Amazon Echo Show 5 vs 15: Which Amazon Echo Show is Best?

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Don’t know which Amazon Echo Show to choose? We can’t blame you, our Amazon Echo Show 5 vs 15 is going to make that much easier.

If you want a compact smart display handy for a bedside, desk, or smaller room, pick the Echo Show 5. If you prefer a larger screen that follows you around, better audio, and a more immersive smart display in larger spaces, go with the Echo Show 15.

Amazon Echo Show 5 vs 15: Comparison Table

Here’s a side-by-side view of the key specs and what they mean:

Feature	Echo Show 15 (3rd Gen)	Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)

Display Size & Resolution	15-inch, 1280×800, rotating feature ✓	5.5-inch, 960×480
Camera Quality & Auto-Framing	13 MP with auto-framing and shutter	2 MP with shutter
Audio Output	Better 2.1-channel system (tweeters + woofer)	Single full-range rear speaker; more modest power.
Size / Footprint / Placement	Much larger/heavier (~2.56 kg), rotating base, needs more space	Smaller (~456g), compact, easily fits on smaller tables / nightstands.
Power / Visibility / Distraction	More, because of size, rotating screen, likely more noticeable lighting etc.	Less—smaller screen, less brightness / potential impact in low-light settings.
Price

Amazon Echo Show 15 vs 5: Product Comparisons

Design & Display

Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023) has a 5.5-inch touchscreen display with resolution 960×480.
Echo Show 15 (3rd Gen, 2021) features a 15-inch HD display (1280×800) that rotates to follow you during video calls or when you move around the room, plus you can tilt the screen manually.

Camera, Mic & Smart Features

Show 15 has a 13 MP camera with auto-framing and a camera shutter, which gives superior video call / monitoring capability.
Show 5 has a 2 MP camera with shutter, sufficient for basic video calls and home monitoring but less sharp / flexible.
Both have microphones and Alexa built in, but Show 15 tends to have more powerful audio hardware (larger drivers, more output) which also aids voice pickup in bigger rooms.
Show 15 also tends to come with more premium smart display features: motion tracking (rotating screen), more immersive experience for recipes / video content because of size.

Performance, Audio & Everyday Use

Audio: Show 15 has a 2.1 speaker system (two tweeters + one woofer), giving richer, more room-filling sound. Show 5 has a single full-range speaker (~1.7″) in its rear, which is decent but not matched for volume or bass.
Size & Placement: Show 15 is much larger & heavier (≈ 2.56 kg) and requires more space; its rotating base needs clearance. Show 5 is compact (~456g), can sit on smaller surfaces.
Smart Home Hub / Connectivity: Show 15 supports more advanced features (e.g. auto-framing, motion, more premium cosmetics). Show 5 has Matter support over WiFi but lacks some of the more premium hub / movement features.

Pros and Cons

Echo Show 15 (3rd Gen, 2021)
Pros:

Large, rotating 15-inch screen keeps you in view. Great for video calls, cooking with recipes, watching content from different angles.
Much better audio fidelity; more powerful speakers & woofer for bigger rooms.
High-quality 13MP camera with auto-framing.
More immersive experience; screen feels more “central” to smart display tasks.

Cons:

Bigger, bulkier, much heavier; takes up more counter or table space, needs clearance for rotating base.
More expensive.
More power consumption, visual attention-drawn; possibly overkill in small rooms or for minimal users.
If you don’t move much in front of it, the rotation feature is less useful.

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

Compact, lower profile, takes less space.
Much more affordable; lower cost of entry for a smart display.
Good enough for everyday tasks: alarms, timers, weather, smart home control, video calls.
Privacy controls like camera shutter, mic mute.

Cons:

Smaller screen limits visibility, especially from across larger rooms.
Weaker audio (less bass, lower maximum volume).
Camera is adequate but not nearly as sharp or flexible as the 13MP auto-tracking one in Show 15.
Limited features in comparison (no swivel; less visual immersion).

Feature	Echo Show 15 (3rd Gen)	Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)

Display Size & Resolution	15-inch, 1280×800, rotating feature ✓	5.5-inch, 960×480
Camera Quality & Auto-Framing	13 MP with auto-framing and shutter	2 MP with shutter
Audio Output	Better 2.1-channel system (tweeters + woofer)	Single full-range rear speaker; more modest power.
Size / Footprint / Placement	Much larger/heavier (~2.56 kg), rotating base, needs more space	Smaller (~456g), compact, easily fits on smaller tables / nightstands.
Power / Visibility / Distraction	More, because of size, rotating screen, likely more noticeable lighting etc.	Less—smaller screen, less brightness / potential impact in low-light settings.
Price

Major Differences & Use-Case Examples

Scenario / Use Case	Why Show 15 is Better	Why Show 5 Might Be Sufficient (or Better)
Kitchen / cooking / following recipes	Bigger screen makes text / steps easier to read; rotating screen helps if you’re moving around the counter.	Show 5 is okay if you’re close to it; its smaller display means more frequent leaning in or moving around; but works if space is tight.
Video calling / family conversations	The 13MP camera + auto-framing and bigger screen make for a much better experience.	Show 5 works for basic calls; image quality less sharp, smaller display meaning people may feel cramped in view.
Living room / larger room usage	Show 15’s better speakers and screen size make it more usable from farther away; gives more impact.	In a small room or bedside, Show 5 may be more than enough; less invasive visually.
Desk / personal workspace	If your desk is large and you want screen visibility, Show 15 gives more visual real estate. But beware size.	Show 5 probably hits the sweet spot: visible, useful, compact.
Price Sensitivity / Minimal Use	If budget allows and you want more premium features, Show 15 delivers.	If you mostly use voice commands, alarms, maybe occasional video, Show 5 gives most usefulness for less cost.

FAQs

Q: Does the Echo Show 15 still rotate?
A: Yes, the 3rd Gen Show 15 includes a motorized base that rotates the screen up to about 175-degrees or similar, so it can follow you during video calls or as you move around the room.

Q: Which is better for a bedroom (nightstand)?
A: Likely the Show 5. Its smaller size is less obtrusive, it has lower visual impact/light, and you may not need all the features the Show 15 offers. If you want big video calls or see stuff from across the room, Show 15 works but may be overkill.

Q: Is Show 15 noticeably louder / better sound than Show 5?
A: Yes. Show 15 has a 2.1 speaker setup with better woofers and tweeters, giving fuller sound with more bass and clarity—especially in medium to larger rooms. Show 5 sounds good for its size, but you’ll notice limits if you push volume or want more bass.

Q: Do both support the latest smart home standards (Matter etc.)?
A: Show 5 supports Matter (over WiFi) and Alexa features. Show 15 also supports strong connectivity and integrates well in Alexa/smart home ecosystem; plus more display/motion/camera features.

Q: Will the rotating screen in Show 15 wear out or be noisy?
A: Amazon designed it with motor and hinge, and many users report it being reasonably smooth and quiet. However, because it’s mechanical, there is more that can potentially fail vs a fixed-screen device. If you don’t need rotation, Show 5 has fewer moving parts.

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