The Amazon Echo Show 8 is what most people mean when they say "the Alexa screen." Gadgetping posted its review back in 2022, aimed at the 2nd generation (2019, re-released 2021) — and never printed a price. Four years later, that exact model is off the shelf, and the Show 8 line has shipped two more generations. The twist: the line didn’t die — it peaked. PCMag’s 2026 smart-display round-up names the current 4th-gen Show 8 its Best Overall pick. Here’s what the 2022 post got wrong, what replaced the 2nd gen, and which screen to buy in 2026 — with real street prices.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2026): the 2022 post, checked
The 2022 post’s basic feature list (display, video calls, smart-home control, music, recipes) still describes the line. The framing did not survive:
| The 2022 post said | What’s actually true |
|---|---|
| "the Amazon Echo Show has garnered 8 good reviews from customers and critics" | No such review set exists — the claim was fabricated |
| "What users say" (zero quotes inside) | Replaced with real owner quotes from r/amazonecho |
| "I have also made sense of the Alexa reverberation show 10 audits on my other" | It’s a link to our Echo Show 10 post — machine-translation garble |
| "Revolution and some unique facilities" — "will likely feature…" | Future-tense filler: these were shipped 2nd-gen features, written like roadmaps |
| "a mouthpiece for verbal instructions" | A microphone (a 4-mic far-field array on the 2nd gen) |
| "Dependence on electricity" as a disadvantage | It’s a plugged-in device, like every display on this list |
| No price anywhere | 2nd gen launched at $149.99 (2019) — now used only |
The post also never said which generation it reviewed — the 2nd gen predates 13MP cameras, Matter, and Thread.
What replaced the 2nd gen
Three generations in five years:
- 2nd gen (2019, $149.99): 8-inch 1280×800, 2MP camera, AZ1 chip. The model the 2022 post reviewed. Dead.
- 3rd gen (2023, $149.99): same 8-inch panel, a 13MP centered camera with physical shutter, faster AZ2 chip, 4 mics, spatial audio, and a Zigbee + Matter + Thread hub. Now ~$99.99–124.99 — the value pick.
- 4th gen (2025, $179.99): 8.7-inch 1340×800, AZ3 Pro chip, Alexa+ built in, 5 mics, 3.3× zoom, Wi-Fi 6E — no physical camera shutter. $124.99–149.99 street; PCMag’s Best Overall (Editors’ Choice 4.5, BOTY 2025).
The bigger sibling is gone too: the rotating Show 10 was retired and replaced by the fixed-screen Show 11, covered in our Alexa Echo Show 10 post.
The 2026 catch: the 2nd gen isn’t on the shelf
- Amazon US: the post’s purchase link (B084DCJKSL) still loads, titled "Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen)," but the featured offer is unavailable — no buybox price, Charcoal only
- Amazon.de / Amazon.fr: both listings are gone (404)
- Remaining stock: used and refurbished only
- PCMag’s note for 1st/2nd-gen owners: "now is a good time to upgrade"
Check the used prices on Amazon
What owners actually say
Two long r/amazonecho threads carry the honest consensus:
- "The 8 is way better overall- easy to read screen, better sound, some software improvements… I just bought an Echo Show 8 with Matter and Thread support. Now I can control devices with either Alexa or HomeKit… I’m a happy camper." — r/amazonecho: Should I get an Echo Show?
- "My use cases for Show are very limited… Not really worth paying for the Show and being annoyed by ads." — DakkarNemo, same thread.
- "mechanical cover for camera, I love that" — but also "Echo Show 8 will also get into blank screen, without clock, numerous time a day (and this is my biggest issue)." — r/amazonecho: Should you get Amazon Echo Show 8?
