Amazon Echo Show 10 Review

The Echo Show 10 offers the full capabilities of Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant. Just say “Alexa” (you can also change it to “Amazon,” “Computer,” or “Echo”), followed by a question or command. Alexa can provide spoken information like weather reports, sports scores, unit conversions, and general trivia, with relevant supplemental info appearing on the display.

For entertainment, Alexa can provide audio and video on request from a handful of services. Alexa can bring up videos from Amazon Video, Hulu, and Netflix on the Echo Show 10’s screen (YouTube isn’t available by voice, but you can bring up the Firefox browser with Alexa and then browse to YouTube on the device that way). You can also ask Alexa to play streaming music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, and live radio from TuneIn, or you can listen to audiobooks through Audible. If the audio service selection seems paltry, you can pair your phone or other device with the Echo Show 10 and use it like a Bluetooth speaker. Unlike dedicated Echo speakers, the Echo Show doesn’t have a 3.5mm line in/out for a wired audio connection.

Alexa can control your compatible smart home devices, and supports most major brands like Arlo, Kwikset, iRobot, Ring, and TP-Link. For video-based devices like home security cameras and video doorbells, you can bring up the video feed right on the Echo Show 10, and even talk through the device.

Like the fourth-generation Amazon Echo, the Echo Show 10 features a built-in Zigbee hub for wider smart home device compatibility, and can optionally work with Amazon Sidewalk.

The Echo Show 10 can also serve as a home security device on its own. The Home Monitoring feature checks the room the Show is in for activity, and can do things like periodically turn the lights on and off when the room is empty, or play a news report when someone enters.

Alexa Guard sets the Echo Show 10’s microphone to monitor for sounds like smoke alarms or glass breaking, and send you alerts when you’re out. It can work in conjunction with ADT, Ring, and other compatible home security systems.

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You can optionally subscribe to Guard Plus ($4.99 per month or $49 per year) to get hands-free access to an emergency helpline available through the Show, along with more options for home monitoring. While not yet available, Amazon plans to add camera-based monitoring to the Show 10 through Guard Plus, sending you alerts if people are detected, and even setting off a siren through the device’s speakers.

Of course, Alexa also lets you make voice and video calls through the Echo Show 10. Amazon’s Drop In service can make calls to other Echo smart displays in your household, or to any contact over the Alexa smartphone app. If you don’t want to go through Amazon’s service, Skype calls are also available. In addition, you can make domestic phone calls to any non-emergency phone number in the US, Canada, or Mexico through the device.