Amazon kicked off 2025 with a bold statement: bigger screens, better sound, and smarter Alexa. Leading the charge is the brand-new Echo Show 21, unveiled in late 2024, alongside a refreshed Echo Show 15. These two smart displays signal a clear evolution in Amazon’s strategy—positioning Echo devices not just as assistants, but as full-fledged home hubs for entertainment, productivity, and smart home control.
Echo Show 21: Amazon’s Biggest and Smartest Display Yet
At 21 inches, the Echo Show 21 is massive—nearly twice the size of previous models—and that real estate isn’t just for show. It’s designed for families and power users who want their smart display to do more: stream shows, display shared calendars, run smart home dashboards, and act as a central hub for video calls and security feeds.
One of the standout features is Fire TV integration. This brings the full Amazon streaming experience to your kitchen, living room, or office—no need for a separate Fire Stick. Just like a Fire TV, you get access to Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and more, complete with a new remote for easier navigation.
The Echo Show 21 also doubles down on smart home connectivity. It includes a built-in hub supporting Matter, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, and Thread, making it more future-proof as smart home standards evolve. It’s also Amazon’s first Echo Show to ship with an upgraded, auto-framing camera with noise reduction—a huge plus for video calling, especially with remote work and family check-ins still going strong.
Echo Show 15: Same Frame, Smarter Brain
The redesigned Echo Show 15 keeps its signature wall-mountable design but upgrades its internals to stay competitive. With enhanced sound, faster Alexa responses, and better compatibility with Alexa Widgets and Fire TV content, the new version feels more like a mini TV and digital whiteboard in one.
The Show 15 is still ideal for households that want a clean, always-on display for shared calendars, notes, music, and smart device control—all from a spot on the wall where everyone can see it.
Comparing The New Echo Show Devices
Here’s a comparison table highlighting the key differences between the new Echo Show 21 and the updated Echo Show 15:
| Feature | Echo Show 21 | Echo Show 15 (Updated 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 21 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Display Type | Touchscreen with Fire TV integration | Touchscreen with Fire TV integration |
| Resolution | Full HD | Full HD |
| Mounting Options | Stand-based (countertop or shelf) | Wall-mountable (landscape or portrait) |
| Camera | Upgraded auto-framing, noise-reduction cam | 5 MP front camera |
| Sound | Enhanced speakers with double the bass & clear vocals | Upgraded stereo speakers |
| Smart Home Hub | Built-in hub: Matter, Zigbee, Thread, Wi-Fi | None (relies on Alexa cloud & compatible hubs) |
| Processor | Updated for faster performance | Updated (faster than 2021 model) |
| Alexa+ Support | Yes (with new default voice data behavior) | Yes |
| Fire TV Remote Included | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Home entertainment & control center | Wall display for calendars, widgets, media |
| Release Date | November 2024 | Early 2025 |
A Shift in Privacy and Alexa+
Starting March 28, 2025, Amazon will roll out changes to its Alexa privacy settings across Echo devices. With the new Alexa+ initiative, voice commands will be sent to Amazon by default, unless users opt out. This move is designed to improve responsiveness and personalize Alexa’s capabilities, but it also marks a significant shift in how Amazon handles voice data.
For privacy-conscious users, this is something to keep an eye on. You’ll need to dive into your Alexa settings to control how your data is shared or stored.
Should You Upgrade?
If your current Echo Show is feeling a little small or underpowered, the Echo Show 21 is a compelling leap forward. It’s no longer just a voice assistant with a screen—it’s a full-featured smart display built for entertainment and home control, with specs to match.
Meanwhile, the Echo Show 15 update is more of a refinement than a revolution, but it’s still a solid choice if you want something wall-mounted, compact, and multi-purpose.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon’s 2025 Echo Show lineup features their largest smart display ever with the Echo Show 21 and a redesigned Echo Show 15.
- The new displays offer significantly improved sound quality with deeper bass and enhanced visual experiences for entertainment and smart home control.
- Echo devices will begin sending all voice commands to Amazon starting March 28, marking an important change to privacy settings.
Design and Display Features
The Amazon Echo Show series has evolved significantly in 2025, with impressive display options and customization features. The lineup now includes devices with screen sizes ranging from 5.5 inches to a massive 21 inches, each offering distinct design aesthetics and display capabilities.
Display Specifications
The Echo Show family now features multiple screen size options to suit different needs and spaces. The Echo Show 21 stands out as Amazon’s largest smart display ever, boasting a 21-inch screen designed primarily for wall mounting. This flagship model delivers immersive HD streaming with vibrant sound quality.
The Echo Show 15 continues to be popular with its 15.6-inch display, also designed for wall placement. Both larger models provide an excellent canvas for entertainment and smart home control.
For those seeking more compact options, the Echo Show lineup includes smaller models with high-quality 1080p resolution. Many models now support HDR content, offering improved contrast and color accuracy compared to previous generations.
Display brightness has been improved across the board, making content visible even in well-lit rooms. The screens feature anti-glare coatings to reduce reflections.
Customization Options
The 2025 Echo Show lineup excels in personalization through customizable widgets that help users organize daily activities and information. These widgets can display calendars, weather forecasts, shopping lists, and smart home controls all at once.
Users can arrange widgets according to their preferences, creating personalized dashboards that show exactly what they need. The interface supports different themes and color schemes to match home decor or personal taste.
The Echo Show 21 and 15 models particularly shine with their customization capabilities. Their larger screens can be divided into multiple zones, essentially functioning as digital command centers for the home.
