A brand-new size in Amazon's smart display lineup, the Echo Show 11 ($219.99) features a fast processor optimized for AI performance and the company's new voice assistant, Alexa+, built in. It also features custom, forward-facing speakers and a subwoofer, resulting in sound quality that outperforms that of the $299.99 Echo Show 15 and the $399.99 Echo Show 21. That said, the slightly smaller Echo Show 8 ($179.99) offers an otherwise identical experience at a lower price, making it our Editors' Choice for Alexa smart displays. However, if you want something with a bigger display for a large room, the Echo Show 11 is an excellent alternative.

Design: It's the Echo Show 8, But Bigger

While technically new to the lineup, the Amazon Echo Show 11 essentially replaces the Echo Show 10 introduced in 2021. Like the Echo Show 10, the Echo Show 11 is a tablet stuck to the front of an Echo smart speaker. Available in black or white, it costs $40 more than the Echo Show 8, which is functionally the same device with a smaller screen.

The Echo Show 11 is the middle child of Amazon’s smart display lineup, positioned between the Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 5 ($89.99) on the smaller end, and the Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 21 on the larger end. Unlike the 15- and 21-inch models, both of which are meant for wall mounting, the Echo Show 11 is a tabletop device. It comes out of the box ready to be plunked down and plugged in. Amazon sells an optional $39.99 stand that allows you to rotate or pivot the Echo Show 11 screen with ease. For the Show 15 and 21, you need to purchase a separate stand to sit them upright, unless you plan to hang them.

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

The Echo Show 11 measures 7.2 by 10 by 5 inches (HWD), so it’s larger than the Echo Show 8 (5.9 by 8.2 by 5 inches). Its 11-inch screen has a 1,900-by-1,200 pixel resolution, which surpasses both the Show 8 (1,340 by 800 pixels) and the Show 10 (1,280 by 800 pixels), and surprisingly offers better picture quality than the Show 15 and the 21 as well (both 1,920 by 1,080 pixels).

The screen uses Amazon’s negative liquid crystal design to enhance picture quality while reducing the number of protective laminate layers required. Behind the screen, a mostly spherical base is covered in fabric, similar to the company’s smart speakers. The base features a single port at the back for the power cord and an indentation on the bottom where the optional magnetic stand can be inserted.

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

The Echo Show 11 and the fourth-gen Echo Show 8 both feature two front-facing, full-range drivers equipped for spatial audio, as well as a 2.8-inch woofer to add low-end resonance, which doubles the bass output of the third-gen Echo Show 8, according to Amazon. It’s the same technology found in Amazon’s second-gen Echo Studio ($219.99), although that speaker features an additional driver.

A 13MP camera sits within the bezel above the Echo Show 11's screen, flanked by pinhole microphones. The only physical controls sit on the right edge of the display. Two buttons control volume, and a third above them disables the microphone and camera. Unlike the Echo Show 10 or the third-gen Echo Show 8, the Echo Show 11 doesn’t have a physical privacy shutter. The button acts as a hard switch, and you can disable the camera in the Alexa app (available for Android and iOS), via the Echo Show 11's settings menu, or with a voice command, but the physical shutter provided extra peace of mind on older devices.

Features: Alexa+ Takes Center Stage

Aside from the larger screen, the Echo Show 11 has the same exact features and specifications as the Echo Show 8. Both launch with Alexa+, an AI-powered upgrade of Amazon's famous digital assistant. Amazon’s two new smart speakers, the Echo Dot Max ($99.99) and the second-gen Echo Studio, also come with Alexa+ equipped out of the box. Alexa+ is still in early access, but available on older devices, including the Echo Show 10, by signing up for the trial on Amazon's website. Once it launches in full, Alexa+ will cost $19.99 per month, but it’s included as part of Amazon Prime, which starts at $14.99 per month.

Alexa+ can answer questions and control smart home devices as prompted by your voice commands, similar to its predecessor. Generative AI allows it to be more conversational in its responses and to accurately respond to natural language commands, so you don’t have to memorize an exact phrase to turn off a compatible smart bulb or plug. It can also remember and build off of past conversations.

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Beyond the basics, you can use Alexa+ to search the web, manage your calendar, set reminders, find a personalized recipe, summarize smart home notifications, and more. The Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 11 use a new AZ3 Pro Chip to facilitate speedy responses. The custom silicon processor enables Alexa+ to simultaneously run voice, video, and image searches, allowing it to seamlessly switch between different formats when providing an answer. I detail my interactions with Alexa+ more below.

