Amazon used an event back in September as its US headquarters to launch a series of updated devices, including the Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio smart speakers, as well as two new Echo Show smart screen gadgets.

These Echo Shows boast overhauled designs, with 8- and 11-inch screens attached to rounded speaker and power units that resemble the spherical Echo Dot range. It’s only a few months old, but the Echo Show 8 is already on sale right now, discounted to £154.99, a £25 saving on the usual £179.99 RRP.

Available in graphite or glacier white finishes, the Echo Show 8 has a 8.7-inch display that shows content depending on what you’ve asked it to do using Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant – though as you might expect, the screen also has full touch input.

This latest generation smart speaker and screen has improved spatial audio, so when you ask it to play songs from your connected music app of choice, it’ll sound better than ever. As well as Amazon Music, you can also hook up your Spotify, Apple Music or Deezer account.

That speaker also means you can play audiobooks, podcasts and radio stations through apps such as Audible or BBC Sounds, whether you decide to plug in the Show 8 in your kitchen, living room or bedroom.

You can also use it to stream Prime Video, Netflix and other video streaming services – just bear in mind that the screen does not detach and you need to be hooked up to the mains, so this isn’t a portable TV replacement, but it’s great for catching up on shows while you’re cooking, for instance.

View the Amazon Echo Show 8 here

With a 13MP front-facing camera, the Show 8 can act as a video call hub to anyone in your contacts with an Echo device or the Alexa app installed on their smartphone or tablet.

And if you already have smart home gadgets in your house (or would like to invest in some), like lights, blinds or cameras, you can set up and control them from the Echo Show 8 using your voice.

If you prefer the screen to sometimes just show the time and some photos of your choice, you can instantly disable the camera and microphone by pressing a dedicated button on the side of the unit. This will stop the Echo Show 8 listening out for the ‘Alexa’ wake word.

One thing to note is that Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa which claims it can do much more, is not yet available for UK users. If you get the Echo Show 8, it has tons of functionality, but if you want Alexa+ you’ll have to wait.