- "the show 8 is worth the coin. recommend. ive had all of the screen based echos since day one and they have gotten better over time." — Stromberg-Carlson, same thread
Which Echo Show 8 — or what not — to buy in 2026
Six options, all current (or deliberately used):
| Pick | What it is | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|
| Echo Show 8 (4th gen, 2025) | 8.7" 1340×800, AZ3 Pro, Alexa+, no shutter | $179.99 list, ~$124.99–149.99 |
| Echo Show 8 (3rd gen, 2023) | 8", AZ2, physical shutter, Matter/Thread | $149.99 list, ~$99.99–124.99 |
| Echo Show 11 (2025) | 11" FHD, AZ3 Pro — the former Show 10’s job | $219.99 list, ~$170–189.99 |
| Echo Show 5 (2023) | 5.5" bedside, 2× bass | $89.99 list, ~$59.99–69.99 |
| Echo Show 15 | 15.6" wall-mount kitchen screen | $299.99 list, ~$269.99 |
| Echo Show 8 (2nd gen, used) | The model the 2022 post reviewed | used only |
Echo Show 8 (4th gen, 2025). The default buy: PCMag’s Best Overall — 8.7-inch, AZ3 Pro, Alexa+ out of the box, 5 mics, 3.3× zoom. One real con besides the missing shutter: PCMag calls the interface "cluttered." $179.99 list, routinely $124.99–149.99. Check the price on Amazon
Echo Show 8 (3rd gen, 2023). The value pick: same core experience, physical camera shutter, ~$99.99–124.99 on sale. If you don’t need Alexa+, this is the smarter money. Check the price on Amazon
Echo Show 11 (2025). The 11-inch FHD step up at ~$170–189.99 — more viewing area, same chip and software. Full breakdown in our Alexa Echo Show 10 post. Check the price on Amazon
Echo Show 5 (2023). The 5.5-inch bedside option at ~$59.99–69.99 — the r/amazonecho consensus: great close-up, too small from across the room. Check the price on Amazon
Echo Show 15. The 15.6-inch wall-mount for kitchens and offices at ~$269.99 — a hands-free dashboard, not a TV. Check the price on Amazon
Echo Show 8 (2nd gen, used). Only on a hard budget: no Matter/Thread, a 2MP camera, 2019 software. A $60 used Show 8 beats nothing, but at the same money a used 3rd gen is the better camera and hub. Check the used prices on Amazon
Worth a one-liner: the Echo Show 21 ($399.99) if you want a Fire-TV kitchen screen with a remote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) still on sale?
No. The US listing shows no active offer and the European listings are gone; used and refurbished units are the only route. Amazon’s own coverage now steers 1st/2nd-gen owners to the newer generations.
What’s the difference between the 3rd-gen and 4th-gen Echo Show 8?
The 4th gen (2025): 8.7-inch vs 8-inch, AZ3 Pro vs AZ2, Alexa+ built in, 5 mics vs 4, 3.3× zoom — and it drops the physical camera shutter. The 3rd gen is the one to get for the shutter and the lower price.
Is the Echo Show 8 a good smart home hub?
Yes — both current generations pair a built-in Zigbee hub with Matter over Wi-Fi/Thread and Amazon Sidewalk, so it works as a full hub without extra hardware. The 2nd gen in the 2022 post predated Matter.
Should I buy a plain Echo Dot instead?
If you only want voice, yes — a Dot is cheaper. Owners who "basically use it like a dot" and regret the Show spend say it all. The screen earns its keep for video calls, recipes, camera feeds, and photos.
So the map: the Amazon Echo Show 8 line is healthier than ever — 4th gen at ~$124.99–149.99 for the current everything, 3rd gen at ~$99.99 for value with the camera shutter, Show 11 at ~$170 for the big screen, Show 5 at ~$59.99 for the nightstand. The 2022 post’s exact model survives only used — a fine bargain at the right price, if you know what you’re missing.
Over at Gadgetping we test gadgets from Amazon, AliExpress and Flipkart so you buy the right one — not the loudest one: real prices, real runtimes, owner consensus over the spec sheet. The no-screen sibling round lives in our Amazon Echo Dot 2nd generation review, and the rest of the connected-home gear in our smart home and security reviews.
