Virtual assistants are an element that facilitates and enlivens life inside the home and even in some cases they represent a way to stay connected with loved ones, as proposed by the new generation of Echo Show 8, whose differentiators in relation to its predecessor are in your camera and on your screen.
The camera is 13 megapixels and allows video call partners to have a better experience. Although it does not have a motorized base to follow the user, the digital capabilities of the device allow it to capture a wider range of movement during video calls so as not to lose the frame, as it tries to keep the subject as centered as possible.
This item is not new for an Amazon device, however in the case of the Echo Show 8, the user experience let me see that the tracking is a bit slow and therefore the user will not be able to move at a pace normal if you want to stay focused by the camera.
In addition, it detects the subject only if it is about three meters away, because at a wider distance, the focus is completely lost and the camera even moves in a totally wrong direction.
This user detection also influences one of the interesting functions of the Echo Show 8, which is to activate the Alexa routines, from the moment it detects movement in the room.
The function is extremely interesting and can be useful for many people, even in security aspects, but something relevant that I noticed for those who are concerned about their privacy is the incorporation of a mechanical shutter that allows to lock the camera. Although it is a detail, the possibility of choosing between being monitored or not is significant.
On the other hand, the screen provides sharp images, with a good color gamut and details are even perceived during video calls. In this sense, a highlight of the Echo Show 8 is the integration of an ambient light sensor, from which the color of the screen can be adjusted to the lighting in the room.
This is relevant, as this is how you get the most out of the screen in its contexts. However, this aspect falls short of other competing devices that have taken the concept to much deeper levels.
The part where the screen also meets expectations is the sensitivity to the touch, as it does not present any problem navigating through the menus or selecting the different options.
Is the Echo Show 8 suitable?
From my perspective, the most prominent aspect has to do with the audio and music reproduction, since the sound quality is very good and the volume allows the reproductions to be heard throughout the department without problem.
Although it is not a device that I would use to watch series, I must accept that audio is an element that allows you to enjoy them in a better way. Also, in the case of songs, the lyrics appear on the screen, which is a detail that I did not know I needed until I had it available.
Echo Show 8 fulfills the basic functions of a device with these characteristics, such as showing the weather, the news, a joke or cooking recipes. And it is precisely because of this type of capabilities, as well as the power of its audio and the possibility of becoming a surveillance camera, that I would recommend using it in the living room or even in the kitchen.
It costs 3,099 pesos, a fair price if you are going to get the most out of it.
