Amazon Echo vs. Lenovo Smart Display

The Amazon Echo Show and Lenovo Smart Display are smart speakers and smart home hubs featuring touchscreens. These devices display information and provide smart home capabilities through voice interaction (Alexa for the Echo Show and Google Assistant for Lenovo).

Here's a breakdown of the differences between the two devices to help you decide between the Echo Show vs. the Lenovo Smart Display.

Overall Findings

If you are an Amazon Prime member or have other Echo and Fire TV devices, the Echo Show is the logical choice. The Echo Show features Alexa Skills, and it's compatible with Zigbee smart home devices.

The Lenovo Smart Display has many built-in features that the Echo Show lacks. For example, it works with Google Home, Chromecast devices, and Roku devices through Google Assistant. The Lenovo Smart Display also works with the smart home devices that Google Home supports.

Product Design: It Depends on Your Tastes

The newer Echo Show models have an improved design over the original. A 10-inch LED/LCD screen covers the entire front. The back features a fabric cover that gives it a warmer look than the previous cold plastic look. The Echo Show comes in charcoal gray or white.

The Lenovo Smart Display has a unique style. The front has a speaker mounted on the left and either an 8-inch or 10-inch LED/LCD touchscreen covering the rest of the front. The back features a curved design that allows for vertical (portrait) positioning when making video calls.

Voice Interaction: Alexa Responds Faster

The Amazon Echo Show provides the same voice interaction as other Alexa-enabled devices. Responses are quick and brief. For example, when commanded to turn lights on and off, Alexa responds with "OK."

The Lenovo Smart Display is good at understanding and executing commands. Still, it's slower than the Echo Show. Also, the Smart Display provides lengthier responses. For example, when asked to turn off the lights, it might say something like, "Turning off hue white lamp light 1."

Screen and Display Quality: The Lenovo Smart Display Shines

Newer Echo Show models feature a screen size upgrade from 8 inches to 10 inches and a resolution upgrade to 720p.

The Lenovo Smart Display is available with an 8-inch 720p or 10-inch 1080p resolution screen. The screen is bright, displays vivid colors, and has better off-angle viewing quality than the Echo Show due to the incorporation of IPS technology.

Speaker and Audio Features: The Echo Show Sounds Better

The Echo Show features a stereo sound system combining a 10 watts-per-channel amplifier with two speakers and a single passive radiator for enhanced bass response. Dolby Audio processing also aids in a fuller music listening experience.

The Smart Display also includes a 10-watt amplifier that provides a suitable volume for music listening, but only one speaker is provided.

Bluetooth Capabilities: Both Offer Compatibility

You can stream audio from the Echo Show to other Echo devices and Alexa-enabled wireless speakers from a variety of brands, including Sonos. The Echo Show and Lenovo Smart Display provide Bluetooth, so you can stream music from the Lenovo Smart Display to Google Home and other compatible smart speakers.

Music Streaming Features: It's a Tie

The Echo Show has a primary emphasis on Amazon Music. It also includes services like Pandora, iHeart Radio, Spotify, TuneIn, and more. Lenovo provides access to music from Google Play, iHeart Radio, Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube Music.

If you're an Amazon Prime member, the Echo Show is the best option. If you desire more comprehensive Spotify and YouTube Music support, consider the Lenovo Smart Display.

Video Streaming: Lenovo Supports YouTube

The Echo Show provides access to Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, CNN, and NBC, which you can watch on its screen. It can also control other video streaming features. The downside is that there's no YouTube integration, so you have to access the YouTube website from a web browser.

The Smart Display allows you to watch YouTube, Facebook Video, Google Play Movies, and more on its screen. Similar to the Echo Show, it has additional video streaming and control capabilities.

Video Calling Features: Lenovo Is More Flexible

The Echo Show provides a 13 MP camera for video calling. You can also make audio-only calls.

The Lenovo Smart Display has a 5 MP camera. You can make video or audio-only calls. The ability to cover the camera and mute the mic separately gives the Smart Display a slight edge over the Echo Show with regards to privacy options.

Smart Home Control: Echo Is the Way to Go

Through Alexa Skills and Zigbee, the Echo Show can control many smart home devices, including lights, thermostats, doorbells, locks, and other appliances. Alexa is compatible with more smart home devices than Google Assistant. However, if you have a Google Home, Roku, or Chromecast device, the Lenovo Smart Display might be a better match.

Cooking Assistance: Lenovo Takes the Cake

The Echo Show sources recipes from Food Network and All Recipes. You can view cooking videos or recipes on the screen. Once you select a recipe, use voice commands or touchscreen prompts to guide you through the ingredient list and preparation procedure.

The Lenovo Smart Display sources recipes from Food Network, Betty Crocker, Delish, and King Arthur Flour. Say, "OK Google, show me recipes for (food) from (source)." Then, use touchscreen prompts or voice commands to go through ingredient lists and preparation steps.

Although both devices are great kitchen helpers, the ability of the Lenovo Smart Display to access recipes and cooking videos from YouTube makes it a better choice.

Maps and Directions: Lenovo Is the Clear Leader

The Echo Show can answer many questions and provide a lot of information (for example, weather, news, reminders, and shopping lists). However, with maps and directions, Amazon dropped the ball. The Lenovo Smart Display, on the other hand, takes full advantage of access to Google Maps.

Final Verdict

Compared to the Lenovo Smart Display, the Echo Show has faster voice response, fuller sound, bidirectional Bluetooth, and more comprehensive smart home control capability.

In comparison to the Echo Show, the Smart Display has a better screen, better video streaming access, more flexible audio and video privacy, plus it's better with maps and directions.