Amazon Echo Show 11 (newest model), Vibrant Full-HD 11″ display with more viewing area and spatial audio, with Alexa+ Early Access, Graphite

Read before you “upgrade”…
I’ve never had an Echo Show 8, so I bought the 3rd Gen (2023) at a big discount while waiting for the new 2025 model to come available. I’m really glad I had some time with the 2023 3rd Gen because I think it is superior in most ways… and the things that really needed improvement (touch screen, UI) were not noticably better in the new model. Additionally, my brand new one shipped with a microphone error that is apparently a long-standing hardware issue on previous gen models. (REALLY!?)Here are my chief complaints:-Sound: Gen 4 (2025) was a noticable downgrade in sound quality, especially at increased volume. The 3rd Gen can be cranked to the max with little distortion, but the 4th Gen has buzzy highs and a diminished bass response by comparison. To be fair, neither are the “room filling” sound they claim to be, but the 2023 3rd Gen was somewhat better for a big, open room.- Camera – the switch is gone! My guess is because they want to keep that camera on for ever more data collection, but I like to flip the shutter closed on our bedroom devices and in our common areas when we have visitors. Yes, there are various options to cover it yourself, but it’s the principle behind the design change. And yes, you can turn the camera off in the software settings, but nothing is as trusty as an opaque covering.- All the hardware buttons were moved to the side, making them harder to see and use. This is a matter of preference and would be less bothersome with continued use, but it is different from other echo show devices (we also have three 5-inch models).- UI: the screen interface is apparently unchanged and unfortunately, still lacking. This is mostly a software thing, but if they are going to refresh a device, you would expect some improved functionality. Alas, you are still forced to endure laggy screen swipes and menus that somehow have the same crowded feel of the 5-inch device. I have read the processor was improved to take advantage of Alexa+, but so far it is definitely slower to respond to voice commands.- Plug: believe it or not, plugs designed for the 3rd Gen WILL NOT work with this device. Yes, they are both 30 watt and yes, both plugs will fit both devices, but the 4th Gen Echo Show will not even turn on using a 3rd Gen plug. Why?! This kind of thing should be ubiquitous (and USB-C) by now.Stand – in keeping with changing accessories for no apparent reason other than taking more of your money, the stand designed for a Gen 3 WILL NOT work with a Gen 4. Yes, they are both magnetic and yes, they are pretty much the same size, but the Gen 4 has a different shape. Shameless!Looks: This one is another matter of preference, but the Gen 4 just looks awkward to me… It’s essentially the latest Echo Dot with a Fire Tablet stuck on the side. I much prefer the 3rd Gen, which has a cleaner homogeneous quality, kind of like a miniature vintage TV set. The new screen is apparently “improved,” but I honestly can’t see any apparent change.Errors: How a brand new design ships with known microphone issues that plagued older devices is beyond me. The microphone just mutes itself at random. I’ve tried everything… software settings, unplug, reboot, reset… Nothing works. And there are no apparent triggers. Sometimes it stays on for awhile and sometimes it mutes right after talking to the device. Again, new device with a not new issue… Makes you wonder what other legacy issues are lurking inside unfixed.Those are the specifics, but in general it’s a 1-star review because of Amazon’s complete lack of true innovation. I have been a Prime subscriber and avid user of nearly all Amazon devices since the very first Echo (which still works and sounds better than this Echo Show 8). The problem for several years now is their devices are advertised as “new and improved” but the reality is components and functionality that hasn’t improved the user experience for many years. I quit buying Fire tablets (for my kids) in favor of iPads several years ago. I have since quit buying Fire TV devices in favor of Roku and AppleTV. My last holdout has been the Echo devices, which so far hasn’t been bested in value… But after my experience with the new Echo Show, I’m afraid their replacement time is also near.

New Echo Show 11 2025
I traded in my Echo Show 8 (2023) because it was hard of hearing, and the screen was too small to read from a distance. The new Echo Show 11 is better in both respects. I’ve had Alexa+ for a couple of months now on the old Echo Show 8, but it was tough to use because of the unresponsiveness and the small screen.Setup of the Echo Show 11 was easy – it was able to copy the settings from the old Echo Show. It set up the Feminine Voice #2 that sounds like the OG Alexa from the start. I still had to tweak all my reminders and routines to point to the new Echo. Visual ID had to be set up again. I had to unpair the Echo Subwoofer from the old Echo and re-pair it with the new one to get it to work properly. The new setup was way too boomy, so I had to figure out how to reduce the bass. It does sound very good now, better than the old set up.I somehow lost the paper documentation the Echo Show 11 came with because I set it aside during unboxing and now can’t figure out where it went. You don’t really need it and there is a quick guide PDF you can download.In summary, it is mostly the same Echo Show with many improvements, while there will be a learning curve to get the most out of Alexa+.

Review UPDATE: changed from ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to ⭐️ after just 48 hours!MAJOR issues- The screen becomes unresponsive to touch input by the end of the day, though continues to work with voice input. Might be a memory leak issue in the software that is unacceptable for this price point. Had to restart either by pulling the plug or restarting from the Alexa app on the phone every time.- The weather and time display are really tiny and tucked away on the top right. And the date shown is the date the photo was taken and not the current date which can be really confusing. The Echo 10 was just perfect with all the current info neatly at the bottom left corner with a huge time display that can be seen from across the room.These 2 issues are non-negotiables for me, so Echo Show 11 has been returned, and going back to my trusty Echo Show 10, at least until Google comes out with an upgraded Hub Max with Gemini or Apple finally decides to slap a screen on the Home Pod.+ Amazon Silk Browser has been updated across the board, so the YouTube Music playability I was very excited about on the Echo Show 11 is also now available on the Echo Show 10!PREVIOUS Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:My primary use of the previous Echo Show 10 was to use as a smart home controller, a glorified photo display, and a sprinkle of assistant features (asking for weather, timers, etc.) So bearing my use case in mind, here are my thoughts about the Echo Show 11.Pros- Gorgeous 11” screen: It’s bigger, brighter, and clearer- Better sound: It’s not a huge leap from Echo Show 10, but the unit itself is a smaller footprint with much better bass response, which can get very loud without distorting- Faster UI: Echo 10 was so slow and really unusable but this is much better. It’s not silky smooth like an iPad but close enough- Simpler interface: Overall the interface is simpler, it’s faster to get where you want to go- Silk Browser: This is my favourite underrated feature, which is the very functional browser that plays YouTube and other video streaming services + YouTube Music (voice commands to find to a particular song on YouTube music won’t work – and being an Amazon product, I wasn’t expecting it to)- Solid build: The Echo Show 10 was bulky with the swivel screen gimmick which I never used, while this is well built and just looks better.Cons:- Netflix app unavailable: Coming soon- Alexa+ unavailable in Canada: Coming soon- Tilt & Swivel: Need to buy a separate $55 standOverall it’s an improvement, but the software still feels like it’s in beta stage. The fact that a device built for Alexa+ isn’t available out the box for this price is a disappointment. But I’m happy that I can finally play YouTube Music (somewhat) natively through an Echo device.

Très déçu pour le moment ce n’est pas mon premier achat d’un produit Amazon mais pour cette fois c’est très décevant netflix ne fonctionne pas ! Beaucoup de bugs pour le moment . Mérite une bonne mise à jour. On verra après