The Echo Show 15 first released in December 2021. Much of the initial conversation around the smart display was that it was a large novelty — a huge display that didn’t have the same functionality as the Echo Show 10. It released in the midst of the work-from-home surge, and without video conferencing capabilities, the Echo Show 15 just didn’t seem like it offered much.

That couldn’t have been further from the truth. The large amount of screen real estate introduced a lot of utility that previous models didn’t have. Widgets make it one of the most useful smart displays I’ve ever used, and that’s saying a lot for someone who routinely works with these devices.

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I have the Echo Show 15 on my desk, and a Nest Home Hub relegated to a far corner.

I review a lot of smart devices. A lot. Most of them don’t get used terribly much beyond the first couple of months. If it doesn’t fit into my day-to-day routine or benefit my workflow in any way, it gets boxed up and put into storage.

The fact that the Echo Show 15 still retains a place of pride on my desk says a lot about its utility. The smart display had a lot to offer when it first launched last year, and is even better now.

Widgets. Widgets everywhere

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I have four widgets displayed on my Echo Show 15 at all times: My to-do list, my calendar, the recipe of the day, and my shopping list. Two are work-related, two are home-related. I do the cooking in my house, so dinner ideas are always welcome when I need to look away from the monitor and focus on something else. I can always add items to my shopping list as need demands.

My to-do list is linked through Todoist, so I have easy access on the go, in my browser, or anywhere else. I can even cross out items straight from the Echo Show 15. My calendar widget helps me stay on top of meetings, upcoming deadlines, and more.

There are several other widgets (and Amazon has added yet more), but these four I find myself using all the time.

Photo frame

My Echo Show 15 screen is divided into two sections. Half of it is for widgets, while the other half is a digital photo frame. I keep pictures of my wife, my cat, and family and friends on it in a constantly rotating slideshow.

It’s just a touch of home in an office space that’s otherwise work-focused. At the bottom of the photo display, the Echo Show 15 also shows the time, current weather, and outside temperature. Given that it’s summer here in Georgia, that number isn’t always something I want to see.

Entertainment

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All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, or so they say. The Echo Show 15 is a great tool for entertainment, and its video options range from YouTube to Hulu, Prime Video, and more.

For the most part, I use it for YouTube. It’s nice to have a visualized soundtrack in the background (yes, I’m old enough to miss the Windows Media Player visualizations), and I almost never work without music. Even just an image of rain falling out a window while music plays over it is better than a lifeless speaker thumping out beats.

But it’s also nice for catching an episode of whatever my current binge-watch is during lunch.

Smart home control

My entire home runs on Alexa. Though I have both Google Assistant and Siri set up for testing purposes, I use Alexa to control my security cameras, lights, and more. The smart home control section of the Echo Show 15 lets me see the current status of every connected device at a glance.

I can turn things on and off, dim the lights, and much more with just a few taps. This is ideal for turning the lights up in the middle of a meeting when I don’t want to provide vocal commands to Alexa. The rest of the time, keeping the smart display on my desk makes it incredibly easy to just ask Alexa to do anything I need her to do.

Security

The final reason I continue to keep the Echo Show 15 on my desk is for the sake of security. As long as you have a compatible security camera, you can ask Alexa to show its feed on her display via picture-in-picture.

When I hear my doorbell ring, I just ask Alexa to show the feed. If it’s a solicitor, I can safely ignore it, especially in the middle of a busy workday — but if it’s a delivery person, I can go sign for the package. It’s also useful for checking on any motion that triggered a security camera without reaching for my phone.

The Echo Show 15 is one of the first truly useful smart displays, at least in my opinion. It goes beyond just a display — it offers a lot of utility for day-to-day workflows. Combined with its facial recognition features (which let it distinguish between myself and my wife and show us each our individual to-do lists), it’s a powerhouse for the entire household.

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