It may be thrilling when a model like Amazon releases new variations of its units, but it surely will also be overwhelming to determine which one is greatest for you (and whether or not it is price paying greater than the unique model). After testing the second-generation Echo Present 5 and Echo Present 8, I will present you what is the identical, what’s totally different, what they provide in comparison with the first-generation variations—and which one you should purchase on Prime Day 2024.
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Whereas these stationary units aren’t as cell or provide the performance of an iPad or Floor pill, they work completely with Alexa and function a wise dwelling hub to make your on a regular basis life somewhat simpler.
Pricing
Whereas the 2nd technology Echo Present 5 is now not obtainable, the newest Echo Present 5 prices $89.99. The Echo Present 8 has been discontinued, however you possibly can nonetheless get some variations of it for $129.99.
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Measurement issues
Essentially the most noticeable distinction between the Echo Present 5 and the Echo Present 8 is, in fact, their dimension. The Echo Present 5 has a 5.5-inch display screen and a 6-by-3-inch footprint, whereas the Echo Present 8 is considerably bigger—with an 8-inch display screen and an 8-by-4-inch footprint.
Echo Present 5 (2nd technology) is smaller and higher suited to a bed room or workplace.
Picture credit score: Amazon
Echo Present 8 (2nd technology) is considerably bigger – greatest suited to a central dwelling hub.
Picture credit score: Amazon
For my part, this makes the Echo Present 8 a lot better suited as a “hub” for your loved ones – in a central location just like the kitchen or eating room, to simply make video calls to the grandparents through Alexa. All you could do is add the contacts you need to name within the Alexa app in your cellphone. Nevertheless, if you have already got a pill with nice video functionality, the acquisition is probably not important.
Regardless, the Echo Present 8 gives a number of different benefits for video calling apart from its dimension.
Then again, the Echo Present 5 is best suited to locations the place you want the performance of the system with out it being the focal point – similar to in your desk or nightstand.
And in the event you like shade combos, the Echo Present 8 is simply obtainable in Glacier White and Charcoal. For extra selection, take a look at the brand new Echo Present 5, which is on the market in Glacier White, Charcoal, and Deep Sea Blue. The Echo Present 5 Children is on the market in Chameleon Inexperienced.
Digital camera and video calls
The Echo Present 5 obtained a good digital camera improve in comparison with the first technology model – the megapixels had been elevated from 1 to 2. Nevertheless, the Echo Present 8 was a very totally different story. Whereas the first technology Echo Present 8 provided a 1 MP digital camera, this revised mannequin is provided with a 13 MP digital camera.
Amazon Echo Present 5 (2nd technology) has small however helpful updates
The image is unbelievable Crisp photos and the bigger display screen make the Echo Present 8 a winner for video calls. However that is not even the most effective half: The brand new Echo Present 8 has auto-framing options that mechanically pan and zoom the digital camera to give attention to the folks within the area of view.
Each units even have some helpful connectivity options, similar to an intercom for calling all of the Alexa units in the home (“We’re leaving in fifteen minutes, so prepare!”) and Drop In, which helps you to video chat with any related Alexa system.
Zoom calls
The Echo Present 8 also can be a part of Zoom calls, whereas the Echo Present 5 can’t. To be utterly trustworthy, I could not get the Zoom calling function to work after a number of makes an attempt as a result of not one of the calls I joined had a dial-in quantity.
I might nonetheless say that the Echo Present 8 wins on this level just because it’s theoretically doable, and I actually hope that I will be a part of Zoom calls with it quickly to release my laptop computer and the additional monitor for multitasking throughout conferences.
Little one-friendly content material
Throughout preliminary setup, you possibly can arrange any Echo Present system as a devoted system for teenagers. This offers you entry to superior parental controls, which is nice for older children, tweens, and teenagers who you continue to need to shield from among the worst issues the web has to supply.
Amazon’s Echo Present 8 (2nd technology) is the sensible show your own home wants
The Echo Present 5 Children, nevertheless, is the primary and solely Echo Present designed for teenagers from backside to high and facet to facet. It has the enjoyable chameleon look (dinosaur sheds in response to my 5-year-old) and comes with a free 12 months of Amazon Children (a $69 worth for Prime members)—which gives curated books, video games, and movies only for children that go means past what’s obtainable with a primary Prime membership. Plus, it has beefed-up parental controls so you possibly can tweak issues even additional.
Alexa performance
Each the 2nd technology Echo Present 5 and 2nd technology Echo Present 8 function some new Alexa expertise that their 1st technology counterparts haven’t got.
First off, there’s the house monitoring function, which helps you to remotely entry your system’s digital camera by the Alexa app to see what is going on on. You will want a WiFi connection for this, however I had no hassle getting it to work. I can think about it will be nice for checking on pets or the babysitter, or simply peeking into your own home whenever you’re on trip to verify the whole lot’s OK.
Subsequent up are motion-triggered routines. This permits Alexa to detect whenever you enter or go away a room and use that exercise to start out a routine. A phrase of warning: This could be a privateness challenge, but it surely additionally opens up some thrilling potentialities for sensible dwelling followers. You might have Alexa learn your calendar whenever you enter your workplace, or flip off all sensible units when no movement is detected in the lounge—and people are simply two easy concepts. With the addition of Alexa-enabled units or sensible plugs, you open up much more potentialities. Amazon gives methods to Handle these settings if you wish to delete recordings or handle your knowledge.
Mashable Offers
All of those units have the identical Alexa performance that you simply already know from the earlier model of Echo Present units.
Which one is best?
For simply $45 extra, the Echo Present 8 was the clear winner for me. Not solely does it have a bigger display screen and a 13MP digital camera with auto-framing (making it the best possible for video calling), but it surely additionally lets you be a part of Zoom conferences if you may get that function working correctly.
If video calls and Zoom conferences aren’t your factor, the Echo Present 5 continues to be an important alternative—just like the 2nd-generation Echo Present 8, the brand new Echo Present 5 gives lots of the similar superior Alexa options, like dwelling monitoring and movement detection routines. And naturally, in the event you’re in search of a tool for teenagers, it is best to go for the cool inexperienced Echo Present 5 Children.
General, I am a fan of each, however for our dwelling, the Echo Present 8 was the most effective.
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