Amazon is introducing a new form factor in the Echo lineup with the Echo Show 15. While previous Echo Show devices have been tabletop devices, this latest iteration takes the form of a picture frame that can be wall hung or placed on any flat surface, which makes it an appealing upgrade or first-time device. However, the bigger screen comes with an increased price tag and people are wondering if the Amazon Echo Show 15 is worth buying.
Is the Amazon Echo Show 15 worth buying or upgrading to?
Those that already have an Echo device won’t find too many reasons to upgrade to the Echo Show 15 other than its form factor. However, if one doesn’t have an Echo Show, the Echo Show 15 is an attractive prospect.
Amazon’s latest Echo Show is meant to be hung on a wall and used as a household hub. Users can easily display notes, calendars, lists, and other info through the new widgets that can be permanently placed on the screen. Only a few widgets are available at launch, but users can expect third-party ones to arrive quickly.
Unfortunately, the left third of the Echo Show 15 is still forced to be the standard rotating content screen that is the default for Echo Show devices. Not being able to customize the full screen feels like a waste, especially given how useless the home screen is most of the time.
The Amazon Echo Show 15 is also the first full HD version of a Show device. That means that users can stream Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services at 1080p. This makes this new device a decent screen for viewing content at the dinner table or in the kitchen.
For $250, the Amazon Echo Show 15 gives users a decent screen in a convenient form factor. However, those that don’t intend to use it as a communal bulletin board are probably better off getting one of its smaller, cheaper siblings. It’s a product that excels at a very particular use case, and the novelty won’t outweigh the added expense for most users.
