While Amazon has thus far been spotlighting and showcasing Alexa+ across the Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 21, we finally got a peek into the vision of hardware designed for the next-generation, AI-powered smart assistant – and it’s a nearly unanimous upgrade.
Just like the more modern, somewhat Death Star–like Echo Dot Max or Echo Studio, the new Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 reset the design language for Amazon’s smart displays. Gone is the bulky, bulbous rear with an always-tilted screen attached to the front that sits flat as a brick.
The screens on the new Show 8 and Show 11 almost appear to float from any direction, mounted higher with a few inches underneath to let the speakers baked into the base fire forward. You could say this is to let Alexa’s voice be heard, but also so that music, podcasts, soundscapes, audiobooks, TV shows, movies, and even cooking instructions sound robust.
Either the 8-inch or 11-inch screen on the Echo Show is remarkably thin, especially when compared to previous Echo Shows. These look gorgeous and modern in every way, and while you might be tempted to pull the screen off, the Echo Show is decidedly not a tablet.
The base and rear hull, where the screen is mounted, are finished with a woven mesh that feels soft to the touch and adds to the elegance. It’s essentially similar to the outer shell of the new Echo smart speakers, further reinforcing the impression of a holistic overhaul. You get your pick between Glacier White and Graphite.
This is also the first hardware to match Alexa+, which will come preinstalled once the Show 8 and Show 11 are powered on – and you’ve agreed to the terms. Remember, it’s free with a Prime membership or $20 a month.
You’ll primarily control the Echo Show 8 or 11 with your voice via Alexa and its integrated far-field microphones, but the displays are also touch-enabled. Amazon promises that these are designed to look great from any angle and that content will remain visible, whether you’re viewing a slideshow of photos, exploring widgets, watching content, or when Alexa tosses up a visual to answer a query.
The Echo Show 8 boasts an 8.7-inch HD touchscreen with an 800 × 1134 resolution, while the Show 11 features a 10.95-inch Full HD touchscreen with a 1920 × 1200 resolution. In the hands-on space, both offered visually rich experiences – I saw many shades of blue – and were quick to respond to touch. When light does hit them, though, fingerprints become apparent, and they don’t offer much in the way of an anti-reflective coating.
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Both models were plenty responsive and run the new VegaOS, which looks similar to previous interfaces on other Echo Shows. It’s a bit less cluttered, with clear markings between widgets. Everything felt zippy, thanks to the AZ3 Pro chip under the hood.
While I didn’t get to try it, embedded in the slim top bezel of the Show 8 and Show 11 is a new 13-megapixel camera with software-powered auto-framing. This should come in handy for taking video calls.
Powering the audio on both the Show 8 and Show 11 is a pair of full-range drivers and a 2.8-inch woofer. These push sound out from under the screen and out the top of the base behind it, delivering what Amazon promises is markedly improved audio for almost all use cases.
Similar to the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, Amazon’s latest Echo speaker hardware doesn’t necessarily come cheap. For the high-end looks, Amazon has set a more premium price tag at $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$349 for the Echo Show 8 and $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$429 for the Echo Show 11.
Both sizes are now available for preorder directly on Amazon and will begin shipping on November 12, 2025. I’m keen to go hands-on with these in more depth from my own home, but even with a pricier MSRP than I might like, Amazon has left a lasting impression on me with the sheer upgrade in looks.
The new Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 don’t exactly match what a previous Echo Show might have looked like – and I think that’s the point.
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