First Impressions
Amazon has made some notable adjustments to its mid-sized Alexa-enabled sensible show with the Echo Present 8 bringing a sleeker design, higher audio and a few intelligent software program tweaks that make it simpler to make use of.
Key Options
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Up to date designThe Echo Present 8 has a extra fashionable total design with higher digicam placement -
A number of software program upgradesThe Echo Present 8’s software program now adjustments relying on the place you’re standing, zooming out and in
Introduction
Amazon continues to improve its Alexa-based sensible house shows, and the Echo Present (third technology) may very well be probably the most tempting but.
After spending a short while with the show after Amazon’s devoted gadgets occasion, this seems like a notably extra premium expertise than earlier Present 8 fashions. The design is curvier, softer and customarily appears to be like a bit bit extra fashionable than earlier than.
There’s additionally a bunch of recent software program options, a few of which might change the way in which these type of gadgets are used. Learn on for my preliminary impressions and keep tuned for a full overview coming very quickly. The Echo Present 8 (third technology) is on the market to pre-order now for £149.99/$149.99 and can ship in October.
Design
- Sleeker total look
- The glass on the entrance feels nicer to the touch
- Centralised digicam
The Echo Present 8 (third technology) is a great house show meant to mix into your own home with out wanting too techy. This newest model actually achieves that feat with extra expertise than its predecessors, because of an total higher-end look partly all the way down to an edge-to-edge glass protecting the 8-inch show. It’s additionally quite a bit curvier than earlier than, with a extra apparent distinction between the display screen and the rear speaker.
Importantly, the digicam has been moved to a way more central place, making video calls look much more pure. This can be a small tweak, however I’ve at all times disliked gadgets – notably the iPad Professional – that push the webcam to the facet, distorting faces within the course of. When you use an Echo Present system for plenty of video calls, this can be a optimistic change.
The display screen stays sharp and brilliant to comfortably see from throughout a room. Amazon is focussing a bit extra on permitting customers to make use of the Echo Present 8 as a digital photograph body this time round, and the pictures I used to be proven appeared good on the system’s show.
Colors nonetheless include different white or black and there’s a stand offered individually that props the system up a bit bit.
Options
- Upgraded software program expertise
- Improved audio, together with spatial options
Whereas there are quite a few adjustments on the surface, you’ll discover simply as many inside. As is common with these Echo upgrades, quite a lot of the time spent on stage centered on sound high quality enhancements. There’s a new ‘audio expertise’ right here, which is claimed to enhance readability and bass whereas spatial audio is supported too.
I solely had a short while with the Echo Present 8 (third technology) and the demo room was critically loud, however the sound did appear higher than what I’ve heard from this line of gadgets earlier than.
One other function that’ll be instantly noticeable to anybody who has used an older Echo Present is the improved processor. Swiping across the UI is way smoother and responsive right here, and it doesn’t take an age for companies or settings to open up.
Arguably the most important improve is for the software program. Amazon’s Present UI now adapts relying on the place you’re standing, zooming in and exhibiting extra element while you’re shut by and zooming out and making issues visually simpler to identify from a distance while you transfer away. If the Visible ID function is enabled, the Present 8 can show completely different content material relying on who’s it.
I take advantage of an Echo Present 8 – the first-gen mannequin – each day and this software program tweak makes a lot sense and it ought to make it a lot simpler to make use of from throughout a room – now not exhibiting tiny textual content in climate updates or information headlines that clearly aren’t seen. You received’t have to purchase this new mannequin to profit from these adaptive options although, as it’s coming to the previous-gen Echo Present 8 and different Echo Present fashions later this yr.
As was the case with earlier Echo Present 8 fashions, this third technology model consists of assist for Zigbee, Matter, Thread and Bluetooth.
Early Verdict
The Echo Present 8 (third technology) is a robust step in the suitable route for the house hub system and will very effectively be up there with one of the best Echos round. We awarded the earlier mannequin 5 stars, and this iteration makes some notable upgrades to the design, sound output and software program.
