Amazon's Echo family is growing today with the addition of a new screen-equipped member.
The Echo Show 5 is a small device that wants to be your new alarm clock. It's available for pre-order today for $89.99 and it'll launch on June 26th. Amazon also plans to offer a $19.99 magnetic stand that'll let you tilt the Echo Show 5 to adjust its viewing and camera angles.
Included is a 5.5-inch 960x480 display with a built-in 1MP camera in the corner of the Echo Show 5, letting you check smart home security cameras, watch videos, and conduct video calls. Amazon has included a camera shutter that lets you cover the camera, and there's also a button to turn the microphones and camera off.
When it comes to audio, the Echo Show 5 has a 1.65-inch 1W speaker built-in. There's a 3.5mm jack on the back of the device to output to an external speaker if you want to output sound to a bigger speaker.
Because this is an Echo device, it's got Amazon's Alexa assistant built-in, too. You can use Alexa to ask questions, learn about the weather and your commute, control smart home devices, and stream music from services like Apple Music, Spotify, NPR, and Pandora. You can also use the screen to watch videos from CNBC, Prime Video, and more, and upcoming integration with wikiHow will give you easy access to how-to videos.
Amazon has given the Echo Show 5 some alarm clock-specific features. With the Alexa Sunrise, the screen on the Echo Show 5 will naturally brighten and show a sunrise animation before your alarm goes off. You can choose from preinstalled clock faces or add a personal photo to make your device more personal, and you can also connect your Facebook account and have your photos rotate in the background.
This isn't the first small Echo device with a screen, as Amazon has been selling the Echo Spot for awhile now. The rectangular 5.5-inch screen on the Echo Show 5 is better for watching videos than the round 2.5-inch display on the Echo Spot, though, and its form factor is a bit more alarm clock-like. The new Echo Show 5 is also a bit cheaper than the Echo Spot, which could make it an easier purchase for folks who want to upgrade to a smart alarm clock.
