A smart display is more than just another screen in your home. A device like the Echo Show can walk you through recipes, let you watch videos in bed or serve as a pint-sized digital photo frame. You can even check out the streams from compatible video doorbells! And right now you can explore all those possibilities with Amazon's Echo Show 5, loved by more than 110,000 Amazon reviewers, while it's almost 50% off. Yep, it's just $45.

Amazon

Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release)

$85

This handy gizmo has a 5.5-inch screen, a powerful 1.7-inch speaker and a 2MP camera for video calls. If you're not comfortable with having a camera in your home, flip a switch to cover it.

$85 at Amazon

Of course, the marquee feature of the Echo Show 5 is Alexa, the voice assistant you can ask to do all sorts of things. Want her to play music, check the weather or turn the lights on and off? You can do all this and more, and she's so easy to get up and running.

It's especially great if you're already familiar with Alexa, like this family. "It was easy to add to our Alexa-compatible products already in the home using the Alexa app... I had an Echo Dot and I moved it to another room, and they were easy to connect so I can listen to music in any area of the house."

"So convenient," wrote another five-star fan. "I check the time and the temperature, ask her to set reminders or a timer, ask her how long to cook something, etc. I’ve also used her to send photos and make a video call to my nephew and his family."

Another praises the Show for its convenience: "I love my Echo Show 5. It really helps with my grocery list! Just say 'Alexa add milk to my grocery list.' That's it; no forgetting to buy. It is like having a secretary in your kitchen."

Even newbies can benefit from the Echo Show 5's ease of use. This shopper says, "I am a tech rookie and set it up myself. I need to further explore all the activities with which Alexa can help me."

The mini smart display is fantastic for video chats via Skype and Zoom and even video streaming with Hulu Plus and Prime Video. It can also be your kitchen companion; ask Alexa for step-by-step instructions on how to make everything from buttermilk pancakes to veggie lasagna. You’ll get access to Food Network Kitchen too. It can even be used as a digital photo frame when not in use, thanks to Amazon Photos.

This five-star reviewer summarized what this bad boy offers: "The versatility of this device is amazing."

There's a little something for everyone in the Echo Show 5, and if you're looking for something slightly larger, there are 10- and 15-inch versions too.

Amazon

Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release)

$85

This handy gizmo has a 5.5-inch screen, a powerful 1.7-inch speaker and a 2MP camera for video calls. If you're not comfortable with having a camera in your home, flip a switch to cover it.

$85 at Amazon

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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