Amazon's second-generation Echo Show 15 offers an upgraded audio experience and camera compared to its predecessor, while maintaining the same core functionality as the larger Echo Show 21. The device includes a new Alexa remote for easier Fire TV navigation and supports personalized content through voice or facial recognition. TechRadar noted that while the 15 is a family hub designed to be a smart assistant with Alexa, it shares identical internals with the Echo Show 21, making it a more premium version of the same device. This product is best suited for users seeking a smart home hub with integrated voice control and personalized media experiences.
Full review
Design and Build Quality
The Amazon Echo Show 15 presents a sleek, gallery-like aesthetic that sets it apart from its smaller siblings. TechRadar's review noted its 15.6-inch full HD display surrounded by a 0.7-inch white bezel, housed in an elegant black metal enclosure measuring just 1.4 inches thick. The device's design is intentionally minimalist, resembling a framed artwork, with a camera positioned at the top left corner that can be concealed using a physical shutter toggle. PCMag's Will Greenwald emphasized that while the Echo Show 15 looks nearly identical to its predecessor, the camera cutout and shutter switch have been repositioned to the center of the top edge rather than the left side. The unit measures 41 cm x 26 cm x 3.6 cm (W x H x D), and the back features a square recess with a deeper circular recess for the power adapter connection. Unlike other Echo Show models, the Echo Show 15 does not include a table stand, requiring an additional £99.99 purchase for the Amazon Premium Adjustable Stand, which allows for countertop use with tilt and rotation capabilities.
Screen Performance and Display Quality
The Echo Show 15 features a 15.6-inch full 1080p HD touchscreen with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, delivering bright and crisp visuals that are clearly visible from across the room. Mac-Forums reviewer OneMoreThing noted that the display is so sharp and bright that it can be seen clearly from about nine feet away, making it ideal for viewing photos and full-screen content. The screen's brightness and clarity are particularly effective for its intended use as a family bulletin board or digital photo frame. According to PCMag's review, the screen quality is bright and colorful, though the audio quality remains mediocre, which works best when paired with Bluetooth speakers. The device supports both portrait and landscape orientations, with the ability to mount it either horizontally or vertically, though rotation while mounted is not supported. The screen's performance is consistent with its role as a central hub for household organization and entertainment.
Smart Home Integration and Widgets
Amazon's Echo Show 15 introduces a significant enhancement with its widget-based home screen, which is persistent only on this model among all Echo Shows. The widget system allows users to customize their home screen with up to six tiles at a time, including calendar, shopping list, sticky notes, to-do lists, weather forecast, maps, and Amazon package delivery tracker. BuzzFeed's Sally Elshorafa highlighted how the widgets make scheduling easier, particularly with real-time updates from shared calendars and shopping lists. The smart home control panel is a standout feature, enabling users to control smart lights, security cameras, and thermostats with a single tap or voice command. PCMag's review confirmed that the Echo Show 15's interface takes full advantage of its large touch screen, offering a control panel of large widget tiles by default, with rotating full-screen content behind it. The widgets are customizable, with frequently used ones pushed to the front, and users can rearrange them to their preference, making it a powerful organizational tool for busy households.
Voice Assistant and Audio Performance
The Echo Show 15 is powered by Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, which serves as the central hub for controlling smart home devices, checking schedules, making calls, playing music, and providing information such as weather forecasts and recipes. TechRadar's reviewer noted that while Alexa is a powerful voice assistant that benefits from more than a decade of development, the audio quality of the built-in speakers remains mediocre. PCMag's Will Greenwald reported that although the speakers are louder than in previous versions, they could still be clearer. The device does not come with a table stand, which might affect the audio experience for users who prefer countertop placement. The Echo Show 15 also supports multiple user profiles with visual ID, which detects who is standing in front of the screen and offers a customized home screen and content. However, this feature requires the privacy slider on the camera to remain open, which may raise privacy concerns for some users.
