Amazon Echo Show 5 vs Echo Spot: Which One Should You Buy?

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Smart home tech has gotten more competitive, even when you’re looking at items from the same brand. When it comes to our Amazon Echo Show 5 vs Echo Spot review, we’re going to help you choose the right smart display or smart clock for your home.

If you want a small smart display that can do video calls, show smart-home widgets, and generally act like a more capable bedside or desk hub, go with the Echo Show 5.

If what you mostly want is a stylish, minimal smart alarm clock with fewer bells & whistles (no video calling, just time, listening, alarms) and you prefer something sleeker or more subtle, the Echo Spot (2024) might be enough.

Amazon Echo Show 5 vs Echo Spot: Comparison Table

Here’s a side-by-side summary of key specs and what each is best for:

Feature	Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023)	Echo Spot (2024)

Screen Size / Readability	5.5-inch touch, 960×480	~2.83-inch, 320×240
Video & Camera	Yes – 2MP camera, with shutter	No camera
Audio Quality	Larger speaker, improved bass, clearer vocals	Mono ~1.73-inch driver, good for speech or background
Smart Display Features	Yes – includes display widgets, viewable content	Minimal – mostly clock, notifications, controls via voice
Privacy Features	Camera shutter, mute mic	No camera, mute mic, simpler design
Size & Placement	Larger footprint, more visible	Smaller, more discreet; ideal bedside
Price

Amazon Echo Spot vs Echo Show 5: Product Comparisons

Design & Display

Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023):

5.5-inch touchscreen display.
Resolution around 960 × 480.
Cubic-shaped rear design; new button layout (volume +/-, mute) in 3rd gen.
Privacy shutter for the camera; mic mute button.

Echo Spot (2024):

Much smaller display: about 2.83-inch, resolution ~320 × 240.
Semi-spherical / clock-style design; flat top with buttons for volume, mic mute.
No camera.
Motion detection / ambient light sensor to adjust display brightness / appear when motion sensed.

Performance & Features

Echo Show 5:

2023 model upgraded with improved speaker, more mics (from 2 to 3), and Amazon’s AZ2 Neural Edge processor, which makes responsiveness better.
Smart display functions: video calls via the built-in camera (2MP), smart home widget support, streaming of content (within limitations).
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth; supports Matter over WiFi; privacy features included.

Echo Spot:

Lighter on “smart display” features; it’s more of an advanced alarm clock. Motion-triggered screen, clock faces, information like time, song titles, calendar events etc.
No camera → no video calling or using it as video feed viewer.
Audio is modest: smaller driver (≈1.73-inch), mono output. Fine for voice, alarms, ambient music but not for rich stereo sound.
Connectivity: Dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth, Matter support.

Usability & Everyday Experience

Echo Show 5:

Good for video calls, seeing who’s at the door (if you have compatible devices), following recipes, etc. The screen is large enough to be useful at a glance.
As a bedside display, the Show 5 is more capable: better speaker, more features. But in a dark room, its brightness may still be noticeable.

Echo Spot:

Excellent for bedrooms / nightstand use. Minimal screen distractions. Because there’s no camera, privacy is more tangible.
Alarms & clocks are well-done; snooze via tapping on top; motion sensor can trigger wake-up routines.
Not good for video or visual content beyond basic notifications, time, etc. If you try to do more, Screen may feel cramped.

Pros and Cons

Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023)
Pros:

Larger display allowing more visual info (weather, cameras, etc).
Built-in camera for video calls.
More powerful speaker, more microphones.
Full smart display functionality: home widgets, streaming (within limits), more utility.
Privacy controls: camera shutter, mic mute.

Cons:

Bigger than the Spot → takes more space.
Uses more power / more visible light; maybe less ideal in totally dark rooms.
Price is higher.
Screen resolution isn’t high by modern phone / tablet standards; video watching isn’t its strength.

Echo Spot (2024)
Pros:

Sleek, compact alarm clock style; less obtrusive visually.
Very good for minimal / bedside use.
Lower price (compared to Show devices).
Reduced privacy concerns (no camera).

Cons:

Tiny display limits what you can see; not useful for video calls or watching video content.
Mono speaker, less audio fidelity.
Limited visual smart home control; many things must be done via voice.
Less versatile – more of a specialized device (clock + Alexa), not a full smart display.

Major Differences & Use-Case Examples

Here are what really separate them in everyday usage — which one is better depending on what you care about:

Use Case	Why Show 5 is better	Why Spot might be enough (or better)
Video calling or checking camera feeds	Show 5 has camera; Spot doesn’t; Show 5 has enough screen real estate to be practical from a distance.	Spot is no use here. Could only work for audio / voice.
Alarm clock / bedside device	Show 5 is more capable: audio, display, screen functions. But might be brighter / more features than needed.	Spot excels: minimal visuals, adjustable brightness, motion sensor, simple, less distraction.
Smart home dashboard (widgets, cameras, controls visible)	Show 5 has real smart display support; you can glance at things.	Spot is limited: mostly voice control; display too small or minimal for dashboards.
Privacy	Show 5 gives privacy controls, but camera is there.	Spot with no camera gives less chance of unwanted video; might be preferred in private spaces.
Budget vs Value	Spend more, get more capabilities. If you need them, worth it.	If you only need a clock + Alexa + possibly music + alarms, Spot gives good value.

FAQs

Q: Can the Echo Spot (2024) do video calls or show video feeds like the Show 5?
A: No — the Spot has no camera, so you can’t do video calls, Drop-In video, or use security camera feeds visually.

Q: Which device is better for a dark bedroom at night?
A: The Spot is likely better because its small display, motion/ambient sensor, and lack of camera reduce distractions. But even the Show 5 has brightness controls and can dim. It depends on how sensitive you are to display light.

Q: Does the Spot support smart home controls / widgets on screen?
A: It supports some basic on-screen info like time, song titles, calendar events, plus you can control smart home via voice. But it does not have a full smart home control panel or dashboard like the Show 5.

Q: Is the audio on either device good for music?
A: The Show 5 is better for music, though still modest compared to a dedicated speaker. The Spot is okay for ambient music, alarms, voice, but won’t satisfy those who care about deeper bass or stereo separation.

Q: Is there a big difference in latency or responsiveness?
A: The Show 5’s updated processor (AZ2) makes responsiveness better, especially for voice and screen interactions. The Spot is simpler, so less demanding, but may not feel as snappy for tasks beyond its basic ones.

About the Author

Written by HappyHomeNerd — your trusted guide for smart home reviews, troubleshooting, and everyday tech fixes. Visit HappyHomeNerd for more expert tips and product breakdowns.