Amazon Echo Show 21 is the giant smart display with built-in Fire TV
Amazon’s biggest Echo Show combines a huge 21-inch screen with Fire TV, powerful sound and Alexa+ for a smart home upgrade
Amazon has gone seriously big with its latest Echo Show 21, and if you have ever wished your smart display was actually big enough to be useful from across the room, this is the one that caught my attention.
The newest-generation Amazon Echo Show 21 has a huge 21-inch Full HD display, built-in Fire TV and powerful sound, making it far more than a device for asking Alexa what the weather is doing.
With more than 400 bought on Amazon in the past month, it is already attracting plenty of attention, and the limited-time deal currently makes it even more interesting if you have been considering a larger smart display.
The first thing that stands out is, obviously, the size. A 21-inch screen gives you considerably more room to see information at a glance, whether that is recipes while cooking, your calendar, reminders, shopping lists or compatible smart home controls.
It also means the Echo Show 21 can double as an entertainment screen.
Fire TV is built in, so you can use it to stream supported TV shows and films rather than needing a separate television in the room. The large Full HD display is designed for immersive viewing, while the device has a larger sound system for more powerful audio.
For me, this is where the Echo Show 21 starts to make sense as a kitchen or family-room gadget. Instead of having a small smart screen tucked away on the worktop, you have a much larger display that can actually be watched from further away.
The Echo Show 21 can also act as a central point for compatible smart home devices, allowing you to control things such as lights, cameras and other connected gadgets using Alexa.
There is also Alexa+ Early Access, giving users access to the newer generation of Alexa features. Amazon has been positioning Alexa+ as a more conversational assistant that can help with more complex requests and tasks, although availability and features can vary.
I think the size will be the biggest talking point for anyone considering it. A 21-inch screen is closer to a small TV than the compact smart displays many of us associate with Alexa, but it still brings the convenience of voice control into the mix.
It could be particularly useful in a busy kitchen, where you might want to follow a recipe, put on a programme, check the shopping list or ask Alexa to control another smart device without stopping what you are doing.
The Amazon Echo Show 21 is also designed to work as part of a wider Alexa smart home, so it makes more sense if you already have compatible devices around your home.
Amazon currently shows 751 customer ratings on the product page, while more than 400 units have been bought in the past month. It is also currently listed as a limited-time deal, making now an interesting time to check the price.
This is certainly not the subtle little smart display you might tuck beside your kettle. The Echo Show 21 is deliberately huge, combining a 21-inch screen, Fire TV, Alexa and a more powerful audio setup in one device.
If you have been looking for something that can sit at the heart of your kitchen or living space and handle everything from streaming to smart-home controls, the Amazon Echo Show 21 is worth a closer look.
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