The Amazon Echo Show 15 is the largest Echo Show to date, but is it worth buying over the smaller and more futuristic Echo Show 10? It's safe to say that Amazon's Echo lineup is among the strongest for smart home speakers and displays. Regardless if someone wants a cheap $50 speaker or a premium one with top-notch audio, the Echo lineup is suited to fit just about any need.
A core part of the Echo series over the years has been the Echo Show. The first Echo Show debuted in June 2017, and it did so to fairly middling reviews. Combining the Alexa experience with a touchscreen proved to be a great idea. However, the Echo Show's dated hardware and limited interface held it back from being a must-have. Lucky for Amazon and Alexa fans alike, the Echo Show's gotten better and better with each new release. Today, users can choose between four distinct sizes available at a variety of price points — two of which are the Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 10.
Despite having the exact same $249 asking price, the Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 10 have distinctly different designs. Starting with the Echo Show 15, it's a flat, rectangular display that can be placed virtually anywhere — whether that's directly on the wall or on a counter/table using an optional stand. Adding to the Echo Show 15's flexibility is the option to use it horizontally or vertically. Either way, users are treated to a massive 15.6-inch Full HD (1980 x 1080) screen for all of their smart home needs. Then there's the Echo Show 10. The landscape-only 10.1-inch HD (1280 x 800) display isn't nearly as impressive as its larger sibling, but it does have an important trick hiding up its sleeve. Using its built-in camera and circular base, the Echo Show 10 can automatically move its display to follow someone as they move about a room. From following recipes to keeping eyes on a TV show, having a screen that can always be within view is a huge convenience — and one that's not found on the Echo Show 15.
Other Pros/Cons For Echo Show 15 And Echo Show 10
Despite its smaller overall size, the Echo Show 10 actually has a couple of other advantages over the 15. Audio-wise, the Echo Show 10 is equipped with two 1.0" tweeters and a 3.0" woofer. The Echo Show 15 has two larger 1.6" tweeters, though it lacks any kind of woofer for impactful bass. The Echo Show 10 also delivers a more premium camera experience, featuring a 13MP sensor instead of the Echo Show 15's 5MP one. Furthermore, the Echo Show 10 can use its rotating design to automatically keep someone in the frame if they're moving during a video call. Both devices do have the same privacy features, thankfully. This includes a physical camera shutter and an off button for the microphone.
While the Echo Show 10 has a few objective hardware advantages over the Echo Show 15, it's difficult to overstate the convenience that comes with the latter's larger display. Having a 15.6-inch canvas for viewing family photos, checking to-do lists, and following recipes is infinitely more enjoyable than the 10.1-inch offering on the Echo Show 10. This oversized form factor also allows for a new user interface and 'Alexa Widgets.' Users can customize the Echo Show 15's home screen with widgets for recently-played songs, shopping lists, reminders, family calendars, Amazon package updates, virtual sticky notes, and more.
Given that the Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 10 have the same $249 asking price, deciding which to buy ultimately comes down to which Echo Show experience someone thinks they'd prefer. If the idea of having a massive screen mounted on the wall sounds compelling, the Echo Show 15 is a one-of-a-kind device. No matter what it's used for, the flexibility of its form factor and display make it one of the most fascinating Echo Shows to date. However, there's still an argument to be made for the Echo Show 10. Whether someone prefers its smaller footprint, needs a better audio experience, or wants a screen/camera that can follow their movement, there are plenty of reasons to get the Echo Show 10 over the 15. Keep those things in mind, and buying your next Echo Show should be a piece of cake.
Source: Amazon