🖥️ 2025–2026 Full Review

Amazon Echo Show Review —
Is It Worth It?

We review every Echo Show model — from the compact Show 5 to the massive Show 21 — so you know exactly which one deserves a spot in your home.

6

Models Reviewed

$89.99

Starting Price

21"

Largest Screen

AZ3 Pro

Flagship Chip

Alexa+

Free w/ Prime

⚠️ Affiliate Disclosure: This page participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you when you purchase through our links. All opinions are based on independently sourced expert reviews. Product information reflects Amazon's official specs as of February 2026.

The Amazon Echo Show has come a long way since Amazon first stuck a screen on an Echo speaker back in 2017. In 2025, the lineup spans six models — from a 5.5-inch bedside clock to a 21-inch wall-mounted home hub — all running Amazon's redesigned Alexa+ AI and powered by new AZ3 Pro processors. But the big question remains: is the Echo Show actually worth it?

The honest answer is: it depends entirely on which model, which room, and how deep you are in the Amazon ecosystem. This review covers every current Echo Show model in detail — what each one does well, what it gets wrong, and who should buy it. By the end, you'll know exactly whether an Echo Show belongs in your home and which one to get.

⚡ Quick Verdict — Which Echo Show Should You Get?

🏆

Best Overall

Echo Show 8 (4th Gen)

$179.99 · Perfect kitchen and living room display. AZ3 Pro chip, 13MP camera, best-in-class audio for its size.

🛏️

Best for Bedroom

Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)

$89.99 · Compact bedside display. Sunrise alarm, sleep sounds, morning briefings. Best budget Echo Show.

🚶

Best for Video Calls

Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)

$249.99 · Motorised screen that rotates and tracks your face. Unmatched for walk-and-talk video calling.

🏠

Best Home Hub

Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen)

$299.99 · Wall-mounted family hub. Shared calendars, Fire TV, security cameras. The living room centrepiece.

👑

Best Flagship

Echo Show 21

$399.99 · Amazon's biggest and most powerful smart display. 21-inch screen, full Fire TV, Alexa+ fully realised.

✅

All Echo Show models reviewed here support Alexa+, Matter/Thread smart home connectivity, video calls, music, streaming, and security camera feeds. The differences are screen size, camera quality, chip performance, and which room they're built for.

📋 What's in This Review

• ⚡ Quick Verdict
• 🤖 What Is Alexa+?
• 🛏️ Echo Show 5 Review
• 🏆 Echo Show 8 Review
• 🚶 Echo Show 10 Review
• ⭐ Echo Show 11 Review
• 🏠 Echo Show 15 Review
• 👑 Echo Show 21 Review
• 🏡 Room-by-Room Guide
• 📊 Full Comparison Table
• 🤔 Decision Guide
• 💡 Setup Tips

🤖 First: What Is Alexa+ and Why Does It Matter?

Announced in late 2024 and rolling out through 2025, Alexa+ is a completely rebuilt AI assistant powered by large language models — the same technology behind ChatGPT and Gemini. This is not just a voice assistant upgrade. It changes the fundamental experience of using an Echo Show.

Alexa+ is included free with Amazon Prime membership, or available as a standalone $19.99/month subscription. On Echo Show 8, 10, 11, 15 and 21 — all running the AZ3 Pro chip — it delivers full visual AI capabilities including camera-based understanding, multi-turn natural conversations, and agentic tasks like booking restaurants or managing calendars without you lifting a finger.

💬

Natural Conversation

Multi-turn dialogue — Alexa+ remembers context across a conversation and responds naturally without trigger words.

👁️

Visual AI (Show 8+)

The camera understands what it sees. Point at a plant, a recipe, or your fridge and Alexa+ responds to what's in frame.

🤝

Agentic Tasks

Book a restaurant, order groceries, manage your calendar, and control your smart home — all through one conversation.

🏠

Full Smart Home AI

Works with Zigbee, Matter, Thread, and Bluetooth. Controls thousands of compatible smart home devices.

