Sorry, smart speakers - the Echo Show 8 is better and on sale for just $55 at Amazon

It’s the age of smart displays

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Forget smart speakers. Now’s the time for thebest smart displays, especially since many of them are more affordable than ever.

Thebest smart speakershave had their time in the sun, but speaking as someone who’s owned or tested more than 10 of them in my lifetime (and currently have three in her one-bedroom apartment), our smart home needs are starting to surpass what they can offer.

Smart displays are the next obvious step up. These displays, often with touchscreen functionality, not only give us a convenient way to control our devices and do all the other things smart speakers can do but also deliver other features. Many will let you stream your favorite shows and movies, display your recipes, and jump on video calls with loved ones. Some will even let you see live footage of and interact with yourvideo doorbellandhome security cameras, while a handful come with a hub for visual smart home management.

The best part is that smart displays are getting cheaper as our need for them is increasing, and they’re rising in popularity. They’re also among the most heavily discounted devices during big sale events.

Take theAmazon Echo Show 8, for instance. It’s the perfect versatile device for controlling your smart home devices, with a larger screen and more capabilities than the smallEcho Show 5. It’sjust $55 right now, withAmazon’s current holiday dealslashing58% offits retail price.

See the deal below, and grab it before it goes poof.

Not in the US? Scroll down for the best Echo Show deals in your region.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen):was $54.99now $129.99 at AmazonA massive 58% discount- I have the upgradedEcho Show 8 (3rd Gen), but honestly, this slightly older version is the next best thing, especially since the Echo Show 8 line tops our best smart displays list. I love its massive display that lets me watch shows, look at recipes, and more without needing to squint, and it’s more responsive than the smaller Echo Show 5. This model also lets you jump on video calls, thanks to its camera that can also function as a home security camera, and has bigger speakers for booming audio when you’re listening to music.

This is the most significant discount Amazon is offering on its smart displays. To make this deal even more convenient, note that it’s nowcheaper than the discounted Echo (4th Gen) smart speaker,so you’re getting that 2-in-1 audio-visual experience and paying less. If that isn’t a terrific deal, I don’t know what is.

More Amazon smart home device deals

Looking for more Amazon smart home device deals? You’ll find all the lowest prices from around the web right here, with offers available in your region.

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Michelle Rae Uy is the former Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor at TechRadar. She’s a Los Angeles-based tech, travel and lifestyle writer covering a wide range of topics, from computing to the latest in green commutes to the best hiking trails. She’s an ambivert who enjoys communing with nature and traveling for months at a time just as much as watching movies and playing sim games at home. That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives.

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