Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsGreat Little Device with the usual Smartspeaker Issues
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 14 December 2022
UPDATE (13/01/2023): "Alexa, turn off screen"... moments later the Echo Show 5 will turn the screen back on again. This can happen multiple times to where I get fed up with it and disconnect it. I have disconnected my Echo Show 5 from the plug 6 times now in around 2 months. Such an annoyance is this, I have lowered the overall rating from 4 to 3 stars.
This is my second Echo device I have bought with the first being the Echo Dot 4th Gen, and like that ball-shaped speaker, the Echo Show 5 2nd Gen has the same issue (for me at least) with any kind of smart speaker, voice recognition. Like its name, you end up sounding like an echo as I command "Alexa" over and over and it just doesn't respond, or when it does, it stops listening whilst I ask it things or appears to listen and does nothing. Generally, this is where the bad American accent immitations appear just to get it to listen.
It isn't all bad, the screen is surprisingly good for something that isn't even 720p in resolution but its 5.5 inch screen size is what makes it better. I have been able to watch movies on this thing like James Cameron's The Terminator and Disney's A Christmas Carol staring Jim Carrey from Google Play Movies using Amazon Silk, and the image is clear and crisp. Though, there is a little stuttering playing video on Amazon Silk, but this is only at the start for a few moments, and obviously the experience is better with the preinstalled Amazon Prime app.
When it comes to sound, it is very good, but I am not entirely sure if it is better than the Echo Dot 4th Gen. I have noticed some distortion with it with the volume just over 50 or 60%, whereas the Echo Dot 4th Gen does not do this till around 70%. It is a good and clear quality for movies with some bass there and perfect for audiobooks from Audible and listening to the radio.
With anything you do watch or listen to, these will sit on your home screen like a recommendation or suggestion should want to watch or listen to them again. These can be removed in the settings, and along with anything you wish to see or not see on the display.
Unlike my Echo Dot 4th Gen, the Echo Show 5 does not have a headphone jack/ Aux socket on the back, just a power port and a MicroUSB port. The speaker is housed in the back, but the sound doesn't feel like it is playing away from you. The cable is of a good length and it is about 2m which I think is more than enough. the mute mic, volume controls, and camera cover is on the top of the device, and it will take a little time or workout which is which, and then you are good to go and navigate each button without looking.
I do recommend this device as it does all I need and more. It has a bright and clear display that is great to see your photos that syncs with the Amazon Echo app, and good for watching movies and TV shows. The speaker is good enough for what it is, and despite its size, it packs a punch. Voice recognition is hit and miss for me, and I am from the South East with no thick accent, so I can imagine those with thicker accents might experience issues.
7.5/10