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🛏️ Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) Review — Best Budget Smart Display

🛏️ Best for Bedroom · Budget Pick★★★★★ 4.6/5

Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Generation)

Compact Smart Display · Sunrise Alarm · Sleep Sounds · Morning Briefings

$89.99Amazon.com · Available in 4 colours

5.5" Touchscreen960×480 ResolutionSunrise Alarm2MP CameraPhysical ShutterAZ2 ChipAlexa+ via CloudMic Off ButtonOptional Kids Edition

The Echo Show 5 is Amazon's most accessible smart display, and it earns every penny of its $89.99 price tag — particularly for the bedroom. The 5.5-inch touchscreen hits a sweet spot: large enough to read the time, weather, and calendar at a glance across a room, compact enough to sit on a nightstand without dominating it. Android Central named it the best budget Echo Show for 2025, calling it "the perfect size for a bedside clock or desktop display."

The standout feature is the Sunrise Alarm — the screen gradually brightens in the minutes before your set wake time, simulating a natural sunrise and making mornings considerably less brutal. RTINGS confirmed in their audio testing that the Echo Show 5 delivers noticeably improved low-end output compared to earlier compact Echo displays, filling smaller rooms with music without distortion at moderate volume.

Privacy hardware is excellent for its price: a physical camera shutter slides across the 2MP lens, a dedicated mic-off button is permanently within reach, and nothing is transmitted without your explicit permission. The 2MP camera is the weakest point — video calls look grainy by modern standards — but for a bedroom nightstand device used primarily for alarms, briefings, and music, this barely matters.

"The Echo Show 5 proves size does not limit usefulness. Testing across bedrooms, offices and kitchens shows consistent performance — voice recognition stays accurate, audio feels fuller than earlier versions, and smart home access stays simple."

— ReviewRadar & Android Central, 2025

🏅Best for: Bedroom nightstand, kids' rooms, desk companion, small kitchen display. The best entry point into Echo Show at the lowest price.

✅ Pros

• Best price in the Echo Show family ($89.99)
• Sunrise Alarm — genuinely life-changing for light sleepers
• Physical camera shutter — great privacy control
• Compact — fits any nightstand or small desk
• Improved audio over previous generation
• Kids Edition available with parental controls
• Alexa+ via cloud — all AI features included

❌ Cons

• 2MP camera — video calls look grainy
• Older AZ2 chip (not AZ3 Pro)
• No auto-framing for video calls
• Small screen limits streaming usefulness
• 960×480 resolution — not Full HD

🛒 Check Price on Amazon

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🏆 Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) Review — Best Overall

🏆 Best Overall · Editor's Choice★★★★★ 4.8/5  ⭐ Top Rated 2025

Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Generation, 2025)

New AZ3 Pro Chip · 13MP Auto-Framing Camera · Redesigned Floating Display · Alexa+ Built-in

$179.99Amazon.com · Glacier White or Graphite

8" HD TouchscreenAZ3 Pro Chip13MP Auto-FramingAlexa+ On-DeviceVisual AIOmnisense PlatformZigbee HubFront-Firing WooferOptional Wireless DockMatter + Thread

The Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) is the Echo Show to buy for most people — and multiple expert publications agree. T3 called it "a sleek redesign that actually delivers," and TechRadar described it as "one of the strongest Echo Shows Amazon has released so far." The hardware jump from the previous generation is real and noticeable across every dimension that matters.

The redesigned form factor is the first thing you notice: gone is the wedge-shaped body, replaced by a pill-shaped speaker base with a thin, floating 8-inch HD display sitting above it. Bloomberg's Chris Welch noted at launch that the new design brings "a much sleeker, more modern" aesthetic — the first Echo Show lineup to reflect the premium design direction set by Amazon's new devices chief, Panos Panay. The AZ3 Pro chip makes the interface faster and more responsive, while the dedicated front-firing woofer delivers audio that T3 called "surprisingly good for a device of this size."