For entertainment, the Echo Show 11 can natively play videos from Fire TV Channels and Amazon Prime Video on the display. You can also command Alexa+ to play content on your Fire TV media streamer if you want to watch on a larger screen. Other video streaming services can be accessed via the Echo Show’s built-in web browser, and you can still use your voice to search those services if you ask for them by name. Options include YouTube, YouTube TV, TikTok, Peacock, and HBO Max.

In addition to pictures and videos, the touch screen can display transcriptions of your conversations and useful information, such as your calendar and weather forecasts. It allows you to control compatible smart home devices with a tap, instead of by voice, if you prefer. You can also use the touch screen to check on compatible home security cameras, and Alexa+ can provide a summary of notifications from your Ring cameras and video doorbells, as well as find specific footage you request, such as a delivery person dropping off a package.

You can play tunes on the Echo Show 11 through most popular music streaming services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, Spotify, and Tidal. Any of these can be set as your default through a voice command or the settings menu in the Alexa app. It supports Bluetooth input and output, allowing you to send music from the Echo Show to a different speaker set or play music on the Echo Show.

The Show 11's camera lets you check in on your place remotely from the Alexa app, and make video calls in which the lens can automatically pan and zoom to follow your movements.

Like other recent models, the Echo Show 8 and 11 can recognize your face and display customized information accordingly. It can also adjust the size and density of the displayed information based on your proximity to the screen. Both the Echo Show 11 and the Echo Show 8 have a new Omnisense sensor, which combines ultrasound and Wi-Fi radar for fine motion detection, in addition to ambient light and temperature sensors. You can set up smart home routines based on your presence, the light, or the temperature. For instance, you can have Alexa open your smart shades and turn up the thermostat when you first appear in the morning.

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Like other models, the Echo Show 11 even acts as a smart home hub. It features built-in Zigbee and Thread radios, enabling it to act as a border router for the Matter smart home standard and expand Alexa’s already broad range of interoperability with third-party connected devices. Otherwise, it connects to Wi-Fi and has a Wi-Fi 6e antenna, but cannot serve as a relay in an Eero Mesh Network.

For wider connectivity, the Echo Show works with Sidewalk, a wireless protocol that enables various Amazon devices, including Ring security cameras, to form a communication mesh network, extending their usable range and allowing for tracking of lost objects. We generally recommend opting out of it for privacy reasons, which you can do when setting up the Echo Show 11.

On the accessibility front are features like Tap to Alexa, which allows you to use an on-screen keyboard to give commands, and Adaptive Listening, which provides more time to complete your response before the assistant responds. Alexa can also show captions or magnify information.

Voice Controls: Quality Conversations

I tested the Echo Show 11 alongside the Echo Show 8, and interacting with Amazon’s new AI assistant was easy and fun on both devices. For the most part, I used Alexa+ to fulfill the same functions as its predecessor, the standard Alexa. I asked about the weather, played music, searched the web for sports scores, and more. Alexa+ performs these simple tasks with ease and makes controlling smart home gadgets simpler than ever.

I said to the AI, “It’s too dark in here,” and Alexa+ turned up the brightness of my smart lights. You can make a similar statement about the temperature, and Alexa+ will adjust the thermostat. I also used intuitive phrasing to check on my cameras and lock my doors. Better yet, I actually created automated routines just by asking. Previously, setting up rules, routines, and scenes involving multiple devices required somewhat complicated configuration in the Alexa app. In contrast, I simply asked Alexa+ it to turn on my living room lights whenever I unlocked my door, and it created the routine as soon as I finished uttering the request.

Alexa+ is also now quite adept at controlling detailed device settings. I couldn’t figure out how to set up facial recognition, so I asked Alexa+ and it jumped right in. I also asked about Follow Up mode, an optional setting that allows the microphone to stay active for a few moments after you give a command, enabling more natural give-and-take. Alexa helped me find the setting, even though I initially used the wrong name (I called it “continued conversation,” which is Google’s version).

Alexa+ responds to any command in a conversational manner. It helped me pick which character class to play in the video game Borderlands 4, pulling up pictures alongside links to more information from several sites. It even pulled up a guide when I asked for the best builds for the characters. It occasionally misheard me, thinking I said “pair” when asking about how to “parry” in the game Elden Ring Nightreign, but the transcription on screen allowed me to see the error and make a correction.

I even put Alexa’s generative skills to use. I had it make me a nice scenic photo for my background, though I ended up switching back to my preferred mix of personal pictures and news stories shortly after. As before, you can use the Alexa app to adjust the voice of the assistant and the wake word used to get its attention.

