Amazon echo hub vs echo show 8 (3rd generation): What is the difference?

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Amazon’s Alexa Smart Home Ecosystem continues to evolve, with the Echo had positioned as the first Smart Home home control panel of the company.

In comparison, the Echo Show 8 (third generation) is the last in the alignment of Echo Show, doubleing as an entertainment device and an intelligent domestic center.

While both Alexa’s support and matter, as well as Zigbee, are quite different and can find that one better adapts to their needs than to the other.

In this article versus, we will break down the strengths and weaknesses of each device, helping you choose the right for your needs.

Amazon echo hub vs echo show 8: price

The Amazon Echo had landed in February 2024 and is currently sold for $ 179.99 in the United States and £ 169.99 in the United Kingdom.

The last Echo Show 8 was launched for the first time at the end of 2023 with a price label of $ 149 / £ 149, which makes it a little more affordable than the Hub.

However, it would be a fool to pay the full price for any Amazon echo device, since prices are cut several times a year for things like Prime Day, Black Friday and more.

Amazon echo hub vs echo show 8: design and installation

Designed to be mounted on the wall, the hub is not its Alexa Style Style screen device, instead, it is an elegant screen, with a thin 15 mm profile and multiple feeding options, including USB-C and Power -Over-Ethernet (POE).

The installation is simple, with all included in the wall assembly box.

You should want, you can get a support for the table to feel if you don’t want to mount it on the wall, but that is not really the point, right?

The cube omits the front camera, emphasizing a clean and focused design for intelligent domestic control.

Its 1280 x 800 hd screen, although functional, is quite basic and could be more receptive, is not as shameless as a modern Android tablet or iPad.

The show 8 presents a more traditional show-peak design that can sit on its desktop, shelf or a kitchen counter.

Metering 200 x 139 x 106 mm, it is actually a bigger fraction than its predecessor; And weighs just north of 1 kg.

It includes a 13MP camera for video calls, so it is a better option for people who want their Alexa screen for communication.

The camera in the last show 8 is in the middle and this makes it better video calls; which is available through Alexa Calling and Skype about Echo (unfortunately, there is no zoom in this model).

Like other recent Echo Show devices, the third generation 8 has the remote mode of starting monitoring through the Alexa application, which is useful to verify your home when it is out; Essentially converts its smart screen into an improvised intelligent security camera.

An alert appears in the program, so anyone in the room will know that they are in camera. You cannot record or store these videos.

The screen on show 8 is the same resolution as Hub (which is actually the same as the old second generation show), but the general experience is more oriented to casual use than to be a control panel.

Amazon killed the 3.5 mm audio connector for music output at the second generation show 8 and sadly there is no return in the third generation; And they have also eliminated the USB-C cargo port, so there is also a smartphone now from program 8.

Amazon echo hub vs echo show 8: characteristics

Echo Hub has to do with the control of the intelligent home, with widgets and a lower bar that classifies its smart devices in categories such as locks, weather, lights and cameras.

The Hub works well with the Alexa device reflex system, but suffers a lack of filtering options.

Disableing duplicate devices is a discomfort, and lacks compatibility with Z-Wave, so it is not a complete intelligent domestic center.

However, it admits acts such as the subject controller and the subprocess edge router and has Zigbee and Amazon Sidewalk, ensuring connectivity with most modern intelligent home configurations.

The show 8 also has all this smart home home connectivity, but the controls are not as frontal and central as they appear in the hub … what is actually annoying, it would be good to be able to change the show 8 on a smart dedicated smart smart Home for Mimmic the Center.

It still offers access to Alexa’s routines, device controls and that everything important is compatible with matter.

But show 8 is more concerned with being an entertainment device. You can transmit music, watch videos or use the video call device, as mentioned.

Amazon echo hub vs echo show 8: performance

While the concentrator interface is specifically adapted for intelligent home control, its performance is somewhat slow.

The system is intuitive, but transitions between widgets and device controls could be softer.

The true strength of the concentrator is its ability to show food for live camera and administer intelligent devices, although it favors Amazon’s own cameras and ring systems for most of the most outstanding features, such as living miniatures and armor/disharming of alarms.

Program 8 is solid for general use. Whether you are controlling intelligent devices, performing video calls or transmitting content, the show 8 offers without any real problem.

However, when it comes to Hardcore Smart Home tasks, it does not have the same dedicated controls as Hub: you will have to trust the Home Smart Home Widgets somewhat limited.

When it comes to listening to music, none should be a main consideration, but the show 8 is able to be a good radio companion for the kitchen or a nightstand.

It has space audio processing technology and room adaptation technology, which adjusts audio reproduction for optimal sound.

The result is quite good; While he may not exceed Homepod or compete with the tastes of the Sonos Age, it offers a fairly robust audio performance.

Echo Hub, on the other hand, has a terrible audio quality … You will not want to listen to music at all.

Amazon echo hub vs echo show 8: integration of applications and ecosystems

Driven by Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, both the Echo Hub and the show 8 are full of a wide range of skills driven by the voice, to which we will not go too deeply here.

If you are looking for specific information about what Alexa offers, see some of our key guides from Alexa:

Of course, Alexa supports everything on any echo speaker, which are first -voice devices despite the presence of a screen on this duo.

Echo Hub depends largely on the Alexa application for the initial configuration and the administration of devices. While this guarantees the consistency in the Amazon ecosystem, the inability of the concentrator to filter devices or hide the disabled in the interface can be frustrating.

Advanced users can find this limitation, since disabled devices often disorderly disorder control screens.

The show 8 is also perfectly integrated with the Alexa application and offers a more balanced experience.

Although it lacks the control depth provided by the Hub, it still allows rapid management of devices, routines and voice commands through Alexa.

Integration with applications such as Prime Video and Spotify also adds to its entertainment value.

Amazon echo hub vs echo show 8: Which is adequate for you?

Both the Amazon Echo Hub and the Echo Show 8 (3rd generation) aim to be the heart of their intelligent home, but meet different needs.

Echo Hub is an intelligent domestic control panel, while the echo show 8 combines entertainment and intelligent house control.

For Hardcore Smart Home enthusiasts, the Hub Echo offers the advantage in device management, but the Echo Show 8 is more suitable for those who want a balance of intelligent domestic control and entertainment.

Both Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 serve different audiences. Echo Hub is the first Smart Home Home Household Control Panel, which offers a more focused interface to manage its devices, but falls short in the response capacity and filtering options of devices.

On the other hand, the Echo Show 8 offers more versatility. It balances intelligent home management with entertainment characteristics such as video transmission and video calls, which makes it a better general device for casual users who still want intelligent home control.

Frequent questions

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