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Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd-gen) review

Large display screen Alexa is again with some nifty upgrades

The unique Echo Present 15 was a novel product in Amazon’s lineup, but it surely had its shortcomings, particularly in areas like sound high quality and digital camera capabilities and it additionally lacked a Zigbee radio, that means it wasn’t an entire good dwelling hub. With the 2nd-gen model, Bezos and the boys have considerably upgraded the system, providing higher audio efficiency, an enhanced digital camera, and extra good dwelling capabilities. It is nothing groundbreaking, and is a contact costlier than its predecessor, however the newest Present 15 is certainly a extra polished manner of getting huge display screen Alexa motion in your house.


  • Improved audio

  • Enhanced digital camera

  • Good dwelling hub capabilities

  • Wi-Fi 6E assist

  • Hearth TV on board


  • Restricted widgets

  • Additional faucets for good dwelling controls

  • No devoted good dwelling mode

  • Ordinary Amazon litter

Amazon Echo Present 15 (2nd-gen): Introduction

  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Thread, Bluetooth, Zigbee
  • Ecosystems: Matter, Amazon Alexa.

Late final 12 months, Amazon made Alexa greater than ever earlier than, by taking the covers off of the model new Echo Present 21, alongside a refreshed Echo 15 – which is on assessment right here.

Each fashions boast built-in good dwelling hub capabilities, appearing as Matter controllers, with Thread border routing expertise, and there’s additionally Zigbee assist too – a facet that was lacking from the unique Present 15, which was launched in 2022.

This places the pair of massive Present-offs on a par with the likes of Echo Hub or the most recent Echo Present 8.

They’re additionally the primary Echo units outfitted with Wi-Fi 6E, which implies smoother, quicker streaming for each video and music by the Hearth TV integration.

The brand new Echo Present 15 ships with an Alexa Voice Distant management for Hearth TV, making it simple to modify to from the common widget-led homescreen. That was obtainable on the OG 15 too… but it surely was patchy as heck.

The homescreen affords a reasonably nifty touchscreen expertise with customizable widgets that permit easy accessibility to calendars, purchasing lists, to-dos, good dwelling system favorites and extra.

(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

There’s additionally a refreshed audio widget for managing music and podcasts, together with the power to play content material throughout a number of audio system directly.

So, whether or not you need to handle your good units, stream content material, and even make video calls, the Present 15 is now extra succesful than ever.

However is that this new model value upgrading to, or do you have to stick together with your first-gen mannequin? Learn our full Amazon Echo Present 15 (2024 launch) to seek out out…

Design and construct

  • Full HD 1080p show
  • Digicam (with privateness shutter)
  • Wall mountable or desk stand
  • Identical mounting bracket as 1st-gen mannequin

The Echo Present 15 (2nd-gen) doesn’t stray removed from its predecessor when it comes to design. It’s nonetheless a big, wall-mounted show with the choice for a stand.

Pull it out of the field and the Amazon Echo Present 15 seems to be extra like a pc monitor, or small TV; the latter being very true if you happen to crew it up with that optionally available desktop stand.

In case you do resolve to go down that route then take observe that the brand new mannequin does take up much more room, so it’s possible you’ll choose choosing the smaller Echo Present 8 if area is at a premium.

It’s really marginally wider than the unique at 41cm x 26cmx 4cm, though the two.2kg weight stays the identical and, I’ll be trustworthy, you need to look arduous to note any variations.

amazon echo show 15 photo slider
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

One you may discover is that the digital camera is now in the midst of that prime bezel and is definitely an uglier sq. end in comparison with the quaint circle of the unique. There’s nonetheless a privateness shutter that bodily blocks the webcam.

Good show showdown: Echo Present 21 vs Echo Present 15

At 15.6 inches with a Full HD decision (1920 x 1080), the display screen high quality is fairly crisp and, if you happen to’re a PPI fanatic, you’ll have in all probability labored out that it makes it a extra concentrated show than that of the Present 21, which has the identical decision.

amazon echo show 15 2nd-generation
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

I feel most individuals will decide to have the Present 15 in a panorama mode however you possibly can go portrait do you have to want, making the Echo Present 15 a reasonably first rate Meural good body rival as nicely, as there’s a mode to present your photographs and/or art work on the good show too.

Toddler: Amazon Echo Pop assessment

amazon echo show 15 physical buttons
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

Frequent to all Echo Present units, the 15 has the usual set of bodily controls: quantity up and down, plus a mute button that turns off the microphones.

The audio system are positioned behind the system, and so they do add a good bit of chunk to the combo. Bit it nonetheless seems to be tremendous when wall mounted, and it doesn’t stick out too far.

amazon echo show 15 thickness
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

The excellent news, if you happen to’re upgrading from the unique Echo Present 15, is that the mounting bracket that you just get within the field is the very same one you have already got in place.