The 13MP auto-framing camera is a massive upgrade over the Show 5's 2MP lens — it actively tracks whoever is talking and keeps them centred in the frame, making video calls with family genuinely clear and comfortable. The Omnisense platform (camera + ultrasound + Wi-Fi radar + accelerometer) enables visual Alexa+ AI — point the camera at your fridge and ask what you can cook, or show it a plant and ask why the leaves are yellowing. This is AI that actually earns its marketing.

"The refreshed design looks more modern and premium, performance is noticeably improved, and the upgraded audio makes it far better suited to music and casual streaming than previous generations — one of the strongest Echo Shows Amazon has ever released."

— T3 Magazine, February 2026

🏅Best for: Kitchen counter, living room, home office desk, family hub. The single best Echo Show for most households in 2026.

✅ Pros

• AZ3 Pro chip — fastest performance in an 8" Show
• 13MP auto-framing camera — excellent video calls
• Visual Alexa+ AI via Omnisense platform
• Modern floating-display design
• Improved audio with dedicated woofer
• Built-in Zigbee, Matter + Thread hub
• Optional wireless charging dock accessory
• Alexa+ on-device — no cloud delay

❌ Cons

• $30 more than previous generation ($179.99)
• No physical camera shutter (removed in redesign)
• Alexa+ currently US-only outside US
• Requires mains power — not portable

🛒 Check Price on Amazon

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🚶 Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) Review — Best for Video Calls

🚶 Best for Walk-and-Talk Video Calls★★★★☆ 4.5/5

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Generation)

Motorised Rotating Screen · 13MP Face-Tracking Camera · 10.1" HD Display

$249.99Amazon.com · Charcoal or Glacier White

10.1" HD ScreenMotorised Rotation13MP Face-TrackingVisual ID2.1 Speaker SystemZigbee HubRoom Security Camera

The Echo Show 10 is the only Echo Show with a motorised base — the entire display rotates to track and follow whoever is speaking, keeping you centred in frame even as you move around the room. Stuff called it "a spinning winner for those who like to walk and talk," and that's exactly right. If you pace during video calls, cook while on a call, or move around a large room, the Show 10's auto-rotation means the camera never loses you.

The 13MP camera combines with Visual ID, which can recognise individual family members and surface personalised content on the display when you walk past. A premium 2.1 speaker system with a dedicated subwoofer delivers room-filling sound quality. When you're not using it, the Show 10 can rotate to angle toward different areas of the room and double as a security camera for your home.

🏅Best for: Frequent video callers, large kitchens, households with multiple family members who want personalised content. A speciality device that does one thing better than any other Echo Show.

✅ Pros

• Motorised rotation — tracks you automatically
• 13MP face-tracking camera — best video call experience
• Visual ID recognises family members
• Doubles as home security camera
• Premium 2.1 speaker with subwoofer

❌ Cons

• $249.99 — most expensive non-wall Show
• Large footprint — needs counter space
• Older chip than Show 8 4th Gen
• Motorised base can feel unnecessary for static use

🛒 Check Price on Amazon

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⭐ Echo Show 11 (2025) Review — New Premium Size

⭐ New 2025 · Premium Large Display★★★★★ 4.7/5

Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)

11" HD Display · AZ3 Pro · 13MP Vision AI Camera · Alexa+ Full Power · Premium Audio

$229.99Amazon.com · Launched November 2025

11" HD DisplayAZ3 Pro Chip13MP Vision AIAlexa+ On-DeviceOmnisense FullPremium AudioZigbee + MatterSmart Home Hub

Launched in November 2025 alongside the Echo Show 8, the Echo Show 11 is a brand-new size in Amazon's lineup — sitting between the Show 8 and Show 15 at 11 inches. Bloomberg's Chris Welch reviewed it on launch day and noted it represents "Amazon's first wave of Alexa hardware fully developed under Panos Panay," bringing a notably more premium aesthetic and finish than previous Echo Shows.

The Show 11 shares the same AZ3 Pro chip and Omnisense platform as the Show 8, but the larger screen makes a genuine difference for content consumption: streaming Prime Video, viewing security camera feeds, and following recipes are all significantly more comfortable on an 11-inch display. The premium audio hardware delivers room-filling sound that TechRadar's review confirmed "rivals dedicated smart speakers." At $229.99, it's $50 more than the Show 8 for a larger screen and better speakers — worth it for a living room or open-plan space.