Touch Controls: Convenient, But Crowded

You can set up the Echo Show 11 via the touch screen, but the Alexa app makes it easier, saving you from having to type out your Amazon credentials on the display. Either way, setup only takes a few moments and mostly involves logging in and connecting to Wi-Fi.

Once set up is complete, you can use the Alexa app on your phone to navigate detailed Echo Show 11 settings, set up or control compatible devices, and trigger routines. It’s just as easy to do all that on the Echo Show 11's screen itself, though, like the Alexa app, its interface is overly crowded and can be confusing to navigate.

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The main home screen on the Echo Show 11 is relatively simple. It features a customizable scroll of pictures, news, recipe suggestions, and more, with a few pieces of information overlaid, such as the temperature and time, as well as a notification button and a menu button. Swipe up from the bottom for an Alexa+ menu, including the option to type a prompt or view historical conversations. Swipe down from the top or tap the menu button to access the More screen, which offers options such as brightness, Do Not Disturb mode, a smart home control panel, and buttons to access music, video, and your calendar. You can also use this menu to set up and rearrange widgets, including finance info, news, and sports. Once set, you can scroll through your widgets by swiping left on the home screen.

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Altogether, it’s a lot, but the Echo Show 11 doesn’t require much customization to be useful, so you can tackle things like widgets at your own pace. The extra real estate on the Echo Show 11 also makes some compact widgets, such as weather and calendar, feel a little less crowded than on the Echo Show 8. The Echo Show 15 and 21 provide a lot of space to view multiple widgets at once, but they don't solve my problem of information overload.

None of the Echo Shows are big enough that I’d be inclined to watch a movie on them, but both the Echo Show 11 and Echo Show 8 display information clearly, even across a large room. I slightly preferred having the Echo Show 11 in my living room and the Echo Show 8 in my kitchen, but either arrangement could work.

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Both devices work well for relaying things like calendar appointments, reminders, and recipes, so when placed in a kitchen, either could replace the analogue family calendar from your fridge while acting as a sous chef. Alexa+ lets you search recipes based on the ingredients you have on hand that you need to use up. Pick a recipe, and the screen will show the ingredient list and an overview of the steps. When you're ready to start cooking, Alexa will read the steps aloud and display a transcription of the instructions as you progress. For this task, I prefer the interface of the similarly sized Nest Hub Max ($229.99), which announces each step while keeping the list of ingredients handy to one side.

Camera and Screen: Crisp and Colorful

I enjoyed seeing my personal pictures scroll across the Echo Show’s 11-inch screen, even if they don't have quite the same warmth as on the 7-inch Google Nest Hub ($99.99). The Echo Show 11's screen successfully adapts to ambient light, and pictures and videos appear clear at a glance without blasting the room with brightness.

The 11-inch screen is plenty large for watching YouTube videos, and I enjoyed using it as a video game guide for background viewing while cleaning my place or preparing a meal. It looks sharp and colorful for all content.

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

On video calls, my voice came through clearly on the other end, and the camera followed my movements slowly but accurately. It mostly kept me in frame while avoiding quick pans that would be jarring for the viewer. When I checked on the Echo Show 11 camera remotely, I was able to make out the details and shadows of my home and watch my cats chase each other. Using the Echo Show 11 to check on my Ring camera yielded a colorful picture that displayed live action in detail, with only a minor delay.

Sound Quality: Balanced and Clear

When testing the audio quality of the Echo Show 11, I primarily listened to music in my living room. Despite the slightly bigger size of its base, the Echo Show 11 has the same speakers as the Echo Show 8, and I didn’t notice a difference in sound quality between the two. That’s not a bad thing, as both Echo Shows produce full, detailed sound across a variety of music genres, and can get very loud.

Our bass test track, “Silent Shout” by The Knife, played with an admirable amount of low presence. Amazon uses digital signal processing to balance music and adapt audio to the surrounding space. The song filled my large living room with a touch of booming reverberation that echoed off the walls. Don’t expect to feel a ton of shake from the base—this is still a relatively small speaker, but it held its own admirably on the low end.

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Similarly, the mids and highs of Yes’ “Roundabout” came through clearly. I didn’t notice distortion at any volume. When playing “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel, I could make out each instrument, even during the complex crescendo of the song, and it engrossed me.

I didn’t notice any stereo separation created by the two drivers, but the Echo Show 11's sound quality remains impressive, given its size. On this front, Amazon separates itself from Google’s closest competitor, the Nest Hub Max, which struggles with clarity, particularly at high volumes.