Background options include photo slideshows from personal collections or Amazon’s gallery of nature scenes and artwork. Some models come in multiple color options, including the popular Glacier White finish that blends well with modern home aesthetics.
Entertainment and Connectivity
The Echo Show 21 transforms home entertainment with its powerful features and seamless connectivity. The device serves as a central hub for streaming, communication, and voice control, making it an essential part of the modern smart home.
Streaming and Media Services
The Echo Show 21 excels as an entertainment center with its immersive HD streaming capabilities. Users can access popular platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and other streaming services directly on the large display.
Fire TV integration comes built-in, eliminating the need for a separate streaming device. This feature allows users to browse and watch their favorite shows and movies using simple voice commands or the included Alexa Voice Remote.
The device’s generous screen size makes it perfect for kitchen viewing while cooking or enjoying content from across a room. Its vibrant display delivers sharp picture quality that enhances the viewing experience of any content.
Amazon has optimized the interface for easy navigation between different streaming apps. Users can quickly switch between services without complicated menu systems or multiple remote controls.
Communication and Security
Video calling becomes more immersive with the Echo Show 21’s built-in camera featuring 3.3x zoom and a wide field of view. This makes group calls feel more natural as everyone can fit comfortably in the frame.
The device connects easily with compatible security cameras around your home. Users can view live feeds directly on the Echo Show’s large screen, turning it into a security monitoring station.
Smart Video Search functionality, mentioned in Amazon’s CES 2025 announcements, lets users quickly find specific footage from connected cameras. This feature saves time when reviewing security recordings.
Privacy features include a physical camera shutter for when video capabilities aren’t needed. This simple but important addition gives users peace of mind about their home privacy.
Audio and Voice Control
The Echo Show 21 delivers powerful, vibrant sound that fills a room without distortion. Enhanced bass response creates a more immersive audio experience whether streaming music or watching videos.
Alexa voice control remains at the heart of the Echo experience, with improved responsiveness in the 2025 models. Users can control smart home devices, play music, or get information using natural voice commands.
Multi-room audio support allows users to synchronize music playback across different Echo devices throughout their home. This creates a cohesive audio experience that follows you from room to room.
The device optimizes audio output based on room acoustics and content being played. Music sounds rich and full, while dialogue in shows and movies remains clear and understandable.
Voice recognition technology has improved to better distinguish between different household members, providing personalized responses and content recommendations for each user.
Frequently Asked Questions
Potential buyers and current users have many questions about the latest Echo Show models. These FAQs address the most common inquiries about features, compatibility, and value comparisons.
What are the new features of the 2025 Echo Show models compared to previous versions?
The 2025 Echo Show lineup introduces several notable improvements. The most significant addition is Alexa+, which offers more natural conversations and enhanced AI capabilities across all compatible devices.
The Echo Show 21 debuts as Amazon’s largest smart display ever, featuring a wall-mountable design with improved screen resolution and brightness.
All 2025 models include upgraded processors for faster response times and improved smart home hub functionality with Matter and Thread support built-in.
How does the Echo Show (2025) integrate with smart home devices?
The 2025 Echo Show models function as comprehensive smart home hubs. They support major protocols including Zigbee, Matter, Thread, and Bluetooth for connecting various devices.
Users can control lights, thermostats, security cameras, and other compatible devices through voice commands or the touch interface. The larger screens provide improved dashboard views of connected home systems.
Device grouping allows for controlling multiple smart products simultaneously with simple commands like “Alexa, good morning” to trigger custom routines.
What are the pricing tiers for the different sizes of the Echo Show 2025?
The Echo Show lineup offers various size options at different price points. The standard Echo Show 8 (2025) is the most affordable entry point, typically priced around $129.99.
The mid-tier Echo Show 10 (2025) with its rotating screen is available for approximately $249.99. The Echo Show 15 costs about $279.99, while the new flagship Echo Show 21 commands a premium at $349.99.
Amazon frequently offers discounts during major shopping events like Prime Day and Black Friday, sometimes reducing prices by 30-40%.
What are the main differences between Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 2025?
The Echo Show 15 (2025) features significant improvements over its predecessor. The new model incorporates Alexa+ functionality for more natural conversations and contextual awareness.
Processing power has been increased substantially, resulting in faster responses and smoother interface navigation. The 2025 version also includes enhanced far-field microphones for better voice recognition.
Display quality has improved with higher brightness levels and better color accuracy, making content more vibrant and readable from various viewing angles.
What improvements have been made to the audio and video quality in the latest Echo Show?
The 2025 Echo Show models feature substantially upgraded speakers with improved bass response and clarity. Larger models like the Echo Show 15 and 21 include advanced speaker arrays for room-filling sound.
Video quality has been enhanced with higher resolution displays (up to 4K on the Echo Show 21) and improved color accuracy. Adaptive brightness technology adjusts the screen based on ambient lighting conditions.
Video calling has been refined with better camera quality, wider field of view, and improved low-light performance for clearer communication.
How does the Echo Show 2025 compare to its competitors in terms of functionality and value?
The Echo Show 2025 models offer competitive advantages over similar products from Google and Apple. Amazon’s extensive Alexa skills ecosystem provides more third-party integrations than competitors.
The variety of screen sizes (8, 10, 15, and 21 inches) gives consumers more choices than competing product lines. The new Alexa+ features are currently ahead of Google’s assistant capabilities in handling natural conversation.
Price points remain competitive, especially when considering the Echo Show functions as both a smart display and a smart home hub in a single device.
