Amazon Echo Show 15 vs Amazon Echo Show 10: Which Smart Display Is Better?
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Amazon’s expansion into the world of smart home devices continues with the recent release of the Echo Show 15, a wall-mounted display that acts as a hub for your entire smart home. We wouldn’t say that Amazon dominates the smart home market, but it’s on its way. (The Amazon ecosystem now includes products like Amazon Alexa, Blink security cameras, Echo Dot speakers, Fire TVs, eero Mesh Routers, and even a flying indoor security drone.)
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SPY just reviewed the impressive Echo Show 15, but you might be wondering exactly how it differs from the popular Echo Show 10, which came out about a year ago. To help you better figure out which version may work the best for your personal needs, we’ve pitted the two home devices against one another in head-to-head combat to the death. Okay, so not really. No smart displays were harmed in the making of this review.
The biggest difference is obvious: the 10 has a 10.1-inch display and the 15 has a 15.6-inch display. And since both of these displays cost $250, which one should you buy for your home?
To help you decide, we’ve compared the two devices side-by-side so you can see all the differences between the two devices and make an informed decision when shopping for the best smart displays. Below, you’ll see a breakdown covering the specs, design, display, audio, and even the software between the Echo Show 10 and the Echo Show 15.
Amazon Echo Show 10
Size: 9.9”W x 9”H x 6.7”D
Weight: 90.3 oz
Display: 10.1-inch screen with 1280 x 800 resolution
Audio: 2 x 1.0” tweeters + 3.0” woofer
Camera: 13-megapixel + privacy shutter
Amazon Echo Show 15
Size: 15.8”W x 9.9”H x 1.4”D
Weight: 78.1 oz
Display: 15.6” with 1920 x 1080 resolution
Audio: Dual 1.6” full-range drivers
Camera: 5-megapixel + privacy shutter
Design: Echo Show 15 Stands Out
The Show 15 is a pretty stark departure from the 10 in several ways. In fact, the Echo Show 15 is downright showy in comparison, largely due to the vivid 15.6-inch display (more on that in a moment), which is a considerable upgrade from the 10.1-inch display of the 10. Compared to the speaker-focused base of the Echo Show 10, there’s a noticeable difference in user experience. The Show 10 is a hybrid between a smart speaker and display, while the Show 15 is more akin to a smart picture frame — even down to its thick bezel. (This is a thick device, especially since it’s meant to be wall mounted.)
As we pointed out in our review, putting the Show 15 on a table might cause some to think it’s just a monitor, while the Show 10 stands out as a smart speaker. Additionally, if you choose not to wall-mount the Show 15, you’ll need to get a separate stand for it. Overall, we prefer the updated design fo the Echo Show 15, which has the stylish design you want in a $250 device.
The Bottom Line: The Echo Show 15 has a gorgeous display and will look great mounted on a wall, and overall it offers a serious improvement over the Echo Show 10’s design. However, if you like the smart speaker elements of the 10 — or if you hate the idea of wall-mounting your smart display — then the 10 is a better investment.
Display: Echo Show 15 Wins Out
The larger, brighter display is the most notable difference between the Show 10 and 15. As described above, the Show 15 moves from a 10.1-inch screen to a 15.6-inch display. The larger display boasts an increased resolution (1920×1080), making it better for watching content (in fact, putting the Show 15 in the kitchen feels like having a small TV). The display is suitable for video chatting through the built-in 5-megapixel camera but lacks the video tracking feature of the Echo Show 10.
The Show 15 also makes more of its display by featuring a handful of widgets, including the handy sticky pad, which is great to use for writing down to-dos or even putting together a grocery list.
The Bottom Line: The improved display is the key difference between the two flagship devices, and the Echo Show 15 is the clear winner here. For video calls, photos, watching content and overall resolution, the Show 15 is the superior device.
Audio: The Echo Show 10 Has Superior Sound
The Echo Show 10 is noticeably more robust in the audio category, thanks to the dual, 1-inch tweeters and a 3-inch woofer. Any music you play off of the device has a real punch to it, thanks to the speaker-like base of the unit. Even with the dual 1.6-inch full-range drivers, can’t compare. If you’re looking to have a smart speaker in your home, the Echo Show 10 is the way to go here.
In our full review, the lackluster audio was one of our main gripes with the new Echo Show 15.
The Bottom Line: If audio quality is important, the Echo Show 10 is the superior device.
Software: The 15 Has a Smoother User Experience
The software is another area where the differences between the 10 and the 15 start to stand out. We’re big fans of the widget-based interface of the Show 15, which makes it easy to access lots of different features and information at a glance. Remember when you were a kid and your parents had sticky notes stuck to the fridge with magnets? The Show 15 replicates that feeling by leveraging a bunch of cool widgets to provide quick snippets of information, including a calendar, those oft-mentioned notes, and more. The display is plenty big enough to show all of those widgets and not have it ever feel too crowded.
That doesn’t mean the Echo Show 10 is buggy or lacking in a quality user experience; however, we give the edge to the Echo Show 15 here.
The Bottom Line: Thanks to its easy-to-use interface, the Echo Show 15 has the edge here.
Should You Buy the Echo Show 10 or 15?
When comparing the most important features, the Echo Show 15 wins out over the Echo Show 10. The Show 15 offers several improvements and new innovations that we love, even if it’s lacking in the audio department. Overall, we think the Show 15 is a better purchase for the money, but that doesn’t mean the Show 10 isn’t worth the money. Ultimately, these smart displays serve different roles in your smart home ecosystem, and the device you buy should depend on how you plan to use it.
While there’s some overlap between the Show 10 and the Show 15, the two devices serve different purposes. The Show 15 is a true smart home hub, and it deserves pride of place in your office or kitchen. It’s a great tool for family members to see what everyone has going on throughout the course of a week, or quickly checking to see who’s at the front door. If you have other Amazon devices such as a Blink video doorbell, then this is a great hub for keeping track of your smart home.
The Show 10, meanwhile, definitely feels more like a traditional smart display, with the added bonus of all the features you love in a smart speaker. It’s great for a quick video chat, listening to music, or watching Netflix while prepping dinner.
You Should Buy the Echo Show 10 If… You want a traditional smart display for your kitchen counter. If you want to use your Echo Show to listen to music, then the Echo Show 10 is the device for you.
You Should Buy the Echo Show 15 If… You’re an early adopter looking for a smart home hub and family organizer you can mount on the wall. If a gorgeous display is more important than audio, the Echo Show 15 is the device for you.
Amazon Echo Show 15
Buy: Amazon Echo Show 15 Smart Display $249.99
Amazon Echo Show 10 Smart Display
Buy: Amazon Echo Show 10 Smart Display $249.99
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