Which means that upgrading a chunk of cake. Nevertheless, even when it will likely be your first wall mounted big-screen Present there’s no must panic as mounting is so simple as screwing in 4 screws and popping the brand new Present 15 excessive utilizing the again panel.

amazon echo show 15 bracket
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

You’ll additionally get a useful information within the field too, so there’s no must get out the tape measure or spirit stage.

In on a regular basis use

  • Speedy efficiency
  • Adaptive Content material on homescreen
  • Contact display screen widgets
  • Hearth TV mode

The brand new Present 15 is, as you’d count on, powered by Alexa and is subsequently filled with an absolute abundance of voice and automation pushed capabilities.

Once you first plug the 2nd-gen Present 15 in, you’ll see on-screen visuals, supplying you with a step-by-step information for connecting to your house Wi-Fi, and getting it synced up together with your Amazon account and the Alexa app.

amazon echo show 15 setup
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

Nevertheless, I gained’t dive too deep on all issues Alexa on this assessment. In case you’re in search of particular info as to what Alexa can give you, then try a few of our complete guides:

Clearly although Alexa underpins every little thing about any Echo speaker, that are voice-first units regardless of the presence of a display screen.

Ask Alexa a query on the Present 15, reminiscent of what the climate is like, and also you’ll see further info on the display screen.

In case you do a voice command to manage a sensible system, Alexa will present you touchscreen controls on the show, to allow you to fine-tune the motion. Activate the heating, for instance, and you may regulate the temperature utilizing contact. Or manually regulate the brightness of a sensible mild bulb.

amazon echo show 15 smart home
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

It’s also possible to do issues like calling up safety digital camera video feeds, with voice instructions, or answering your video doorbell.

The 2nd-gen Present 15 is,, subsequently, a rounded Alexa system that may do something another Echo good speaker can in terms of managing your Alexa good dwelling system.

In actual fact, in terms of managing your good dwelling, it affords the identical choices because the newest Echo Present 8 or the Echo Hub. It’s a Matter controller that may immediately join with Wi-Fi, Thread, and Zigbee units, however you don’t get the devoted good dwelling UI of the Hub.

I perceive that the Present 15 is designed as an leisure system in addition to a contact panel for a sensible dwelling, however I wish to have the choice to make use of the Echo Hub’s UI at occasions, particularly because the good dwelling widgets on the Present 15 are nonetheless somewhat clunky.

Like different Echo Reveals, you need to do an additional faucet on the display screen simply to get good dwelling controls to show. So which means you’ll be tapping twice to show off a plug, for instance.

Additional faucet woes apart although, and the 2024 Present 15 is a reliable good dwelling operator, particularly for anybody already firmly in Camp Alexa desirous to make that Matter bounce.

I’ve paired Matter units over each Wi-Fi and Thread, and likewise Zigbee units on to the Present 15 and all of it works as seamlessly as you’d hope for.

There’s additionally a picture-in-picture mode so you possibly can see who’s ringing your video doorbell, or stream a safety digital camera to the Present, with out interruption to your viewing.

Video and music playback

amazon echo show 15 music playback
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

As talked about although, the Present 15 isn’t a sensible home-first system and there’s an enormous emphasis on the leisure features.

It ships with an Alexa Voice Distant management for Hearth TV, which you turn to from the common widget-led homescreen, and I’m happy to report that the Hearth TV expertise on the brand new Present 15 is a far cry from the buggy catastrophe that it was on the 1st-gen Present 15.

amazon echo show 15 fire tv remote
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

It’s not fairly nearly as good as the larger screened Present 21, for apparent causes. however 15.6 inches continues to be a lot sufficiently big to behave as somewhat kitchen TV.

The TV apps that you just’ll get rely upon the area you’re in however the excellent news is that YouTube is installable, so there’s no must do the Silk-based browser workaround as you do with the likes of the Present 5 or 8.

We’ve often discovered the Echo Present units to be among the many finest for music within the Echo vary, with deep base and high quality stereo.

On this wall mountable reveals although, the thinner show signifies that there’s much less room for audio system however Amazon have managed to stuff in two-inch woofers and 0.6-inch tweeters, upgrading from the 1.6-inch drivers on the unique.

The outcome, for TV watching no less than, is fairly good. It’s definitely loud and I discovered I might simply sustain with the information whereas utilizing kitchen home equipment.

Listening to music is somewhat bit disappointing although, the audio will get a bit muddled and the dearth of and substantial bass means it’s fairly a distorted sound if you happen to go too loud.

If you need an Echo Present for music, then the ageing Present 10 continues to be a greater wager.

You may play music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify on the Present 15. In case you subscribe to Amazon Music, it scrolls the lyrics of the songs on the show, so can double as a karaoke machine too.

amazon echo show 15 widgets
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

Away from Hearth TV and the homescreen affords an easy-to-use touchscreen expertise with an array of customizable widgets, permitting for straightforward entry to calendars, purchasing lists, to-dos, good dwelling system favorites and extra.

