Echo Show 15 Review

The Echo Show 15 is a wall-mountable smart display, part of Amazon’s Echo Show line of smart speakers and displays.

In contrast to most Echo Show products, though, this model stands out by allowing you to mount it on the wall. In addition, it can be used as a tabletop display, while most other models can only be used as tabletop displays.

With a 15.6-inch display, it’s a pretty big smart display that can be used for watching movies, displaying a calendar, or as a digital photo frame on the wall. Let’s review the Echo Show 15 and see all that it has to offer.

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Echo Show 15 Features

Widgets

Widgets on the Echo Show 15 allow you to quickly access your most important tasks. You can display multiple widgets on the screen at once, including:

• A calendar with an overview of your upcoming events and appointments.
• Weather updates so you know how to dress.
• A to-do list, ensuring you never miss an important chore.
• A list of your most recently used streaming apps, so you can quickly hop back into your favorite shows.

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Fire TV With Alexa Voice Remote

Unlike smaller Echo Show models, this one has Fire TV built in. That allows you to access over a million episodes and movies from Fire TV, Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, and others.

The Echo Show 15 comes with the Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote. This is a remote control that has a microphone, allowing you to issue voice commands to navigate Fire TV from the other side of the room.

While you can always use Alexa itself on any Echo Show device, this is different. This is a separate remote control device specifically for Fire TV.

The remote comes with two AAA batteries. It has a button which you can press to activate Alexa.

Not only can you use voice commands to navigate Fire TV hands free, but you can also use the preset buttons to access your favorite channels and shows in an instant.

Note that only the Alexa Voice Remote is compatible with the Echo Show 15. Unfortunately, if you have an Alexa Voice Remote Pro or Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote, it won’t work.

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Family Organization

As a wall-mounted display, the Echo Show 15 is also perfect for family organization and planning. You can set up different calendars for different members of the family, so each one can see his or her events, but you can set up shared calendars as well.

With shopping lists, to-do lists, sticky notes, and other useful tools, you can make sure the family house is always being run properly and that no tasks are being left unaccounted for.

Alexa Productivity

Building on that, let’s briefly explore Alexa Productivity. It’s a productivity tool that allows you to set reminders and timers for important tasks and chores, such as watering the plants.

You can also set up reminders for different family members who have set up Alexa profiles. For example, perhaps it’s your son’s turn to walk the dog in the morning; simply set a reminder for him.

You can also create sticky notes visible to all, as well as shopping lists, with Alexa.

Alexa also allows you to sync your calendars, such as your Outlook or Google calendar, so events and appointments can automatically be added to your Echo Show. You can then ask Alexa for an overview of what you have on your plate, and it can even give you weather and traffic updates for the location or route to the event.

Also Read: Echo Show 5 Review

Alexa for the Kitchen: Meal Planning and More

The Amazon Echo Show 15 takes the guesswork out of meal planning. It also makes cooking a lot easier with Alexa for the Kitchen.

You can easily add items to your grocery lists by issuing voice commands to Alexa. Not only that, but you can ask Alexa to give you recipes based on your dietary plans or a certain cuisine you want to try.

For example, if you are in the mood for Mexican food, simply tell Alexa to give you Mexican recipes.

You can also ask Alexa for cooking tips, such as how to properly dice an onion, and to set timers for things in the oven so they don’t overcook.

As Amazon Alexa integrates with Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh, you can also order missing items instantly by simply telling Alexa to place an order.

And, of course, you can play podcasts, music, or audiobooks while cooking.

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Digital Photo Frame

You can turn the Echo Show 15 into a digital photo frame when not in use. It can display either family photos you have uploaded to the cloud or stock photos and digital artwork.

That allows it to blend seamlessly with your kitchen or living room decor when not being used to watch TV.

With Amazon Photos, you can see specially curated photo slides of past days and events. You can also invite friends and family members to collaborate on shared albums, so they can upload their own photos to your slideshow.

Camera

The 5 MP camera is a bit lackluster, especially compared to the Echo Show 8, which has a 13 MP camera. Then again, if you’re wall-mounting the display, you probably won’t use the camera as much.

The camera allows you to make live video calls to family members and friends. You can also view a live feed of your front door, if you have a compatible video doorbell, allowing you to see who is at the door.

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Smart Home Devices

While the Echo Show 15 can’t replace your Zigbee smart home hub, it is still compatible with many smart devices with Alexa Smart Home. You can view a livestream of your front door, control the lights and thermostat, and a lot more using the power of Alexa.

You can set up routines, for example, to turn off the lights and set calm music to play at bedtime. Likewise, you can also use the Echo Show 15 as a live cam to watch your home when you are away.

In fact, you can watch four different streams at once from different Echo devices around your home.

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Use Cases

The Echo Show 15 can be wall mounted, as I mentioned. If you get the wall-mountable option, it will come with all the equipment you will need to mount it on your wall.

It also comes with handy installation instructions that are easy to follow.

There is also a tabletop option. You can choose to get the display with a tilting mount that you can use on your countertop or living room table, although it’s a pretty big screen, so do make sure you have enough space for it first.

It’s worth noting that the Echo Show 15 display supports both landscape and portrait modes.

Specifications

With powerful Amlogic PopcornA and Amazon AZ2 processors, the Echo Show 15 offers excellent performance. And while the 5 MP camera isn’t the best for taking pictures, the screen offers an excellent resolution of 1920 × 1080.

Pricing

The Echo Show 15 is going for $279.99 on Amazon. That includes the remote, but it doesn’t include the wall mounting equipment or tilting stand.

If you get it together with the wall mounting equipment, it will cost $309.98.

If you get it with the tilting mount, it will cost $312.97.

That is quite a lot more than the Echo Show 5 or Echo Show 8, both of which can stand up by themselves and don’t require an external stand (although optional stands are available for added functionality).

Remember that pricing is subject to change, so always check back on the pricing page for updated pricing information.

Also, additional subscriptions, such as Amazon Prime, cost extra.

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Conclusion

Compared to other wall displays (from companies other than Amazon), the Echo Show 15 is cheaper and more affordable.

It also offers more features, such as Fire TV and smart home system controls, something that many others don’t. Many other wall displays only offer calendars, for example.

On the other hand, it is also a bit pricier compared to other Amazon Echo Show products.

Overall, it’s a solid choice as a wall display, but if the price tag scares you off, consider looking into other Echo Show products as an alternative, especially if being wall-mountable is not a top priority for you.