarting the device, checking Wi-Fi strength and installing the latest software update.
Echo Show 5 or Google Nest Hub?
The Echo Show 5 is cheaper and has a camera. The Nest Hub has a bigger screen, native YouTube and sleep tracking, but no camera. Pick based on whether you use Alexa or Google Assistant.
Can you turn off the ads?
Amazon includes ads and promotional content on the standard home screen. Owners report that settings can reduce some of it, but not remove everything.
Does it work without Wi-Fi?
Alexa, smart home control and calling need an internet connection. Only basic clock functions work offline.
Is the camera always recording?
According to Amazon, it only records after the wake word or a button press. The sliding shutter physically covers the lens, and the mic/camera off button disables both.
Final Verdict
On paper the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is a good-value small smart display, with better sound than before, a physical privacy shutter and broad smart home support. The main risk is software. Many owners report lag, ads and unreliable voice handling, although experiences vary.
At this price it can be a reasonable bedside alarm clock and basic smart home panel if you can tolerate occasional frustration. If you need smoother day-to-day performance, consider the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) or a larger Echo Show model, depending on your ecosystem.
Rating: 3.3/5 – Good hardware value held back by owner-reported software issues.
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