There’s additionally a brand new audio widget for managing music and podcasts, together with the power to play content material throughout a number of audio system directly.

amazon echo show 15 audio widget
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

This content material will be additional customized if you happen to have Visible ID arrange by your Amazon account.

For instance, there’s shared calendar on your family which you can at all times have on show, however Alexa can personalize outcomes for every profile in the home; the Present 15 acknowledges who’s taking a look at it and presents customized (and age applicable) materials on the show.

It’s all a bit paying homage to the massive display screen you get on Samsung’s Household Hub good fridge vary and Amazon undoubtedly has the kitchen in thoughts for the most recent Echo Present; it was described as a sensible kitchen TV a couple of occasions in the course of the launch occasion.

Nevertheless, the widget choice continues to be fairly restricted. When the unique Present 15 went dwell we have been advised that third-party builders would have the ability to create widgets however other than a couple of novelty video games and audio/visible experiences, there’s nothing actually to get too enthusiastic about right here.

In case you simply need use your Present to show photographs and nothing else, you’ll additionally should undergo the rigmarole of turning off the ever-growing checklist of litter that Amazon insists on exhibiting you, by the House Content material settings.

amazon echo show 15 home screen content
(Picture credit score: The Ambient)

Like different current Present fashions, the Present 15 additionally has the House Monitoring distant view mode, permitting you to examine in on your house once you’re away from the Alexa app; basically turning your good show right into a makeshift good safety digital camera.

An alert pops up on the show, so anybody within the room will know they’re on digital camera. You may’t document or retailer these movies.

The digital camera has been upgraded to a 13-megapixel large angle digital camera, that additionally boasts auto framing and a 3.3x zoom. It’s, subsequently, simple to remain in body when video calling, even if you happen to’re not proper subsequent to the system.

Efficiency

Powered by Amazon’s Octa-core SoC with Amazon AZ2 neural community engine, the most recent Present 15 is noticeably zippy, with no lag on both voice or contact prompts.

The show, albeit not within the OLED league, actually pops and also you’ll simply have the ability to use the Present 15 as a miniature bed room or kitchen TV.

Streaming can be faster than ever because the Present 15, together with the brand new Present 21, have been the primary Echo units to characteristic Wi-Fi 6E.

Remaining ideas

In case you’ve been holding off on the Echo Present 15 as a result of the first-gen mannequin didn’t fairly reduce it, the 2nd-gen model is a particular step up. With improved sound, a greater digital camera, quicker efficiency, and all of the options you liked earlier than, it’s a compelling alternative for anybody seeking to combine a sensible show into their dwelling.

Whether or not you’re new to the Echo Present household or seeking to substitute your outdated mannequin, the Present 15 (2nd-gen) is a extra dependable, better-sounding, and all-around polished product. It’s probably the greatest good dwelling shows you should buy proper now, however be sure to additionally check out the Present 21 because it’s mainly the identical product in an even bigger dimension.

How we take a look at

After we publish our evaluations, you possibly can relaxation assured that they’re the results of “dwelling with” long run checks.

Good speaker often dwell inside, and even management, a sensible dwelling ecosystem, or a variety of merchandise that – supposedly – all work in concord. Subsequently, it’s unimaginable to make use of a linked speaker for per week and ship a verdict.

As a result of we’re testing good dwelling equipment all day, on a regular basis, we all know what issues and the way a selected good speaker compares to options that you may also be contemplating.

Our evaluations are complete, goal and honest and, after all, we’re by no means paid on to assessment a tool.

Learn our assessment course of for good audio system to study extra.

FAQs

Are you able to watch TV on the Echo Present 15?

Hearth TV is constructed into the Present 15 so you should utilize all the standard Hearth TV apps though it’s possible you’ll discover some – for instance iPlayer within the UK – aren’t appropriate.

Is the Echo Present 15 wall mountable?

Sure, the Echo Present 15 is designed for wall mounting, permitting it to behave as digital hubs for the house. It’s also possible to purchase a desk stand if you happen to don’t need it in your wall.

Does the Echo Present 15 have Ethernet?

No, it’s Wi-Fi just for an web connection.

Does the Echo Present 15 allow you to video name?

It does. It includes a 13-megapixel digital camera with auto-framing and zoom, making it perfect for video calls. It additionally features a privateness shutter for when the digital camera isn’t in use.

Are you able to play Youtube on the Echo Present 15?

Sure you possibly can, utilizing the YouTube app on the Hearth TV mode.

Amazon Echo Present 15 (2nd-gen): Specs

SortGood speaker with a show
UK RRP£299.99
US RRP$299.99
Measurement16.1″W x 10.1″H x 1.4” D
Weight2.22kg
Launch date2024
EcosystemsMatter, Alexa
ConnectivityWi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee, Sidewalk

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