Echo Show 8 vs Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen Review

Smart displays have quietly become one of the most useful additions to a home — part digital photo frame, part assistant hub, part kitchen companion. Two of the most popular options at the $100–$130 price range are Amazon's Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) and Google's Nest Hub 2nd Gen. They look similar on the surface, but they serve genuinely different kinds of households. Here's what you actually need to know before buying.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen)

What It Does Well

If your home already runs on Alexa — smart plugs, Ring cameras, Philips Hue bulbs, or any Amazon ecosystem device — the Echo Show 8 is the natural centerpiece. Its 8-inch HD display is noticeably sharper and larger than the Nest Hub's 7-inch panel, and the built-in camera makes it genuinely useful for video calls via Alexa Calling, Zoom, or even as a home security monitor. One Reddit user switching away from Echo specifically noted using their Show 8 as a photo frame, calendar, and quick-search device — all things the Show 8 handles comfortably.

The speaker quality is a meaningful step up from the Nest Hub at similar price points. For casual music listening in a kitchen or bedroom, it holds its own. Alexa's smart home compatibility is also broader — it works with more third-party devices out of the box, which matters if you're building a mixed-brand setup.

Where It Falls Short

The elephant in the room with any Amazon device is the relationship with data. The always-on camera and microphone make some users genuinely uncomfortable, and Amazon's ad-heavy interface has frustrated longtime users enough that Reddit threads about "leaving the Echo ecosystem" are common. The interface also feels busier — promos, suggestions, and Amazon shopping nudges appear regularly unless you dig into settings to suppress them.

If your life is in Google — Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Photos — Alexa will feel clunky in comparison. The assistant integration with non-Amazon services has historically lagged behind Google Assistant.

Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen

What It Does Well

The Nest Hub 2nd Gen is the cleaner, quieter option. No camera — which is either a dealbreaker or a selling point depending on your privacy comfort level. If you want something that just sits on your nightstand or kitchen counter without feeling like it's watching you, this is it. Google Assistant's integration with Google services is genuinely seamless: your Google Calendar events appear without setup, Google Photos syncs automatically for the ambient display, and YouTube playback feels native in a way Alexa can't match.

The sleep tracking feature (using Soli radar) is a unique differentiator — it monitors your breathing and movement without any wearable or camera, and feeds into the Google Fit ecosystem. For light sleepers or anyone curious about sleep quality without strapping on a smartwatch, this is a hidden gem that the Echo Show 8 simply doesn't have.

The interface is also notably cleaner. Google has largely resisted the urge to plaster the home screen with shopping prompts, which makes it feel less like an ad platform and more like a useful appliance.

Where It Falls Short

The 7-inch display and lack of a camera are legitimate limitations. If video calling is important to you — especially for family check-ins — the Nest Hub 2nd Gen just can't do it. You'd need to upgrade to the Nest Hub Max for that, which pushes the price significantly higher.

Smart home breadth is also narrower than Alexa. While Google Home has improved dramatically, users with legacy or budget smart home hardware sometimes find fewer native integrations. And if you're an Alexa household with Ring cameras, Echo-linked routines, and Alexa-compatible bulbs, switching to Google means rebuilding that infrastructure.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen)	Nest Hub 2nd Gen
Screen Size	8-inch HD	7-inch
Built-in Camera	Yes (13MP)	No
Video Calling	Yes (Alexa, Zoom)	No
Sleep Tracking	No	Yes (Soli radar)
Ecosystem	Amazon / Alexa	Google / Assistant
Google Services	Limited	Seamless
Smart Home Range	Very broad	Broad, improving
Interface Clutter	Moderate (ads/promos)	Clean
Privacy (Camera)	Camera present (cover included)	No camera, less concern

The Verdict: Who Should Buy Which

Buy the Echo Show 8 if: you're already in the Alexa ecosystem, you want video calling built in, you have Ring cameras or other Amazon-linked devices, or you simply want the bigger, louder display for a kitchen counter. It's the more feature-packed device and earns its place in an Amazon household.

Buy the Nest Hub 2nd Gen if: your digital life runs through Google, you want the sleep tracking feature, you're privacy-conscious and want no camera in the room, or you've simply had it with Amazon's ad-forward interface. It's a calmer, smarter-feeling device for Google users — and the sleep radar alone is worth considering for nightstand placement.

One practical note worth flagging: if you're specifically replacing an Echo Show 8 because you're leaving the Amazon ecosystem (a scenario that came up repeatedly in community discussions), be aware that you'll lose video calling unless you go up to the Nest Hub Max. That's a real trade-off, not a small one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can the Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen make video calls?

A: No — the Nest Hub 2nd Gen does not have a built-in camera, so video calling is not supported. If video calls are important to you, consider the Echo Show 8 or the larger Nest Hub Max.

Q: Is the Echo Show 8 worth it if I already have Alexa devices?

A: Yes, it integrates seamlessly with existing Alexa smart home setups and adds a visual interface for calendars, cameras, video calls, and media playback. It's a natural upgrade for established Alexa households.

Q: Does the Nest Hub 2nd Gen work as a photo frame?

A: Yes — it syncs with Google Photos automatically for an ambient photo display. This is one of its most appreciated day-to-day features, especially for families with shared albums.

Q: Which smart display is better for privacy?

A: The Nest Hub 2nd Gen has no camera, making it the more privacy-friendly choice for bedrooms or spaces where you're uncomfortable with a lens present. The Echo Show 8 includes a physical camera shutter cover, but the camera is still there.

Q: How does the Echo Show 8 compare to the Nest Hub 2nd Gen for sleep?

A: The Nest Hub 2nd Gen has a clear advantage here — its Soli radar chip tracks sleep patterns, breathing, and movement without any wearable. The Echo Show 8 has no equivalent feature.

— Tech Lead Editor, CPrice