Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) | Smart display with Alexa and 2 MP camera | Charcoal

So the secret is I purchased the Echo Show 5 2nd Gen solely as an “add-on” bc it only cost me an additional $10 as part of a Prime Day Deal (w the purchase of 3 Blink Outdoor Cameras- which I love)The pros are that it’s extremely easy to set up (uhhh, just plug it in), has great voice recognition, decent screen quality, and it’s the perfect size for me on the night stand (neither too big nor too small). I also like the clock feature(s) and all the different ummm apps? which you can download to use on the ES5 (like Netflix). Now, that being said, I haven’t watched a single thing of substance on it yet (no movies, videos, video calls) bc I have my iPad, iPhone, etc. for all of that stuff.I also like all of the different settings and features available, allowing you to customize your ES5 screen(s).Finally, I like how you can easily block the front-facing camera on the home screen so no bored pervs at Amazon can watch me sleep.Now, the one negative … WHICH I 100% KNEW GOING IN … So it’s not really a fair knock … BUT unless you’re willing to pay substantially more (at least in the Prime Day deal I was offered), you can’t select one single Lock Screen for the ES5 to display all the time (such as an alarm clock face or the weather forecast). Instead, it’s always scrolling through various screens.Now, you absolutely CAN get all the information you need on the screen at times; but, unless you pay extra, your ES5 screen will also contain auto-scrolling nonsense as it shuffles through various faces (stocks, scores, weather, pics, etc.). I’d love to be able to use the Home Screen solely as a weather station or solely as an alarm clock, both while I’m using it (as a speaker) and while I’m not using it at all. To be fair. I’ve really only used it as a Bluetooth speaker so far, and it’s been really good for that limited purpose.Again, in full disclosure, I only purchased the Echo Show 5 2nd Gen as an inexpensive add-on to a Prime Day deal, so keep in mind it’s always possible (likely) I’m only tapping like 3% of it’s actual abilities, but that’s ok too, bc I’ve been really satisfied with it as a Bluetooth speaker so far.Final thoughts- If you can get it as an inexpensive add-on as part of another deal/item, that would be ideal. However, it’s still a good + solid product that delivers as promised, which may not sound like much, but is actually quite the rarity these days.FINAL VERDICT: SOLID BUY … as long as the price is right

I wanted some sort of secondary screen and speaker under my huge monitor to do the following:* Music / Radio to listen to while working or playing* A clock* Something to look kinda coolThe Echo Show 5 mostly foots the bill and I picked it up on deep discount during Black Friday last year.Sound quality it is close to a third generation Echo Dot, that's not a bad thing I was expecting worse. It won't knock your socks off, which is fine. I'm either directly in front of it or across a small room from it. I use it mostly for streaming stations like Audacy.General screen and looks. The display is bright enough and looks nice. Colors are deep and not washed, pixelated, too light. There are many options for photos to show. Amazon's own offerings are good and for travel not a ton of duplication.Smart speaker stuff. As a clock it is fine. Asking Alexa stuff is fine, especially when it shows stuff on the screen. Weather is very useful. Everything else... it feels like it needs dialed in. The on device options are not great and tilt towards confusing which is a cardinal sin in UXUI. Some of the content is useless, it would be good to see more content about stuff I specifically like than general (like the Broncos vs the NFL). Likewise things like try this are annoying and no way to stop the Echo Show from doing that.Minor quibbles though, it does everything I wanted and I did not want a full blown tablet or computer handling work a smart device could with a much smaller footprint and with better sound.

Got one of these free with purchase of security cameras so when I bought more cameras for our other house I bought another one of these. Keep it at the bedside to monitor the cameras, use as a clock,play music, access the weather etc

After a bad experience with an Echo Show 8, I ordered this one to replace an older gen 1 Show 5 that had stopped working after a recent update. I tried the size 8 Echo show and did not care for the settings etc., but this smaller size 5 is a lot closer to what the gen 1 show 5 had been. The voice and sound is clearer, and the screen is following my settings much much better than the 8 did. I am listening to a news brief right now and it is clear and easy to understand. I was able to choose my background and unlike the size 8 show, it has stayed in place and isn't constantly trying to rotate ads and other pictures onto the screen. There is no giant clock on the screen that you cant remove, which was a major issue for me on the show 8. Instead the clock is in the upper left corner, big enough for me to see but not overwhelming the screen. This one does have a screen sleep type feature that darkened the face and turned the little clock numbers dark red last night. I would still prefer my background wallpaper to remain but the dimmed sleep setting was not so obnoxious as it was on the size 8 where the clock just would never go away and was super bright. I needed a tool to use, and am not looking for something to focus on in my room - something that responds when I ask and does not bother me unless I ask. After turning off all the ads and rotation junk, this smaller Show is not nagging me so much, as the size 8 - which simply refused to keep the settings I wanted. I do not care for the updated Alexa app on my Ipad, but instead used an older app version on an older Ipad to back up my on screen settings for this new Show 5- some choices have disappeared on the newer app which make it harder to get what I want on my Echo Show. For me having choices to make setting decisions on the device is important- and the older app gives me a bit more of that for this device. I did find the on screen touch choices to be different slightly than on the size 8, and again, they actually seem to be working… ie,.. when turned off they are staying off. Suggestion to developers for these devices is to reduce the ad cycling and nag screens, or offer an ad free or nag free device option with a different price point. I do not have time to stop and read an ad or suggestion that rotates onto the screen - nor do I want to see some morning routine idea that Someone dreamed up and added to the software for the device. I would gladly pay more for one that left those things in the developers garage… But- This little Show 5 is just enough of a voice activated tool to be helpful and not drive me crazy- it links to my ring doorbell and tells me where my packages are, plays a song if I ask, can tell the weather or give me the news when asked. It is small enough to not overwhelm and fits on the hallway cabinet where it can be summoned by voice if needed, or ignored. Good deal on what I needed and almost as nice as my 1st gen. Show 5.