Faisal Ghaffar 
It was in 2019 that Amazon first introduced its smallest Echo Show smart display and every two years since then, it has launched a new model. The device is meant to be a sort-of smart alarm clock, but it can show a lot of information.
Design and build
There is not a lot of difference between the various Echo Show 5 generations at first glance. The latest model has a softer appearance because the screen and the device itself has rounded corners. The screen has black bezels only on the Charcoal model and there is a white bezel included in the Cloud Blue and White.
The rear of the device is covered in fabric and conceals the upward-firing speaker. According to Amazon, they have made improvements in the voice clarity as well as bass, which is a good thing because these two aspects had received a lot of criticism in the previous model.
The volume buttons have also been updated to match the symbols on the latest Echo smart speakers. There is only one connector given for power. The screen size remains 5.5-inch, but you can dim it more than previous models, so your sleep will remain undisturbed. Viewing angles, contrast and colors are all great.
Features
The front of the device comes with a built-in camera that can be used for Alexa calling, but it also works as a security camera that lets you view live video. You can use it to check what is happening in room, but since the camera is titled, you get to see the ceilings. However, the built-in mics let you hear what is happening.
The Echo Show 5 comes with a shutter that you can slide in from of the device’s camera for blocking its view completely. According to Amazon, the camera can also be electronically disabled. Three microphones can be found on it, which is one more than the previous model. Night mode is also available in this model, which only shows the clock and removes all other distractions.
When you want to use the screen for information, you should remember that it is big enough to help you check out photos, but not suitable for watching shows. Therefore, Netflix not being available is not such a big deal.
Sound quality
There is one speaker in the Echo Show 5 and it is about 1.75-inch in size, but it sounds better than the previous model. It delivers clear voices and more bass, as promised. You can easily listen to the podcasts and radio and Alexa’s responses are also clear. Even the odd video is easy to watch. You have the option of pairing Bluetooth headphones and this will improve the quality further.
The Verdict
Available at a price of $89.99, the Amazon Echo Show 5 is definitely an excellent alarm clock that you can put on your bed side. It can be great for controlling your smart home devices and mostly for viewing visual information. It is affordable and useful and that is all you need.
