Large screen Face recognition for personalization. Widgets for quick reminders and app access Wall mountable Screen turns off/on when leaving/entering the room. Can be used as security camera.

5 megapixel camera means low quality video calling Camera doesn’t have auto-framing Short 3-foot power cable Low speaker quality

With so many smart display choices is the Echo Show 15 right for you?

Setting up the Echo Show 15

Before setting anything up, you’ll need to decide where to place your Echo Show 15. It has a mounting template, mounting plate, and screws to attach to a wall, and you need only supply the drill. You’ll likely need an extension power cord (sold separately) when putting it up. Also, consider the users’ heights when deciding where to place it.

After getting the Echo Show 15 situated, there is more to setting it up than other Alexa devices. Nonetheless, it’s easy and steps appear on the screen. Much of the setup can be done directly on the Show using the touchscreen. If you’ve set up other Alexa devices or Fire TVs in the past, it may automatically connect to your Wi-Fi. Don’t skip naming the device, as you’ll use it when dropping in (speaking to it directly) from another Alexa speaker or device.

The Echo Show 15 Camera

The Echo Show 15 camera is one of its best and worst features. It’s best because of all it can do—from customization to security monitoring and video calling. It’s the worst because it’s a low-resolution 5-megapixel camera that doesn’t make you look your best in video calls, and because it’s a bit creepy that someone can drop in and see what you are doing in the room.

When the camera recognizes a family member, it displays their calendar, reminders, messages, lists, and more. The user walks into the room, and their information is displayed. It can either recognize a family member using Visual ID.

After enabling Visual ID, Face ID is set up by circling your head so it can recognize your face from any angle (similar to Face Recognition on an iPhone). The process needs to be repeated for the profiles of each member of your family.

The Echo Show 15 as Security Monitor

Another benefit of the Echo Show 15’s camera is that it can be used as a security monitor. Your other Echo Shows can view the Echo Show 15’s camera, or you can see it in the Alexa app. The camera has a wide-angle field of view.

Monitoring works well and covers more area than most security cameras. It’s helpful to keep an eye on a baby or pets. If you enable Alexa Guard, it will notify you when someone is detected in the room while you are away. If you want to use it as a security monitor and you’re mounting the Echo Show on the wall, consider checking the camera’s view before putting it up so you can be sure to get most of the room in view.

As other members can Drop-In to see the Echo Show 15’s camera on their device or Alexa app, you can enable a notification when someone is streaming from the camera. Enable this setting by going to Audio Alert under Live View in Camera Settings on your Show. If you don’t want to be watched, turn off the camera completely using the killswitch on top of the Show.

Video Calling on the Echo Show 15

You can use the camera to video chat to friends or family who also have Echo Shows. You must grant permission to each contact you want to video call. Setting up video calling is a multi-step process, but it’s justified as you are also giving this contact the ability to Drop-In directly to your Echo Show.

Before using this feature, you should set Video Delay under Live View in Camera Settings on your Show. With this delay, the first few seconds of a video call will be blurred, giving you a short time to turn off the camera if you don’t have your hair combed or need to put on a robe.

When making a video call, the onscreen icons are confusing. In other apps, the icons reflect your status. Typically, a microphone with a slash through it means you are muted, and tapping it will toggle off the muting to let you be heard.

The Echo Show 15’s in-call icons are the opposite. The icon reflects what you want to do if you tap the button.

If your video isn’t working, press the video camera icon on the screen to turn on the video. The button will turn into a video camera with a slash, meaning that you tap it again to turn off the video. There needs to be a better system.

Individual calls have a few features that aren’t available in group video calls. Live closed captioning shows subtitles of what the other person is saying. It’s handy when there is a lot of noise, or if you generally struggle to hear voices clearly.

When chatting with another person, you can also add Artificial Reality (AR) effects (similar to Snapchat and other video apps) and reactions to your calls for giggles. Silliness prevails when choosing to view the other person in a fish tank, with bubbles, in flames, with googly eyes, or wearing a hot dog costume.

Home Screen Widgets

With its 15.6 inches of visual real estate, the Echo Show 15 can display your life at a glance. This is what likens the Show to a digital bulletin board.

They are handy for quick access to different lists, but they could be better. Some widgets like Smart Home Favorites require additional setup. Others, like, sticky notes to remind you or others of something you don’t want to forget, are quick to add.

Echo Show 15 vs. Meta (Facebook) Portal vs. Google Nest Hub vs. Echo Show 10

The Meta Portal Plus cannot be mounted on a wall like the Echo Show 15. While it’s the same size as the Show, it sits on a stand and doesn’t have widgets or video apps like the Echo Show.

The Portal’s primary purpose is to make video calls, and its 13-megapixel camera outperforms the Echo Show 15. Smart Framing adjusts the camera to keep everyone in the frame, and Smart Volume silences other sounds that might make it hard for the caller to hear your voice.

The Google Nest Hub Max is smaller than the other two at 10 inches. It has Quick Gestures control using Motion Sense, so you can silently control it in addition to using Google Assistant voice commands.

The Nest Hub Max’s 6.5-megapixel camera has Smart Framing that widens its field of view to include others who have walked into the room.

The Best Smart Display for Families

Each family member gets their own information, so the board is customized for them.

And when part of the family moves away, the Echo Show 15 can make group video calls to help bring everyone together again.