🏅Best for: Living room as a TV companion, large kitchens, open-plan spaces, home offices that need a bigger display. The step-up pick when the Show 8 feels too small.

✅ Pros

• 11" screen — noticeably more usable than 8"
• AZ3 Pro + Omnisense — full visual Alexa+ AI
• Premium audio — room-filling sound
• 13MP Vision AI camera — sharp video calls
• Panos Panay premium design language
• Alexa+ full on-device capabilities

❌ Cons

• $229.99 — $50 more than Show 8
• No physical camera shutter
• Newer model — fewer long-term reviews
• Most users happy with Show 8 for $50 less

🛒 Check Price on Amazon

📌Building your smart home in 2025? Save this guide to your Pinterest "Smart Home Ideas" or "Amazon Alexa Devices" board — every Echo Show reviewed and ranked in one place!

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🏠 Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen) Review — Best Family Hub

🏠 Best Wall-Mounted Family Hub★★★★☆ 4.5/5

Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Generation)

15.6" Full HD Wall Display · Fire TV Built-in · Shared Calendars · Visual ID · Family Hub

$299.99Amazon.com · Portrait or Landscape Wall Mount

15.6" Full HDFire TV Built-inFire TV Remote IncludedVisual IDWall MountableAlexa+ CompatibleFamily CalendarsPortrait + LandscapeSecurity Camera Hub

The Echo Show 15 is built for one specific job — becoming the command centre of a family home. Wall-mounted in portrait or landscape orientation, it functions simultaneously as a smart display, a Fire TV streaming screen, a family calendar hub, a security camera viewer, and a photo frame. The 15.6-inch Full HD screen is the largest in the non-Show-21 lineup and genuinely replaces a small TV for casual viewing in a kitchen or hallway.

TechRadar's reviewer initially found the Show 15 underwhelming on its own, but changed their view after seeing Alexa+ in action on it: "I underestimated the new Echo Show 15; with Alexa+, this device can work well both as a media centre and smart display." The included Fire TV remote means you can navigate streaming content exactly like a proper TV, and Visual ID recognises individual family members and surfaces their personalised calendars, shopping lists, and reminders automatically.

🏅Best for: Kitchen or hallway wall mount, family households with shared calendars and shopping lists, anyone wanting a small streaming TV and smart display in one device.

✅ Pros

• 15.6" Full HD — largest non-Show-21 display
• Fire TV built-in — full streaming experience
• Wall mounts portrait or landscape
• Visual ID for personalised family content
• Fire TV remote included
• Security camera hub for large-screen feeds
• Alexa+ transforms the experience

❌ Cons

• $299.99 — significant investment
• Less impressive without Alexa+
• Audio weaker than Show 11 or Show 21
• Requires wall mounting for best use
• Camera quality below Show 8 and 10

🛒 Check Price on Amazon

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👑 Echo Show 21 Review — Amazon's Biggest Ever

👑 Flagship · Amazon's Largest Smart Display Ever★★★★★ 4.6/5

Amazon Echo Show 21

21" Full HD Wall-Mounted Hub · Fire TV · Alexa+ Flagship · Smart Home Command Centre

$399.99Amazon.com · Wall-Mount Designed

21" Full HDFire TV Full IntegrationAlexa+ FlagshipWall MountableLargest Echo Show EverMatter + Thread + ZigbeeSmart Home DashboardSecurity Camera Hub

The Echo Show 21 is the most ambitious product in the entire Echo lineup. Amazon unveiled it in late 2024 as the flagship of the redesigned Echo Show range, and at 21 inches, it's nearly twice the screen size of the Show 15. Its target audience is households who want their smart display to function as a genuine small TV replacement — streaming full movies and shows on Fire TV, displaying whole-home security dashboards, running shared family calendars, and serving as Alexa+'s most powerful hub device.

