The Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) is equipped with Amazon Voice Assistant “Alexa.” These handy devices show things on the screen in a 24-hour cycle such as weather, news, jokes, recipes, etc. BEWARE, Amazon may be listening, although they claim not to. A simple fix is the mic mute button, which physically disconnects the microphones. Also a previous reviewer said they have giant speakers on the back. However, that is just the stand. The sound comes out of these little slots right underneath the screen and projects mostly forward. Maybe the giant back is where the sound can build up, or probably just for the electronics for the screen. Either way, sound quality is great. I’ve seen reviews of people comparing voice assistants and Alexa usually loses, but what people are missing is that it has more functionality on Amazon’s own software than on your phone. The Echo Show 5 can be used to make video calls, look at recipes, play music, and access thousands of third-party skills, which are like apps for Alexa. The general smart home functionality is the same as every other Alexa-integrated Amazon device, as well as all the commands and things like that. The difference is that you can actually SEE what you’re doing, and there is also a camera for video calls and surveillance (it has a camera cover, too!) The only issue I’ve noticed is that Alexa takes longer to respond than, say, with the Echo Dot 3rd gen. I guess that’s because it loads visuals for almost every command, but it would be great if you could customize that aspect of it. The visual apps and interactions are slow but absolutely worth the price you’re paying for this device!!

For the last few weeks the Amazon Echo Show 5 has become my best friend. Being stuck at home with my significant other working 15hour days it's been rather enjoyable having "someone" to talk to that actually listens and "talks" back lol. Right out of the box the Show was easy to setup and get going, connected without any hiccups to home Wi-Fi and my Prime account, and also my paid streaming services.

The viewable screen size is adequate for my needs with great vivid colors and clarity. The adjustable volume is loud enough to rock the house without blowing out windows-not very tinny sounding, and voices sound normal not robotic or cartoonish. Customizing the screen with your own photos from your Amazon account is appreciated but the continuous "tips" and latest news popping up is quite annoying.

And the most fun part...being able to view what you're asking Alexa to do. Having the Show in the kitchen I can ask Alexa to show me recipes, with videos even! Playing songs with lyrics scrolling I can karaoke until the cats howl along. Weather, news (if you really want to know lol), and so many skills for trivia and entertaining tidbits that I haven't even discovered yet I'm sure. Inspirational daily quotes, ordering things I've run out of, and even Sample Me offers all in one small device. Paired with my Amazon Smart plug I can even tell Alexa to turn on/off lights.

There hasn't been any lag issues, but sometimes the wrong song gets pulled up or a video from a different site is chosen instead of the one I requested. Oh and if your electricity goes out in a storm like mine has at least 5 times this month the Show does remember everything to get back online, no re-entering passwords etc..win win :)

All in all having an Alexa with "a face" has been super enjoyable and I look forward to discovering more skills and things the Echo Show 5 can do (as well as the things I've already been using daily)

For the most part, I really like having Amazon Echo Shows in my home. I have one in my bedroom, and one in my living room. They have 8" screens on them which flash things across them such as the weather, news stories, recipes, music articles, jokes, etc., in a 24 hour changing cycle. They can also be set up to show your own photos as well. They have giant speakers on the back, and can be used to play music or if you have Audible like me, you can use them to play your books. They have cameras on them in the front, so that you can use them to communicate with others who have Echo Shows, which is cool. We also use them to control our Amazon Smart Plugs, which turn our lights on and off in each respective room. There are a few things that I don't really like about them though, however. Such as they definitely listen to us! For example, we'll be talking about something like scrambled eggs. Not even 5 minutes later there will be a recipe on the screen for scrambled eggs and a news article on it saying something about eggs just out of NOWHERE! Coincidence? I don't think so. It happens all the time. I'm not really concerned about it though, because we're not important and we don't talk about anything crazy, so it doesn't really bother me. Other than that, they're very convenient, and I really like having them in our home. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who likes technology, or who wants another simple way to communicate with their loved ones.

Echo has been a nice addition to my nightstand. She sets my alarm, turns on and off my light thanks to the compatible smart switch. Pairing was super easy and works every time. I set reminders for work, add items to the grocery list and listen to music. The speaker is surprisingly clear and powerful. Quality is on par with most portable speakers, JBL, Sony etc . I have not used the video functions yet but like how you can call other Amazon devices like a home paging network. Not really necessary but a cool feature. The quality of construction is also impressive with a nice fabric mesh cover on the back half. The screen is very clear and nicely dims in low light and darkness. I have yet to explore all the many things Echo can do.

I gave four stars only because the device is a bit laggy and slow to respond to touch inputs. I also wish there were more physical touch and menu options to navigate. It predominantly is more effective and quicker just to ask Echo what you want. I guess it's a preference so maybe not a negative. The screen like touchscreens in the car get very dirty and smudge quickly. Not really a fix unless again you use more voice prompts.

Overall a nice addition to our fairly smart house and have enjoyed the capabilities and the added convenience.