Amazon Echo Show 5 2ND Gen Charcoal Smart Display

Amazon Echo Show 5 2nd Gen Charcoal Smart Display

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) is a compact smart display built around Alexa, combining a 5.5-inch touchscreen, a 2 MP camera and a full-range speaker in a body small enough for a bedside table or desk corner. Released in 2021 as the second generation of the Echo Show 5 line, it is designed for the everyday interactions where a screen adds something voice alone cannot: a visible clock face, timers you can watch counting down, photo frames, video calls and glanceable answers to questions. This listing is for the Charcoal finish. It is a mains-powered device that connects over dual-band Wi-Fi and is set up and managed through the Alexa app.

Key features

• 5.5-inch touchscreen display with 960 x 480 resolution
• 2 MP camera with a built-in physical shutter for video calling
• Full-range 1.65-inch built-in speaker for music, radio and Alexa responses
• Alexa voice control for timers, reminders, routines and smart home devices
• Dual-band Wi-Fi supporting 802.11a/b/g/n/ac networks
• Bluetooth streaming with A2DP and AVRCP profile support
• Microphone and camera off button for privacy control
• Compact 148 x 86 x 73 mm footprint in a Charcoal finish

Display, camera and sound

The 5.5-inch touchscreen is sized for close-range use: reading the time across a bedroom, checking a timer while cooking, or glancing at a calendar on a desk. The 2 MP front camera supports video calls to other Echo Show devices and to the Alexa app, so the unit works as a simple, always-in-place calling point for family check-ins. A physical shutter slides over the lens when the camera is not wanted, and a dedicated button switches the microphones and camera off electronically. Sound comes from a full-range 1.65-inch speaker, which handles Alexa responses, radio, podcasts and background music at bedside and desktop listening distances.

Alexa and smart home control

With Alexa built in, the Echo Show 5 handles voice requests for weather, news, music, reminders and routines, and it can control compatible smart home devices such as lights, plugs and cameras. An 802.15.4 radio is included for support of compatible smart home devices, and the screen adds visual feedback to voice control: tap through device groups, view supported camera feeds, or follow a recipe step by step. Routines can combine actions, for example dimming lights and reading the next day’s calendar from a single phrase. Feature availability depends on the services and devices in the individual home.

Setup and everyday placement

Setup runs through the on-screen prompts and the Alexa app, which is available for Fire OS, Android and iOS and through a web browser. The device runs on the supplied 15 W power adapter and needs a Wi-Fi network; it does not support ad-hoc or peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connections. At 410 g with a tapered, fabric-finished body, it sits stably on a nightstand, kitchen counter or office desk. The MediaTek MT8163 processor keeps the interface responsive for the clock faces, photo display and streaming tasks the unit is built for. Accessibility options include Alexa captioning, screen magnification, colour inversion and the VoiceView screen reader.

The Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) in Charcoal suits anyone who wants Alexa with a screen in a small space: a bedside clock that takes calls, a kitchen helper that shows timers and recipes, or a desk display for calendars and quick controls. Check that the services and smart home devices you plan to use are compatible, position it within good Wi-Fi range of your router, and it covers the daily rhythm of alarms, calls, music and information in one compact unit.