(checked 2026-10-10)72,820 ratings; the listing pools color variants and may include earlier generations.
The cheapest Echo Show and Wirecutter's nightstand pick, with a sliding camera cover and a dim clock mode. The 5.5-inch screen is low-res, music sounds middling, and Amazon owners complain about slow, crashing units: about 1 in 6 ratings are 1 or 2 stars.
Subscription: Optional: Alexa+ is free with Prime or $19.99/mo without it (PCMag, Wirecutter)
Top complaints
- Slow and crashes for some owners
Amazon's review summary says responsiveness and reliability are significant concerns, with owners noting it is slow to respond and frequently crashes, and some say it doesn't hear them well.
- Middling music and calls
PCMag found bass muted and kick drums near distortion, with weak treble. CNET says the sound isn't comparable to bigger Echos. Wirecutter found calls sounded a little worse and its mic picked up less than other Echos.
- Low-res screen and camera
PCMag calls the 2MP camera soft and grainy and unchanged from the last model. Wirecutter says photos look worse than on Google's screen and are often cropped.
What owners love
- Great bedside clock
Wirecutter says the clock mode is dark enough to sleep a foot away, with Sunrise alarms and tap-to-snooze.
- Physical camera cover
A sliding shutter and mic mute button (Wirecutter, PCMag).
- Loud, clear speech
PCMag says voice and podcasts are loud and clear, and its mics heard commands across an apartment with the TV on. Amazon owners like its look.
- You care about music sound
- You want sharp photos or video calls
- You want a fast, glitch-free screen
- Bedside alarm clock
- Small desks and bathrooms
- A low-cost first Alexa screen
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Pick for bedside tables (updated 2025-11-24). Calls sound a little worse and its mic picks up less than other Echos.
- PCMag: Best for small spaces, 4/5. Inexpensive and loud for its size; can't do deep lows or crisp highs, and the camera is mediocre.