Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) Review

The Echo Show 5 turns your nightstand into a smart command center. Alarm clock, weather display, video calls, smart home controls, and streaming music — all in a device smaller than a picture frame. For $49.99, it's one of Amazon's best gadgets.

Design & Display

The Echo Show 5 has a 5.5-inch touchscreen with a 960x480 resolution. It's not razor-sharp, but it's perfectly adequate for weather widgets, album art, clock faces, and video calls. The compact footprint (5.8 x 3.4 x 2.8 inches) means it fits on any nightstand or kitchen counter without taking over.

The fabric-wrapped speaker grille gives it a softer, home-friendly look compared to a tablet. Available in Charcoal, Glacier White, and Cloud Blue, it blends into most room decors.

The Alarm Clock Experience

This is honestly the Echo Show 5's killer feature. The clock faces are beautiful and customizable, and the sunrise alarm gradually brightens the screen before your alarm goes off — genuinely making it easier to wake up. Tap to snooze, or say 'Alexa, snooze' without opening your eyes.

You can set multiple alarms, timers, and reminders with voice commands. It's the best alarm clock experience you can buy, and it comes with an entire smart assistant built in.

Smart Home Control

The touch screen adds a visual layer to Alexa that voice-only Echo devices lack. Swipe to see your smart home devices, tap to turn lights on/off or adjust thermostats, and view security camera feeds live. If you have Ring cameras, you can see who's at the door right on your nightstand.

It also works as a Zigbee smart home hub, connecting compatible devices without a separate hub. For smart home beginners, this is the easiest entry point.

Camera & Video Calls

The built-in 2MP camera handles basic video calls through Alexa calling or Zoom. Quality is adequate for quick check-ins but won't impress anyone used to phone-quality video. The physical camera shutter is a must-have privacy feature — slide it closed when you don't want a camera in your bedroom.

Audio & Entertainment

The single 1.75-inch speaker produces decent audio for its size. Music sounds fine for background listening, podcasts and audiobooks are clear, and Alexa's voice is easy to understand. Don't expect room-filling sound — that's what the Echo Dot and Echo Studio are for.

You can stream music from Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and more. The small screen is fine for music controls and lyrics but too small for comfortable video watching.

Should You Buy It?

The Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is best understood as a premium alarm clock that happens to have Alexa, a camera, and a touch screen. At $49.99, it's a fantastic nightstand companion and smart home controller. If you already use Alexa devices, this is a no-brainer addition.

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