Setup and User Experience
Setting up the Echo Show 15 is straightforward and should take around 10 to 15 minutes, according to PCMag's review. The process includes turning on the device, plugging in the power cable, connecting to the home WiFi network, and establishing an Amazon account. After installing any available updates, users can start building their home screen layout and customizing widgets. The device comes with a wall mount and installation template to help with positioning drill holes, though a table stand is sold separately for £99.99. Mac-Forums reviewer OneMoreThing noted that the stand is quite hefty and bulky, taking up considerable space on a kitchen counter, and that the screen's orientation must be chosen before placing it on the stand. The Echo Show 15 also includes a remote control similar to Fire TV sticks, which allows navigation of the Fire TV interface and media playback but cannot interact with other interface elements like widgets. The device supports linking existing app subscriptions like Netflix and Disney+ through either voice commands or the Alexa app on a smartphone.
Real-World Performance and Use Cases
In real-world usage, the Echo Show 15 functions as a central digital hub for busy households, effectively managing calendars, watching content, getting recipe ideas, and controlling smart home devices. BuzzFeed's Sally Elshorafa described how the device has become essential for her multigenerational household, serving as a shared digital assistant that everyone sees and uses. The large screen is particularly useful for displaying full-screen photos and rotating content, making it ideal for digital photo frames and family bulletin boards. PCMag's review emphasized that the Echo Show 15 is one of the best smart displays for wall mounting due to its Alexa support, crisp screen, elegant design, and capable Fire TV interface. However, the device's usefulness heavily depends on how much users will utilize the screen-based features, and those with more wall space may find the larger Echo Show 21 more suitable. The Echo Show 15's camera improvements in the second generation help justify the higher price point, according to PCMag's assessment.
Where It Falls Short
Despite its strengths, the Echo Show 15 has notable drawbacks that may deter potential buyers. TechRadar's reviewer gave it a lower rating, citing concerns about the audio quality, which remains mediocre and works best with Bluetooth speakers. The lack of a built-in table stand is another significant shortcoming, as users must purchase an additional £99.99 stand for countertop use, making the overall cost prohibitive for many. PCMag's Will Greenwald noted that the Echo Show 15 doesn't come with a table stand, which makes it less versatile than other models like the Echo Show 10, which has a motorized base that can automatically turn to track users. Additionally, the device's reliance on visual ID for personalized content requires the privacy slider to remain open, raising privacy concerns. The touchscreen can also feel sluggish at times, according to some reviewers, and the device's price point of £299.99 may be too high for users who don't require its advanced features. The Echo Show 15's performance is also slightly superseded by the newer Echo Show 21, which offers more screen space and better value for those with sufficient wall space.
Who It's Best For
The Amazon Echo Show 15 is best suited for households that prioritize wall mounting and require a large, customizable digital hub for organizing schedules, managing smart home devices, and displaying shared content. BuzzFeed's Sally Elshorafa recommended it for families who need a central digital assistant that everyone can see and use, particularly those with multiple users who benefit from personalized content and shared calendars. The device is ideal for kitchens or common areas where visibility is key, as it can be mounted like a piece of art and used as a family bulletin board. However, those who prefer countertop placement or require better audio quality may find the Echo Show 10 or Echo Show 21 more suitable. TechRadar's reviewer noted that while the Echo Show 15 is a strong choice for wall mounting, those who don't care about mounting might be better off with the smaller Echo Show 10, which costs £50 less and offers better sound quality. The Echo Show 15 is also ideal for users who want to leverage the Fire TV interface for streaming content and who value the widget-based home screen for managing daily tasks and information.
Strengths
- +Improved built-in speaker quality
- +Sharper and better built-in camera
- +Includes dedicated Alexa remote for navigation
- +Supports facial recognition for personalized content
Watch-outs
- −Identical internals to Echo Show 21 despite different screen size
- −Designed primarily as family hub with limited standalone functionality
How it compares
The Amazon Echo Show 15 shares identical internals with the Echo Show 21, making it essentially a premium version of the same device, unlike the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) which offers a more affordable mid-sized option with better kitchen usability. While it improves audio and camera quality, it lacks the standalone functionality that makes the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) more versatile with its spheroid design and stereo speakers.
Who this is for
At a glance: families wanting a smart home hub with facial recognition.
Why you’d buy the Amazon Echo Show 15
- Improved built-in speaker quality.
- Sharper and better built-in camera.
- Includes dedicated Alexa remote for navigation.
Why you’d skip it
- Identical internals to Echo Show 21 despite different screen size.
- Designed primarily as family hub with limited standalone functionality.
Rating sources
“I wasn't a fan of the new Echo Show 15 and 21, but Alexa+ has changed my mind”
Our 3.9 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
