Echo Show 5 – Amazon Announcement

If you read my prior blog post, you’ll know that there were rumours of the Amazon Echo Show 5 which appears to have skipped a few numbers. However, as per the Amazon Press release, I can confirm that the Echo Show 5 has been announced for $89.99.

Alexa adds new features, including how-to videos from wikiHow, updated smart home controls, customizable morning and evening routines, new privacy features, and even more visual content Official Amazon Press Release

It looks like my suspicions on a cheaper and more budget-like Amazon device were true, coming in at only $89.99, the Echo show 5 is a compact, 5.5 inch display, higher sound quality, HD camera AND for security purposes includes a built-in camera shutter.

Basically, it’s better than the prior devices and cheaper, in my opinion.

Since we launched the first Echo Show device, customers have told us they love asking Alexa to show them things—whether it’s a recipe for banana bread, their shopping list, or music lyrics. With Echo Show 5, we’ve made it even easier and affordable for customers to add a smart display to every room of their house,” said Tom Taylor, Senior Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “The compact form factor is perfect for a bedside table or desk, plus it has a camera shutter for added peace of mind, and new Alexa privacy features for even more control.

Compact Design for Rich Entertainment

The Echo Show 5 boasts a much better set of hardware and is supposedly great for watching music videos on Vevo and listening to music from a plethora of different sources (Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora and more external ones via Skills). I’m not going to bore you with the details as I’m a little too excited to get my hands on this, but it basically does everything we already have at a much more affordable price.

It looks like the Echo Show 5 is targeting audiences who keep busy but still wish to be entertained, similar in how I currently use my show whilst washing dishes but without the added stress of being caught with my shirt off when I’m called and have soapy hands.

The biggest and obviously most important change here is about privacy, Amazon was blasted not long ago for the issues in regards to ‘always listening’ to you regardless of whether or not you use the keyword “Alexa”.

However, with the Echo Show 5, you’ll be able to simply turn off the microphone and camera directly using a shutter. According to Amazon, this completely terminates the electrical connection which in my head means it cannot be ‘hacked’ to show it regardless of whether or not the firmware says otherwise.

Another introduction into the privacy world which was inevitable, I think. Is the ability to ask Alexa to delete voice recordings on all Alexa-Enabled Devices (This includes Smart Phones). Simply say “Alexa, Delete everything I said today” and everything recorded will be deleted. If you want to be more specific, they are working on having that release as well so that you can say

Alexa, Delete what I just said

You can get more information on this at the Alexa Privacy Hub page.

Cost Of The Echo Show 5

The Echo Show 5 is available in two colours, which is typical of Amazon to be honest. They, however, will be stuck at the same price which is set to release at $89.99 (Which is around £70 as of writing this post).

There is an additional purchase option of a magnetic stand which allows you to tilt the device to alternative camera angles so you don’t have 12 chins, but that comes at a price of $19.99 (Around £15). These are already available for pre-order here.