TechRadar noted that at Amazon's Alexa+ demo event in New York, "pretty much all of the demonstrations for Alexa+ were run on an Echo Show 21 — which immediately struck my colleague as interesting." Amazon considers this the device that best showcases what Alexa+ can become: the camera-based visual AI, the smart home dashboards, the agentic multi-step tasks. If Alexa+ is the future, the Show 21 is the hardware it was built for. At $399.99, the value depends almost entirely on whether you'll use Alexa+ regularly.

🏅Best for: Living rooms, open-plan spaces, families who want a wall-mounted entertainment and home management hub. For most people, the Show 15 at $100 less is a better value proposition.

✅ Pros

• 21" Full HD — Amazon's largest smart display ever
• Full Fire TV streaming integration
• The definitive Alexa+ showcase device
• Security camera feeds at full-screen size
• Full smart home hub (Zigbee, Matter, Thread)
• Impressive as both a TV and a smart display

❌ Cons

• $399.99 — most expensive Echo device
• Value heavily dependent on Alexa+ usage
• Designed primarily for wall mounting
• Significant commitment for new Echo users

🛒 Check Price on Amazon

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🏡 Which Echo Show Belongs in Which Room?

🛏️

Bedroom

Echo Show 5

Sunrise alarm, sleep sounds, bedside clock, soft morning briefings. Perfect size.

🍳

Kitchen

Echo Show 8

Recipes, hands-free timers, music, video calls while cooking. Ideal counter size.

🛋️

Living Room

Echo Show 11 or 15

Streaming, camera feeds, Alexa+ hub. Big screen justifies the space.

💼

Home Office

Echo Show 8

Video calls, calendar, music, smart home control. Desk-friendly size.

🚪

Hallway / Entry

Echo Show 15

Wall-mounted family calendar, reminders, announcements. Portrait mode works perfectly.

👨‍👩‍👧

Family Space

Echo Show 21

The full experience — streaming, security cameras, shared calendars, Alexa+ hub.

👧

Kids' Room

Echo Show 5 Kids

Parental controls, kid-safe content, fun Galaxy design. Made for young learners.

🏋️

Gym / Workout

Echo Show 8

Guided workouts, music, timers, hands-free control. Robust enough for gym use.

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📊 Full Echo Show Comparison Table 2025–2026

Model	Screen	Camera	Chip	Alexa+	Special Feature	Best For	Price
🛏️ Echo Show 5 (3rd)	5.5" 960×480	2MP shutter	AZ2	Cloud	Sunrise Alarm · Physical shutter	Bedroom	$89.99
🏆 Echo Show 8 (4th)	8" HD Sweet Spot	13MP Auto-frame	AZ3 Pro	On-device	Visual AI · Omnisense · Woofer	Kitchen · Office	$179.99
🚶 Echo Show 10 (3rd)	10.1" HD	13MP rotate	AZ2 Neural	Cloud	Motorised rotation · Visual ID	Video calls	$249.99
⭐ Echo Show 11 (2025)	11" HD	13MP Vision AI	AZ3 Pro	On-device	Premium audio · New 2025 size	Living room	$229.99
🏠 Echo Show 15 (2nd)	15.6" Full HD	5MP	AZ2	Compatible	Fire TV · Wall mount · Remote	Family hub	$299.99
👑 Echo Show 21	21" Full HD Largest	Built-in	AZ3 Pro	On-device full	Biggest screen · Alexa+ flagship	Flagship hub	$399.99

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🤔 Is the Echo Show Worth It? — Honest Verdict

🎯 Answer Three Questions

Q1

Do you already use Alexa or own Amazon smart home devices?

→Yes: An Echo Show is a natural, high-value addition. The visual interface and Alexa+ AI meaningfully expand what Alexa can do.

→No: Consider starting with an Echo Dot or Echo Dot Max first at $49.99–$99.99. See if you use Alexa before investing in a screen.

Q2

Which room are you buying for?

→Bedroom: Echo Show 5 ($89.99) — Sunrise alarm, compact, perfect price.

→Kitchen / Office / General use: Echo Show 8 ($179.99) — The clear best-overall choice.

