Smart displays have a size problem. The big ones, with their ten and fifteen inch screens, are wonderful on a kitchen wall but absurd on a nightstand. The tiny ones, meanwhile, often sound like a speaker from a decade ago. The Amazon Echo Show 5 exists in the space between, and the newest model attacks the old weakness directly. Amazon boosted the speaker to deliver twice the bass and clearer sound, and it wrapped the whole package in the deeper Alexa+ assistant experience. I spent three weeks with the Charcoal model rotating between a desk, a nightstand, and a kitchen counter, and this review is the record of how well that small footprint holds up.
One disclosure before the details. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through them this site earns a commission at no extra cost to you. My opinions are my own, and I do not accept payment for coverage.
Design and Build
The Charcoal model looks understated and professional. The dark fabric grille wraps the lower half of the device, and the 5.5 inch touchscreen sits above it behind a black bezel that keeps everything looking cohesive. It is the kind of device that disappears into a desk setup, which is exactly what a productivity tool should do. The build is solid, with a weight that keeps it planted and a finish that shrugs off fingerprints and dust.
On top you will find the volume rocker, a mute switch, and an action button, all positioned so you can find them without looking. The mute switch clicks with confidence and shows a clear state on screen, and the camera has a physical shutter that slides over the lens. For someone who works from home and keeps the camera pointed at a desk, that shutter is a quiet reassurance. The power cable routes out the back cleanly, and the fixed tilt means you will angle the device toward you at setup and leave it there.
Key Features
The headline feature on the newest model is the audio. Amazon doubled the bass and tuned the speaker for clarity, and the difference is audible from the first track. Podcast voices have body and presence, music has a low end that you simply did not get from the previous Show 5, and there is far less distortion at higher volumes. It will not replace a dedicated speaker system, but it is easily the best sound in a device this size.
The 5.5 inch screen is built for glanceability. Weather, calendar, reminders, alarms, and smart home camera feeds all render clearly, and the touchscreen responds quickly to swipes and taps. It is not a screen for watching full shows, but it does everything a bedroom or desk display needs to do. As a smart home hub it coordinates lights, plugs, thermostats, and cameras through the Alexa+ ecosystem, and routines trigger based on time, sensor, or voice.
Privacy is handled with actual hardware. The camera has a physical shutter, the microphone has a mute switch, and the interface adds a camera-off button. Alexa+ also brings more natural conversation, so you can ask follow-up questions, string commands together, and control the smart home with less friction than the older assistant. For a device that sits in a bedroom or an office, that combination of privacy and capability is the core value.
Real-World Performance
I started testing at my desk, where the Show 5 earned its place fast. The glanceable screen kept my calendar and the day's weather visible, and I used the camera for video calls without any setup friction. Alexa+ understood requests I would have had to phrase carefully on older devices, and I could ask it to turn off the office lights, start a focus timer, and read my next appointment in a single conversation.
Moved to the nightstand, the device worked as a discreet alarm and wind-down companion. The screen brightness adapts to the dark, so it does not glare you awake, and the improved speaker played bedtime playlists and podcasts with surprising fullness for such a small unit. In the kitchen it handled timers, recipes, and conversions, and the microphone heard commands over running water and a vent fan without issue. I also ran a short multi user test in the kitchen, since a family often shares one display. The microphone recognized requests from a few feet away even with conversation in the background, and the screen switched between profiles smoothly when we asked different people's calendars out loud.
The limits are the same ones the form factor implies. Five and a half inches is small for video, so do not plan on movie marathons. The speaker, while much improved, still strains on bass-heavy music at maximum volume. And the fixed tilt means you have to position the device deliberately. These are honest boundaries, not failures, and they only matter if your expectations stretch beyond what a compact display should do. Set your expectations around glanceable use, voice control, and background audio, and the Show 5 consistently meets them. I would still want a larger screen for anything visual, but for the jobs this device is sold for, the trade off is a fair one.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Noticeably fuller sound with double the bass and clear vocals
- Compact footprint fits desks, nightstands, and counters
- Physical camera shutter and mic mute for privacy
- Glanceable screen for calendar, weather, and smart home views
- Alexa+ handles natural, multi-step conversations
- Acts as a reliable smart home hub
Cons:
- Fixed tilt limits flexible positioning
- Small screen is not suited to video watching
- Bass heavy music distorts at maximum volume
How It Compares
The Echo Show 5 competes with Amazon's larger Show 8 and with Google's Nest Hub. The Show 8 offers a bigger screen and richer audio but takes up more space and costs more. The Nest Hub matches the small footprint and adds the useful option of no camera, but it commits you to Google Home, which is a poor match if your smart home already runs on Alexa.
| Feature | Echo Show 5 | Echo Show 8 | Google Nest Hub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.5 inches | 8 inches | 7 inches |
| Bass boost | Yes, doubled | Strong | Moderate |
| Camera with shutter | Yes | Yes | No camera |
| Smart home hub | Alexa+ | Alexa+ | Google Home |
| Best spot | Desk or nightstand | Kitchen | Kitchen or bedroom |
If your primary use is a desk or bedside display, the Show 5 is the right size and the best value. If the kitchen is the destination and you want a bigger view, the Show 8 earns its premium. The ecosystem decision, Alexa versus Google, matters more than any single spec.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the Echo Show 5 if you want a capable smart display that fits on a desk, a nightstand, or a counter, if you live in the Alexa ecosystem, or if you want improved audio without a larger footprint. It suits home office users who want a glanceable calendar and reliable voice control, and it is a sensible bedside display for anyone who values a camera shutter. Check the current Echo Show 5 Charcoal price on Amazon if you want today's deal.
Skip it if you need a large screen for video, if you prefer the Google Home ecosystem, or if you expect the volume of a dedicated speaker. For a compact, privacy-conscious smart display with genuinely improved sound, the Show 5 is hard to beat.
How We Test
I used the Echo Show 5 across a desk, a nightstand, and a kitchen counter over three weeks. I tested voice pickup with background noise, camera call quality, the shutter and mute switch, and Alexa+ multi-step conversations. I evaluated the speaker across podcasts, music, and radio at various volumes, and I compared the bass response against the previous generation and against the larger Show 8.
For a broader comparison of smart displays, The Verge's smart display buying guide is a solid reference. The Echo Show 5 listing on Amazon shows the current price and color options.
Echo Show 5: Questions People Ask
Does the Echo Show 5 have a good speaker for music?
For a device this size, yes. It produces double the bass of the previous generation and stays clear at higher volumes, though it will not replace a full speaker system.
Can the Echo Show 5 control smart home devices?
Yes, it works as a smart home hub, controlling lights, plugs, thermostats, and cameras by voice or on the touchscreen, and it supports most major smart home brands.
Does the Echo Show 5 have a camera for video calls?
Yes, it has a built in camera for video calls through Alexa and Skype, and a physical shutter lets you block the lens when you want privacy.
Is the Charcoal Echo Show 5 different from other colors?
No, the hardware is identical. Charcoal is simply the darker fabric finish, so the choice of color does not change performance or features.
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