Echo Hub (Newest gen) | 8" smart home control panel | Compatible with thousands of devices, with Alexa+ Early Access

This is precisely what I was seeking: a dedicated smart screen specifically designed for home automation, rather than attempting to repurpose a tablet or another Echo device. With approximately 12 smart home devices integrated into my system, I utilize Home Assistant as my central hub. To optimize functionality, I don’t rely on the built-in Zigbee capabilities of the panel; instead, I selectively expose the devices I want it to access through Home Assistant. This level of control ensures that I can tailor the panel’s functionalities to my needs. The panel itself is a well-thought-out size—neither too large nor too small—allowing for easy placement in various locations around my home. One of the standout features is the ability to customize the menu extensively, which enhances usability. If you have a Ring home alarm, this device is particularly advantageous because it allows you to eliminate the need for a separate alarm pad; everything can be seamlessly managed through the smart screen. While I haven't yet explored direct integrations with the panel, features such as Matter support and Zigbee provide a solid foundation. These are emerging standards that suggest the device will be future-proof, allowing new users to embark on their home automation journeys with confidence. Simplicity is critical in home automation, and a reliable panel like this effectively resolves many challenges by providing immediate access to smart home integrations, making it easier than constantly reaching for your phone or relying on voice commands. There aren’t many alternatives available for a dedicated smart panel, and it genuinely feels like this product is a stellar addition to the Alexa ecosystem. Although a tablet could serve a similar function, this smart screen comes pre-configured for automation, significantly reducing setup time and complexity. Another practical feature is that the display activates automatically when someone approaches the panel. While I could tinker with setting up a tablet to achieve something somewhat similar, this device is ready to go out of the box. It also includes the option for wall mounting, which contributes to a sleek and modern aesthetic. I wholeheartedly recommend this product. Normally, I am quite discerning when it comes to tech, but I genuinely appreciate what Amazon has accomplished with this device. It’s a well-designed, straightforward product that is likely to meet the needs of both experienced users and those new to home automation alike.

this was my second purchase of this and I plan to buy more as they are great for if your room is filled with smart devices they are super easy to set up and pair with the Alexa app and are great for what I use them for with my smart home linking Alexa and Govee the screen size is perfect for what it is used for and the quality of the product is amazing however the only bit that needs improving is the sound quality however this is a non issue to me as I set the preferred speaker to a better Alexa in the same room you also need a pretty good wife network for it to work its best when toggling other smart devices and make sure your other smart devices are compatible with the echo ecosystem as I use Govee witch is - the price is also great when on sale as you can pick it up for around £100

Woks reasonably well.. has a few software glitches.. bit expensive at full price but I got it on an offer at £99

Update to my review. This is the worst Amazon device I've ever purchased. It's slow very unreliable and unresponsive. Half the time it is stuck on loading home screen or just a blank screen and unresponsive to touch so I have to pull the plug Says devices are on when they aren't. It's just unusable. Waste of money do not buy i will be attempting to return ****** I do really like this hub. It's great for keeping an eye on things and using routines. The speaker could be a little better but it's expected for such a thin unit. The interface is quite smooth when working correctly, however now and again it will completely lock up and freeze when pressing some things, including the view all smart plugs. It will lock up and then stay on loading home screen for some time before resetting it's self to the home screen. I think with a few firmware updates this should get resolved and I hope it does as it is very helpful and a great edition to my Alexa family