→Living room / Family space: Echo Show 11 ($229.99) or Show 15 ($299.99) for a wall mount.

Q3

Do you have Amazon Prime?

→Yes: Alexa+ is included free — this significantly boosts the value of every Echo Show model.

→No: Echo Shows still work well without Alexa+, but the new AI capabilities are the strongest reason to buy in 2025. Consider a free Prime trial.

If you want...	Best Pick	Price
Best overall Echo Show for most households	Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)	$179.99
Cheapest Echo Show — best entry point	Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)	$89.99
Best bedside alarm clock display	Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)	$89.99
Best for video calls with family	Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)	$249.99
Best kitchen smart display	Echo Show 8 (4th Gen)	$179.99
Best living room streaming display	Echo Show 11 (2025)	$229.99
Best wall-mounted family hub	Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen)	$299.99
Most powerful Alexa+ showcase device	Echo Show 21	$399.99
Best Echo Show for kids	Echo Show 5 Kids Edition	$99.99
Best gift — works for anyone	Echo Show 5 or Show 8	$89.99–$179.99

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💡 5 Tips to Get the Most From Your Echo Show

🤖

Enable Alexa+ on day one

If you have Amazon Prime, Alexa+ is included free. Activate it in the Alexa app immediately after setup. The difference between classic Alexa and Alexa+ is dramatic — natural conversation, visual AI, and multi-step task completion transform how useful the device feels.

📸

Set up Amazon Photos for Ambient Display

When the Echo Show is idle, it can display a rotating slideshow of your Amazon Photos library rather than a blank screensaver. Set this up in Settings → Home Content and your device becomes a digital photo frame between uses — one of the most underrated Echo Show features.

🏠

Set it as your smart home hub from day one

Echo Show models with Zigbee, Matter, and Thread built-in can directly connect compatible smart home devices without a separate bridge. Set your Echo Show as the hub immediately and connect your lights, plugs, thermostats, and locks — you gain a visual control panel for your whole home on its touchscreen.

📅

Connect your calendar for maximum daily value

The Echo Show's home screen becomes dramatically more useful when connected to your Google, Outlook, or Apple calendar. You'll get at-a-glance agenda summaries, Alexa reminders synced to real events, and the ability to ask "what's my next meeting?" hands-free. Connect in Settings → Calendar.

🏷️

Wait for Prime Day for 30–40% off

Amazon discounts Echo Show devices heavily during Prime Day (July) and Black Friday. The Echo Show 8 has dropped to $89.99 (from $179.99) during previous Black Fridays. If your current setup is functional and the purchase isn't urgent, waiting for a sale event can save $40–$100 per device.

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🏁 Final Verdict — Is the Amazon Echo Show Worth It?

Yes — but the right model matters enormously. The Echo Show range in 2025–2026 is the most capable and best-designed it has ever been, anchored by Alexa+ AI and the new AZ3 Pro chip. For most people, the Echo Show 8 (4th Gen) at $179.99 is the answer — it's the Goldilocks device that nails screen size, camera quality, audio, and AI capability without breaking the bank. T3, TechRadar, and Android Central all name it their top Echo Show recommendation for 2025, and it's not a close contest.

For bedroom use, the Echo Show 5 at $89.99 is an outstanding value that's hard to argue against. For a wall-mounted family hub, the Show 15 with Fire TV is transformative. For the most powerful Alexa+ experience money can buy, the Echo Show 21 is extraordinary — and genuinely fun to use.

Whatever you choose from this guide, adding an Echo Show to a room where you spend significant time — particularly the kitchen — will change how you interact with your home. The screens aren't a gimmick. They're the feature that graduates Alexa from a clever toy to a genuinely useful daily assistant. 🖥️✨

📌 Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Product specifications, prices, and availability are subject to change — always verify current details on Amazon before purchasing. Reviews and expert opinions are sourced from TechRadar, T3, Stuff, Android Central, Bloomberg, and Engadget as referenced throughout. This post is not sponsored by Amazon or any other brand mentioned.