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Amazon

Amazon Echo Show 15 (2024): the downsides first

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#3 of 7
$$$Large wall displayScore 3.4/5
11%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)6,467 ratings pooled with the Echo Show 21 (same figures on both pages).

A wall-mounted family hub with Fire TV, a remote and a physical camera shutter. Experts call the sound mediocre, the stand costs $100 extra, and Wirecutter says nothing about it justifies the price over the Show 8.

Subscription: Optional: Alexa+ is free with Prime or $19.99/mo without it (PCMag); Wirecutter says Alexa+ is rolling out to the Show 15

Top complaints

  • Mediocre sound

    PCMag says it's louder but not better, with limited range and brittle treble. CNET says its speakers and camera are lower quality than other Echos'.

    Source: PCMag review, CNET best smart displays
  • Awkward setup and placement

    Wirecutter says it needs more setup than any other display it tested and is too large to place where the touchscreen is comfortable; a table stand costs extra ($100 per PCMag). CNET says it needs a lot of space.

    Source: Wirecutter (NYT) best Alexa speakers, PCMag review, CNET best smart displays
  • Photo pillarboxing and suggestion clutter

    Wirecutter found massive pillarboxing on photos that don't match the screen's orientation. PCMag says the rotating screens include shopping and content suggestions you'll want to switch off; CNET finds widgets awkward.

    Source: Wirecutter (NYT) best Alexa speakers, PCMag review, CNET best smart displays

What owners love

  • Bright, clear screen

    PCMag says the 15.6-inch 1080p screen is as bright and vivid as a good budget TV and works very well as a picture frame.

    Source: PCMag review
  • Fire TV and a remote

    Built-in Fire TV with all major streaming services and an included remote (PCMag, CNET).

    Source: PCMag review, CNET best smart displays
  • Physical camera shutter

    A slide-out shutter covers the upgraded 13MP camera (PCMag, CNET).

    Source: PCMag review, CNET best smart displays
Good for
  • A family calendar and photo frame on the wall
  • Casual TV watching in a kitchen
  • Households that want a camera shutter

Scores (tap for why)

What experts say

  • PCMag: 3.5/5; best alternative to a digital picture frame. Stylish and bright, but mediocre audio and no table stand.
  • CNET: Best large smart display. Attractive frame design and camera shutter; weaker camera and speakers than other Echos.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Competition (dismissed): nothing merits the price over the Show 8, setup is the most involved, and photos pillarbox heavily.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked smart displays whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in smart displaysAmazon Echo Show 11

CNET's best overall and Wirecutter's kitchen pick: the sharpest Echo screen (1920 x 1200) with strong sound and Alexa+. It's the Show 8 with a bigger screen for more money, CNET says it shows a lot of ads, and PCMag says it lacks a physical camera shutter.

Its catch: lots of ads on screen#2 in smart displaysAmazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)

The top pick at both PCMag and Tom's Guide: a sharp 8.7-inch screen, room-filling sound and Alexa+ built in. The physical camera shutter is gone, the interface is cluttered, Echo Show screens run ads, and about 1 in 7 Amazon ratings (pooled with the Show 11) are 1 or 2 stars.

Its catch: no physical camera shutter#4 in smart displaysAmazon Echo Show 21

Amazon's biggest screen: a 21-inch Fire TV display with a remote, a camera shutter and a wall mount, and Wirecutter's pick for kitchens and bedrooms. It's pricey, PCMag calls the sound average, and the table stand costs extra.

Its catch: pricey for what it does

Head-to-head

See all 7 smart displays ranked →