Amazon Echo Show 5 (Newest Model, Charcoal) Review: Compact Smart Display with Stronger Sound and Alexa+

Product Summary

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (newest model, Charcoal) is a compact 5.5‑inch smart display that combines Alexa voice control with a small touchscreen, upgraded speaker, and built‑in camera. It’s part of the latest generation of Echo Show devices and is designed to sit comfortably on a bedside table, kitchen counter, or desk while handling common everyday tasks like timers, weather, smart‑home control, video calls, and streaming audio.

Compared with earlier Echo Show 5 versions, this newest model emphasizes improved audio with “2x the bass and clearer sound,” an updated design, and support for newer Alexa+ capabilities. It targets users who want more than a basic smart speaker, but don’t have room—or budget—for a larger Echo Show.

From a value perspective, the Echo Show 5 typically sits at the more affordable end of Amazon’s smart display range, often listed around $89.99 on Amazon, depending on promotions and seasonal discounts.

Target Users

The Echo Show 5 (newest model) is best suited for:

Bedside and bedroom use: Its small footprint and relatively modest screen brightness make it a natural fit as a smart alarm clock that can show time, weather, and calendar events.
Apartment and dorm residents: Users with limited space who want smart‑home control, music, and some video features without a large device.
First‑time Alexa users: A low‑commitment way to try Alexa+ with a screen, including visual answers, step‑by‑step recipes, and on‑screen smart‑home shortcuts.
Light smart‑home users: People who want an easy way to view cameras, control lights, adjust thermostats, and see who’s at the door using a compact hub‑like display.
Families and remote contacts: The built‑in camera supports video calls and Drop In features between Echo devices, making it suitable for keeping in touch with relatives.

It’s less ideal for those who prioritize large‑screen video streaming, room‑filling audio, or platform‑agnostic voice assistants.

Main Benefits

1. Compact Smart Display for Small Spaces

The 5.5‑inch touchscreen is designed to fit where larger Echo Show models would look oversized—nightstands, shelves, or tight kitchen corners. The angled back keeps the display readable at typical standing or sitting height, and the Charcoal finish blends into darker furniture and décor.

2. Improved Audio with Deeper Bass

This newest Echo Show 5 model focuses heavily on audio upgrades, promising roughly double the bass of its predecessor along with clearer overall sound. For a small smart display, this makes voice responses, podcasts, and background music feel fuller and less tinny than earlier Echo Show 5 generations.

While it still won’t replace a dedicated hi‑fi system or larger smart speaker, the upgrade is noticeable in typical bedroom or office listening distances.

3. Alexa+ and Visual Responses

As an Alexa‑enabled device, the Echo Show 5 handles hands‑free tasks like:

Setting alarms, timers, and reminders
Checking weather, calendar, and news
Asking general knowledge questions
Controlling compatible smart‑home devices

With a screen, answers are often easier to parse at a glance—weather icons, full calendar views, recipes with step‑by‑step instructions, or song details while music plays. Newer Alexa+ capabilities extend these functions with more context‑aware routines and improved voice interactions over time.

4. Built‑In Camera for Calls and Home Monitoring

The front‑facing camera supports:

Video calls to other Echo Show devices or users with the Alexa app
Drop In features within your household (if enabled)
Home monitoring, where you can remotely view the Echo Show 5’s camera feed from the Alexa app as a simple indoor check‑in camera

A physical camera shutter and on‑device controls allow you to quickly disable video for privacy when desired.

5. Smart‑Home Control Hub Experience

On the small display, you get a visual dashboard for smart‑home devices, including compatible lights, plugs, locks, cameras, and thermostats. This makes it easier to see device status and manually toggle controls than using voice alone. It can act as a primary or secondary control point in rooms where you don’t want a larger screen.

Key Considerations

Before choosing the Echo Show 5, keep these points in mind:

Screen Size Is Limited
At 5.5 inches, the screen is fine for quick glances, but small for watching movies, TV shows, or long video calls. If video consumption is a priority, you may want to look at larger Echo Show models.
Audio Is Improved but Still Compact
While the latest model delivers stronger bass and clearer sound than previous Echo Show 5 generations, physics still applies: a single small driver can’t match the richness or volume of larger speakers or multi‑room setups.
Best in Amazon‑Centric Ecosystems
The Echo Show 5 works best if you’re already invested in Amazon services and Alexa‑compatible gear. Music and video integration is most seamless with platforms that officially support Alexa and Echo Show visual interfaces.
Privacy Trade‑Offs of a Camera Device
Any always‑listening smart assistant with a camera brings privacy considerations. Amazon includes a camera shutter and microphone/camera controls, and offers account‑level settings for voice recording and data use, but you’ll still want to review and configure privacy options according to your comfort level.
Limited Productivity Compared with Larger Tablets
While it can show calendars, to‑dos, and shopping lists, the Echo Show 5 isn’t meant to replace a tablet or laptop. Interaction is primarily by voice and simple touch, not full app‑style workflows.

Pros

Space‑saving design that fits easily on nightstands, counters, and small desks.
Upgraded audio with deeper bass and clearer sound compared with earlier Echo Show 5 models.
Full Alexa+ integration, enabling hands‑free voice control and more intelligent routines over time.
Touchscreen interface for quick visual access to weather, calendar, timers, and smart‑home controls.
Built‑in camera allows video calls and basic home monitoring via the Alexa app.
Physical privacy controls, including a camera shutter and microphone/camera off button.
Generally budget‑friendly, often discounted to around $89.99 or lower during sales.

Cons

Small 5.5‑inch display is not ideal for extended video watching or reading at a distance.
Audio, while improved, is still limited compared with larger smart speakers or Echo Show 8/10 models.
Best experience assumes Amazon services, so users deeply invested in other ecosystems may find it less seamless.
Camera presence may concern privacy‑sensitive users, even with hardware controls.
Not a productivity device—better suited for light tasks than intensive work or app usage.

Alternatives

When considering the Echo Show 5 (newest model), it’s helpful to think about where it sits relative to other options:

Amazon Echo Show 8
A larger Echo Show 8 typically offers a bigger, more usable screen for video and stronger audio performance, but at a higher cost and with a larger footprint. It’s better for shared spaces like living rooms or main kitchens.
Basic Echo or Echo Dot (No Screen)
If you don’t need visual information, viewing camera feeds, or on‑screen controls, a standard Echo or Echo Dot might suffice and can sometimes be less expensive. However, you lose the convenience of glancing at the display for time, weather, and smart‑home status.
Traditional Alarm Clocks or Smart Clocks
For strictly bedside use, some may prefer a simpler, screen‑based clock without an always‑listening assistant or camera. These lack the voice assistant features but avoid the associated privacy trade‑offs.

Within Amazon’s lineup, the Echo Show 5 remains the most compact full smart display option, so alternatives are mainly about choosing more screen and audio versus more compact size and lower cost.

Conclusion

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (newest model, Charcoal) is a well‑balanced compact smart display that makes the most sense in small spaces and Amazon‑centric households. Its upgraded audio with deeper bass and clearer sound, combined with Alexa+ capabilities and a visually informative screen, makes it a strong fit as a smart alarm clock, bedside assistant, or secondary control point for smart‑home devices.

If you want a small, screen‑equipped Alexa device and are comfortable with the trade‑offs of a built‑in camera and modest display size, the Echo Show 5 is an appealing choice—especially when found around $89.99 during sales. Those who prioritize larger screens or more powerful sound, however, should consider stepping up to a bigger Echo Show model instead.