The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025) meets
the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
The size, sound, and price that five of seven review roundups rank first. We tested it head-to-head against the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) across 6 key dimensions.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025)
“The size, sound, and price that five of seven review roundups rank first”
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
“Sub-$100, camera-free by design, and the pick two privacy-first roundups rank first”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025)
- Ranked first in five of seven expert roundups (Reviewed, CNN Underscored, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, The Ambient), the clearest consensus winner in the category
- TechRadar's 4.5/5 review credits the redesign with room-filling audio from dual drivers and a 2.8-inch woofer that outclass the single-speaker Google units
- Built-in Zigbee, Thread, and Matter support lets it run a smart home without a separate hub, which the Nest Hub cannot match
- TechRadar, The Ambient, and Tom's Guide all flag the dropped physical camera shutter, so privacy now relies on software rather than a slider
- The Ambient and TechRadar both note the price rose over the previous generation, pushing list to $179.99
- Reviewed pointed to added setup complexity for face recognition and Alexa+ features
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
- Lists at $99.99, the lowest sticker among the mainstream picks, and Android Central and CNET both name it best overall on value grounds
- No camera by design makes it the privacy and bedroom choice, and CNN highlighted its Soli-sensor sleep tracking as a genuine nightstand feature
- CNET rated its assistant the smartest of the group, now upgraded to Gemini for Home for stronger question answering
- The 7-inch screen is the smallest here, which Tom's Guide and CNET both note limits video and recipe viewing
- No camera means no video calls, a dealbreaker if you want to check in on family
- A single speaker cannot match the stereo Echo Show units for kitchen music, per CNN
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025) is the rare product that reviewers agree on. It took the top spot in five of the seven roundups and hands-on reviews we analyzed: Reviewed named it Editor's Choice, CNN Underscored called it 'the best smart display we've tested,' Tom's Guide ranked it best overall, and TechRadar and The Ambient both gave the 2025 redesign 4.5 out of 5. When independent testers who disagree on almost everything else land on the same pick, that consensus is worth trusting.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025)
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025) is the rare product that reviewers agree on. It took the top spot in five of the seven roundups and hands-on reviews we analyzed: Reviewed named it Editor's Choice, CNN Underscored called it 'the best smart display we've tested,' Tom's Guide ranked it best overall, and TechRadar and The Ambient both gave the 2025 redesign 4.5 out of 5. When independent testers who disagree on almost everything else land on the same pick, that consensus is worth trusting.
- Anyone who wants one display to handle video calls, media, and smart home control
- Buyers who value stronger stereo audio for kitchen music and calls
- Smart home owners who want built-in Zigbee, Thread, and Matter without a separate hub
- People who want the latest Alexa+ generative assistant and AZ3 Pro speed
- Shoppers looking for the pick that nearly every expert roundup ranks first
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) wins on value by doing less on purpose and charging much less for it. It lists at $99.99, the lowest sticker of any mainstream pick here, and two of the roundups that weight price and privacy most heavily put it first outright. Android Central named it best overall as the strongest camera-less display, and the CNET-authored review syndicated on Yahoo called it 'the smartest and best overall, making the lower price even more appealing.'
- Budget buyers who want a capable smart display for under $100
- Anyone putting a display on a nightstand who prefers no camera in the room
- People who want Soli-sensor sleep tracking and a smart alarm clock
- Google and Gemini households who prize assistant intelligence over screen size
- Privacy-minded shoppers comfortable giving up video calls