New Amazon Echo Show 8 camera has this cool iPad Pro feature

New Amazon Echo Bear witness eight photographic camera has this cool iPad Pro characteristic

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon just announced the all-new Echo Show 8, a 2nd-generation model of the Amazon Echo Show viii that features a highly improved camera for all your video calls.

Since the get-go Echo Evidence 8 launched, we've considered it one of the best Alexa speakers with a display. Unlike the towering Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen), the $129 Prove 8's compact build makes it a versatile smart home device.

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Ameliorate nonetheless, the refreshed Echo Evidence 8 adopts some of the Repeat Show 10's fundamental elements, including a 13-megapixel camera for video chatting and pan-and-zoom for always keeping yous in frame.

And so what else is new? Hither's everything you lot'll desire to know about the new Echo Show 8, from price and availability to how information technology differs from its predecessor.

New Amazon Echo Testify 8 release appointment

The new Repeat Show viii release appointment is June 9, 2021 co-ordinate to the production page on Amazon'south website. You can pre-gild the smart display now, and it'll likely ship early next calendar month. Of form the transport date is subject to modify based on the quantity of pre-orders and Amazon's stock at launch.

Amazon unremarkably announces new smart displays during its almanac September event, but it seems the company might've wanted to make the Echo Show viii available for Amazon Prime Day 2021. Prime day dates haven't been revealed all the same, although the two-day sales effect typically takes identify over the summer.

New Amazon Echo Bear witness 8 price

The new Amazon Echo Show 8 costs $129, which is the same price the first Echo Prove eight started at when information technology debuted; however, the previous-gen model often went on auction for $99 or less. We're expecting Prime Day to bring of some of the yr's best Amazon deals, including discounts on the latest Repeat Show 8.

Without sales, the Echo Show viii is still more affordable than the $249 Echo Show 10, merely a chip pricier than the $99 Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) that debuted earlier this year. Not only is Google's newest smart brandish i of the best smart speakers, it offers peachy slumber sensing capabilities, too.

New Amazon Echo Show 8 camera upgrades

It seems the new Amazon Echo Show eight camera upgrades were designed with the era of video chatting in mind. While the overall look of the smart brandish is generally the same, donning a fabric-swathed outside, the camera arrangement is visibly different.

Replacing the first Repeat Show 8's subtle 1 megapixel photographic camera, the new model has a 13 megapixel camera housed in a larger, foursquare component. That'due south the same quality of the Echo Show 10'south camera.

new Amazon Echo Show 8 — (Prototype credit: Amazon)

The new Echo Show viii too adopted the pan-and-zoom abilities of the Testify ten. While the display tin can't rotate to keep you in frame, the new wide-angle lens can center you you like the Google Nest Hub Max and the Facebook Portal can. The new iPad Pro's Center Stage uses a similar tracking technology for video calls.

Amazon'southward smart displays work with Zoom, Skype and some of the best video chat apps, meaning you can start and answer calls but by asking Alexa. Hands-costless video conversation is one of the best Alexa skills for keeping in touch with your loved ones. Amazon besides added some in-phone call animations and AR furnishings to spice upwards your calls.

More: How to brand a video telephone call using the Repeat Show

New Amazon Echo Show viii features

There isn't much else new about second-generation Amazon Echo Show viii compared to the first model. It maintains a viii-inch brandish with 1280 ten 800 resolution, as well as dual two-inch speakers.

Nosotros thought the original Show 8 sounded great for its size, and then nosotros're expecting similar operation when we examination the new version. That said, there are better-sounding smart speakers out there. The Sonos One is our favorite in terms of audio quality, merely information technology costs $199 and doesn't accept a display.

When yous're not using it to control music, the Echo Evidence 8 can be used for in-home communications. Information technology can likewise integrate with the best Alexa compatible devices, providing a visual dashboard for your organisation of smart abode products. You tin manage your devices individually or assign them to Alexa routines for avant-garde home automation.

As for privacy, the Echo Show 8 has a concrete camera shutter and microphone mute push. You can also manage your recording history and assistant preferences in your Alexa app.

New Amazon Echo Show viii outlook

The Amazon Echo Prove 8 might not have needed a refresh, merely for the same price equally the offset-gen model, the second-gen's camera upgrades are certainly welcome. Fifty-fifty if we're nearing the finish of needing video conversation to stay in touch all the time, many however work and learn from dwelling house.

We'll need to exam this new smart display to see how information technology feels compared to the original, and whether the improvements make information technology more bonny than the Google Nest Hub. The Show 8 also seems to steal enough from the Evidence x to make united states wonder if the larger option volition nonetheless accept appeal.

Either manner, we'd concur off on pre-orders until Prime Day rolls around. That's when the showtime Amazon Repeat Evidence 8 deals will most likely make it. We anticipate learning more about when the sales event is taking identify before long.

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Kate Kozuch is a senior writer at Tom's Guide covering wearables, TVs and everything smart-home related. When she's non in cyborg fashion, you tin find her on an exercise bike or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army will rule the world one day, but until then, attain her at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com.