STUFF AWARDS 2019
SMART HOME GADGET OF THE YEAR
AMAZON ECHO SHOW 5
£80 / amazon.co.uk
She appeared in the toilet, in the microwave
and, thanks to Amazon’s Echo Frames, sitting
on our faces. Yes, this was the year Alexa got
everywhere – but when it comes to controlling
smart home devices, it’s the Echo Show 5
that’s on discerning worktops.
A smaller version of its 10in namesake and
a rival to Google’s Nest Hub, Lenovo’s Smart
Clock and, whether it was meant to be or not,
O Alexa, close
your eyes
The 5.5in display
is good enough
for viewing news
bulletins from
across the room,
and if you don’t
like the camera
it can easily be
disabled.OO Alexa, call
the doctor
The screen has
added benefits
for Alexa skills,
like workouts
with pictures of
how to do the
exercise you’re
about to be
humbled by.Amazon’s own Echo Spot, the Echo 5’s
feature set and low price point make it the
Echo Dot of smart displays. The shrunken
screen fits into our lives more easily but
still lets us to fall back on a visual interface
when Alexa isn’t enough. For sheer value,
this is the best of the smart displays.NOMINEES
O Arlo Ultra O Amazon Echo Dot with Clock
O Brisant Ultion Smart O Google Nest Mini2
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