The Echo Show 21 is the newest member of the Echo Show family, offering a massive 21-inch display and a powerful audio system to match. But how does it stack up to the existing Echo Show 10? Aside from its large touchscreen, is there a big difference between these two smart displays? More importantly, which one is better for your smart home?
From pricing and design to display and available features, here’s a closer look at the new Echo Show 21 and Echo Show 10 to help you decide which to purchase.
Pricing and design
As the largest member of the Echo Show lineup, it should come as no surprise that the Echo Show 21 is also the most expensive. It’ll cost you $400, compared to $250 for the Echo Show 10. Both are stylish products built to the high standards of Amazon, and if you’re only worried about aesthetics, you can’t go wrong with either.
The Echo Show 10 is designed as a tabletop device, with a built-in stand holding the 10.1-inch display. The Echo Show 21 can be mounted on a wall or placed on a table (though to do the latter, you’ll need to buy a separate stand).
Winner: Tie
Display and quality
Amazon outfitted the Echo Show 21 with an expansive 21-inch touchscreen display and 1080p resolution. The Echo Show 10 features a 10.1-inch display and a slightly lower 1280 x 800 resolution. That resolution still looks great on the smaller display, but no doubt watching TV shows is better on the big Echo Show 21. As for overall build quality? The Echo Show 10 has earned stellar reviews over the years, and we’re expecting the Echo Show 21 to hold up just as well — though only time will tell if its reliability is on par with the rest of the Echo Show family.
Winner: Echo Show 21
Features and smart home connectivity
Aside from a larger screen, the Echo Show 21 has a few other advantages over the Echo Show 10. Here’s a quick roundup of the main differences when it comes to available features.
- The Echo Show 21 uses a 13MP wide-angle webcam with auto-framing, whereas the Echo Show 10 uses a 13MP with auto-framing.
- The Echo Show 21 uses two 2-inch woofers and two 0.6-inch tweeters for its sound system. The Echo Show 10 uses two 1-inch tweeters and a 3-inch woofer.
- The Echo Show 21 comes with Fire TV built-in.
Many folks are finding the Echo Show 10 to offer slightly better audio performance, thanks to enhanced low-frequency notes. Both smart displays also use auto-focusing to keep you in the frame while video chatting, though the Echo Show 21 offers a wider viewing angle (despite the Echo Show 10 also using a 13MP camera).
That means the only significant advantages the Echo Show 21 brings to the table are a larger screen, a wide-angle camera, and Fire TV built-in.
Winner: Tie
Is the Echo Show 21 better than the Echo Show 10?
The Echo Show 21 isn’t necessarily better than the Echo Show 10. While it’s certainly bigger and better for watching TV shows, the large size might not be ideal for all households. Amazon built a great device with the existing Echo Show 10 — and if you need something that won’t consume much countertop space, the Echo Show 10 might be the better choice. It’s also much more affordable and provides great audio, making it the better choice for most families.
And since there are really only a few distinct advantages to owning the Echo Show 21, it might be hard to justify its price tag.
However, if you plan on using your smart display as a second entertainment center, then the Echo Show 21 is the obvious choice. It’s essentially a tiny TV at 21 inches, and if you want to easily watch your favorite shows while doing the dishes or cooking dinner, it’s a pretty enticing option.