What is the best time to buy an Amazon Echo Show?
Amazon Echo Show devices see their steepest discounts during Amazon's major sales events, particularly Prime Day. These events occur twice a year—around July and October—and typically offer the lowest prices of the year. Discounts are rarely as deep outside of these windows, so waiting for a Prime Day sale is generally the best strategy. Occasionally, sale pricing starts even before the official event and is increasingly available to all shoppers, not just Prime members.
How do current Echo Show deals compare to past discounts?
While Echo Show discounts remain impressive, be aware that Amazon sometimes increases the list price before an event, making the percentage-off look higher than it is. For example, a model might be listed at a larger discount than previous sales, but the final price may be similar to or even higher than it was in the last event.
For example, the Echo Show 11 recently dropped to $149.99 in the US (down from a raised list price), which mirrors the best deal from a previous sale despite a higher stated discount percentage. If you spot an Echo Show at a price matching its historical low, it's unlikely you'll see a better offer until the next major sale—and prices have slowly trended upward overall.
Which Echo Show model is best for your needs?
Echo Show models differ mainly in screen size, audio quality, camera capabilities, and price:
- Echo Show 5: Compact and budget-friendly. Good for bedrooms or desks, but has a basic screen and speaker, and a lower-quality camera. Best for basic Alexa skills, alarms, and checking smart home status.
- Echo Show 8 or 11: Strong overall value, with larger HD/full HD screens and much better audio. Great for video calls (with 13MP auto-framing cameras) and serving as a smart home hub. Ideal for kitchens and living areas.
- Echo Show 15 or 21: Best for central family spaces, these have full HD, large displays and built-in Fire TV features. Designed for more advanced smart home control and media consumption, but come at premium prices and require more space for installation.
Echo Show smart home compatibility and installation
All Echo Show devices work natively with Amazon Alexa, making them most valuable if your smart home ecosystem already uses Alexa-compatible devices. Newer Echo Shows—8 and above—often function as Zigbee smart home hubs as well, supporting a broader variety of devices (including Matter on newer models). Installation is simple for most: the 5, 8, and 11 simply sit on a surface and plug in, while the 15 and 21 are designed for wall-mounting and may require permanent installation, which can rule them out for renters or those wanting portability.
What are the running costs and smart features?
There are no ongoing subscription fees for basic Alexa or smart home controls. However, video streaming (beyond Prime Video) and some premium features may require subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.). Power costs are low, but the larger displays draw more power if used heavily as digital picture frames or TVs.
Key takeaway: Should you buy an Echo Show now?
If an Echo Show is selling at its historical sale price during an Amazon event, it's the right time to buy—better deals are rare and price trends are gradually rising. Choose the model based on your room size, smart home needs, and budget. For basic use or renters, the Echo Show 5 offers flexibility and low cost. For advanced smart home setups or shared family spaces, larger Echo Shows justify the investment if you want a control hub with home display and entertainment features.