It may be thrilling when a model like Amazon drops new variations of its units, however it may also be overwhelming to determine which one is finest for you (and if it is value paying greater than its authentic model). After testing the second generations of each the Echo Present 5 and the Echo Present 8, I am going to stroll you thru what’s the identical, what’s completely different, what they convey to the desk in comparison with the primary gen variations — and which one you should purchase throughout Prime Day 2024.
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Whereas these stationary units don’t have the portability or performance of an iPad or a Floor pill, they work flawlessly with Alexa and function a sensible residence HQ to make your day-to-day life just a bit bit extra streamlined.
Pricing
Whereas the 2nd gen Echo Present 5 is not out there, the most recent Echo Present 5 retails for $89.99. The Echo Present 8 has been phased out, however you’ll be able to nonetheless get some variations of it for $129.99.
Dimension issues
Essentially the most noticeable distinction between the Echo Present 5 and the Echo Present 8 is, after all, their dimension. The Echo Present 5 has a 5.5-inch display screen and 6 inch by 3 inch footprint, whereas the Echo Present 8 is considerably bigger — boasting an 8-inch display screen and an 8 inch by 4 inch footprint.
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Echo Present 5 (2nd gen) is smaller and would work higher in a bed room or workplace.
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Echo Present 8 (2nd gen) is considerably bigger — finest for a central home hub.
Credit score: amazon
In my view, that makes the Echo Present 8 means higher suited to be your loved ones “hub” — positioned in a central location just like the kitchen or eating room for loopy straightforward video calls with the grandparents utilizing Alexa. All it’s a must to do is add contacts you’d prefer to name within the Alexa app in your cellphone. Nevertheless, it will not be a vital buy if you have already got a pill with nice video performance.
Regardless, the Echo Present 8 affords another benefits for video calls along with its dimension, too.
Alternatively, the Echo Present 5 can be higher in locations the place you need the gadget’s performance, with out it being entrance and heart — like your desk or nightstand.
And for those who’re a sucker for colorways, the Echo Present 8 solely comes within the Glacier White and Charcoal coloration choices. You may get extra selection with the brand new Echo Present 5, which is available in Glacier White, Charcoal, and Deep Sea Blue. The Echo Present 5 Youngsters is available in Chameleon inexperienced.
Digital camera and video calling
The Echo Present 5 obtained a good digital camera improve from its 1st gen model — growing the megapixels from 1 to 2. Nevertheless, it was an entire completely different ball sport for the Echo Present 8. Whereas the first gen Echo Present 8 supplied a 1-MP digital camera, this revamped mannequin comes geared up with a 13-MP digital camera.
The picture is extremely crisp, and alongside the bigger display screen make the Echo Present 8 the video name winner. However that’s not even the perfect half: The brand new Echo Present 8 options auto-framing capabilities that routinely pan and zoom the digital camera to maintain it targeted on the folks in view of it.
Each units additionally function some helpful connectivity options, like Intercom to web page each Alexa gadget in the home (“We’re leaving in fifteen minutes, so be ready!”) and Drop In, which lets you video chat with any linked Alexa gadget.
Zoom calls
The Echo Present 8 also can be a part of Zoom calls, whereas the Echo Present 5 can’t. To be completely sincere, I couldn’t get the Zoom name function to work after a number of tries as a result of not one of the calls I joined had a dial-in quantity.
I’ll nonetheless say the Echo Present 8 wins on this one simply because it’s theoretically attainable, and I’m actually hoping to have the ability to be a part of Zoom calls from it quickly to liberate my laptop computer and additional monitor for in-meeting multi-tasking.
Child-friendly content material
In the course of the preliminary set-up, you’ll be able to select to make any Echo Present gadget a devoted gadget for a child. This provides you entry to some expanded parental controls, which is nice for older youngsters, tweens, and teenagers that you simply nonetheless need to defend from a number of the worst issues the web has to supply.
Nevertheless, the Echo Present 5 Youngsters is the primary and solely Echo Present that’s bottom-to-top and side-to-side designed for teenagers. It options the enjoyable Chameleon look (dinosaur scales, based on my 5-year-old), and comes with a free 12 months of Amazon Youngsters (a $69 worth for Prime members) — which affords curated books, video games, and movies only for youngsters far past what’s out there by means of a fundamental Prime membership. As well as, it comes with souped-up parental controls so you’ll be able to tweak issues much more.
Alexa performance
Each the 2nd gen Echo Present 5 and the 2nd gen Echo Present 8 have some new Alexa skills that their 1st gen counterparts don’t.
First up is the house monitoring perform, the place you’ll be able to remotely entry the digital camera in your gadget from the Alexa app simply to verify in on issues. You’ll want a WiFi connection to do it, however I had no issues getting it to work. I can think about it will be nice to verify in on pets, the babysitter, or simply to take a peek at your house whereas on trip to ensure every part is on the up-and-up.
Subsequent is the addition of motion-enabled routines. This permits Alexa to detect while you enter or depart a room and use that exercise to begin a routine. Truthful warning, this may open a can of worms re: privateness, however it additionally opens up some thrilling prospects for the good residence buff. You may have Alexa learn your calendar while you stroll into your workplace, or flip off all smart-enabled units when there’s no movement detected in the lounge — and people are simply two easy concepts. With the addition of Alexa-enabled units or good plugs, your choices open up much more. Amazon does supply methods to handle these settings if you would like to delete recordings or handle your information.
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All of those units function all the identical Alexa performance you got here to count on from the earlier iteration of Echo Present units.
Which one is best?
For less than $45 extra, the Echo Present 8 was the clear winner for me. Not solely does it have a bigger display screen and a 13-MP digital camera with auto-framing (making it the very best for video calling), it additionally permits you to hop on Zoom conferences, if/when you will get that perform to work correctly.
If video calls and Zoom conferences aren’t your concern, then the Echo Present 5 continues to be a fantastic selection — just like the 2nd gen Echo Present 8, the brand new Echo Present 5 boasts most of the similar expanded Alexa capabilities, like residence monitoring and movement detection routines. And naturally, if you’d like one which’s made for teenagers, you then’re gonna need to go together with the groovy inexperienced Echo Present 5 Youngsters.
Total, I’m a fan of each, however the Echo Present 8 got here out on prime for our residence.
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