Is this still a classic smart home device or already a TV? The Echo Show 15 can definitely lead to confusion. After all, the smart screen here measures a whopping 15.6 inches (about 40 cm), which is a decent increase compared to the already available devices of the Echo Show family. However, Amazon does not only want to have ensured a rich growth of its Show. We take a look at the highlights.
The new big one
Until now, those looking for an Echo Show could reach for a size of either 5, 8 or 10 inches. With its 15 inches, Amazon adds another size to its already broad Show segment. The almost 40 cm diagonal of the new Show 15 already makes it clear that the smart screen is not for the kitchen counter or the nightstand. Amazon offers two application options here. On the one hand, the display can easily be hung on the wall. Alternatively, you can comfortably drape the Show 15 on an associated stand.
The Echo Show 15 offers a sharp image thanks to Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), and with its processor in the form of the in-house AZ2 Neutral Edge, it also offers decent power. The CPU is supposed to have a special quad-core architecture that is supposed to ensure smooth switching between different applications. Like the other Echo Shows, the new one also comes with an integrated camera. This should not only enable video telephony, but also make it possible to create a so-called “Visual ID”.
The Visual ID
The so-called visual ID is a new feature that Amazon presents with the release of the Echo Show 15. It is supposed to make it possible that you can also individualize the info, which can be seen on the display. What does that mean in detail? If several people live in your household, it can be worthwhile for each individual to create a visual ID.
If one of the registered persons is now in front of the Echo Show 15, it is recognized by the camera and thus also by the voice assistant and AI Alexa. If you have saved reminders or calendar entries in your profile, for example, they will be displayed. In order to eliminate data privacy concerns in advance, Amazon promises that all personal data will be stored encrypted and will only be on the Echo Show 15 itself.
More overview for better organization
Of course, a larger display also offers more space for important information. Especially friends of clear widgets will probably get their money’s worth with the Echo Show. You can finally make adjustments here and, for example, set the arrangement of the widgets according to your own wishes. This way, the digital family calendar can always be kept in view and the list for the upcoming visit to the supermarket can be expanded. Those who prefer to shop at Amazon itself can, of course, simply add products to the shopping list at the online shipping giant.
At the heart of any Alexa device are arguably its smart-home features. And here, too, the Echo Show 15 scores no less than its smaller sibling devices. After all, several compatible devices can be managed and controlled with the help of the large smart display. Here, too, there should be advantages to be gained from the size. For example, picture-in-picture features are possible, which allows simultaneous viewing of several connected cameras, among other things.
A true hybrid device
The sheer size of the Echo Show 15 ensures that the smart display opens up several areas of application at once. Let’s start with video telephony. This is also easily possible with the smaller Echo Shows, but since the Echo Show 15 not only offers a richer hardware power, but also a better camera and a larger display, the experience in this area should be much better. However, the TV features should be particularly exciting. After all, the Echo Show 15 cannot only be used for the in-house Amazon Prime Video. You also get access to Netflix and the media libraries of the public broadcasters here.
Is it still practical or already too big?
Certainly, the Echo Show 15 is anything but a small smart home device. But Amazon clearly wants to do much more here than just expand the range of Echo Shows with another size. With a screen diagonal of just under 40 cm, the company has created a “chicken of the egg” here. Of course, we know the features in somewhat lower quality from the other devices of the Show family.
But with the Echo Show 15, you get the feeling that the functions are not just integrated because it works, but because it makes sense. The best example is probably the TV function. In addition, the wall-mounting option is likely to make many users opt for the Echo Show 15 as the central interface for their entire smart home. To what extent the Visual ID revolutionizes all this or not, on the other hand, we should still wait and see.
Price and Availability
Unfortunately, we don’t yet know when Amazon plans to launch its promising new addition. However, we already know more about the price. The large Echo Show is supposed to go on sale at an MSRP of 249.99 euros.
