Echo Show 21 Review: Art Mode is Bigger and Better

Last fall, Amazon announced a new larger Echo Show 21, its all-in-one smart display meant for your living room or kitchen. Amazon recently sent us the Echo Show 21 for a hands-on review, so let’s check out what it’s all about.

This Echo Show 21 is their largest yet with its 21-inch full HD display that has Fire TV and Alexa built-in. Let’s take a look at what’s inside the box, shall we?

You get an Alexa remote, AC plug, plus a wall mount bracket and hardware. If you want an optional stand, it’s an extra $134.99, which is pretty expensive.

What’s New in the Echo Show 21

• Audio Upgrades: double the bass and room adaption technology for more immersive audio.
• Better Video Calls: new auto-framing camera with double the field of view and 65% more zoom keeps you in focus, even if you’re moving around. Noise reduction technology ensures clearer calls, even with background chaos.
• Smart Home Ready: built-in smart home hub supports Matter, Wi-Fi, Thread, and Zigbee devices. First Echo device with Wi-Fi 6E.

Here’s the front of the Echo Show 21. It’s basically a huge and thick digital picture frame:

The back has an area where you can hide excess from the power cord, plus you can see latches that will hook onto the wall mount:

Here are the top button controls. There’s a slider for the front camera, along with back/forward buttons and a mic mute button:

Here’s the front video camera that supports 3.3x zoom and a wide-angle view for your video calls. There’s a privacy slider that will hide the camera when you don’t want it there:

…and here’s the Echo Show 21 with the camera covered up:

Setting up the Echo Show 21 took longer than I anticipated. The login process required manually entering a long Amazon password, which felt tedious compared to the ease of a QR code or a simple device approval code like Netflix offers. Once logged in, the software update also took its time, delaying the “ready-to-use” moment.

Here’s the home screen layout of the Echo Show 21:

Swiping down from the top gives you access to a variety of settings:

This is how the Echo Show 21 looks leaning against your wall. If you don’t shell out for the stand, you’ll need to wall mount it. Which of course, is a commitment.

You’ll need to find studs or use wall anchors, and if you change your mind later, you’re left with holes in your drywall to patch and repaint. If you’re not ready for that level of dedication, consider purchasing the optional $134.99 counter stand instead. Combined, that is nearly $700 for a 21-inch Echo Show 21 before taxes.

So after a few days, it turns out the Echo Show 21 was “wife approved”, particularly its art gallery feature when the display is dormant. This brings some art into your kitchen if it’s lacking. So that next step meant wall mounting this massive display to the wall.

You get a paper guide to help you level the mount and also punch holes where you’ll need to drill in:

We used wall anchors and here’s how the bracket looks screwed into the wall:

The excess cord from the AC plug was stuffed into the rear cavity behind the Echo Show 21. We were lucky to have an outlet just below where we mounted the display, and left very little cord exposed, so it worked out well:

Here’s some more art from the display:

How close does the mount and Echo Show 21 get to the wall? It’s pretty darn flush for a minimalist look. Check it out below:

So what have I been using the Echo Show 21 for? Having Alexa on tap is handy as I can ask the assistant to play music on our Sonos speakers (linked to Alexa). We also can stream videos if we’re at the counter which is handy for following along with recipes (the sound is decent, but doesn’t blow me away). It’s much easier to use the Echo Show 21 with the included Alexa remote. We have yet to try video calls or drop-ins (the camera cover is usually on).

In terms of a smart home hub, most of my controls are switches that are automated for turning on and off lights (based on HomeKit). But knowing Matter, Thread and more are supported on the Echo Show means it does future-proof any smart home upgrades.

But the cool and extensive art mode is really nice on a 21-inch display, while also being able to quickly see the weather, time and whatever else we have on our calendar is very handy. It brings instant ambiance to the room and is always a conversation starter with friends and family.

You’ll also notice the Echo Show 21 is part of Amazon’s new line of green packaging, with nothing but cardboard and paper.

The Echo Show 21 is available now for $549.99, and it includes a remote with batteries and wall-mounting hardware. You can buy frame accessories in light brown or white ($56.99), but the premium counter stand ($134.99) is going to cost you extra.