I’ve spent the last few weeks exploring various options for a family hub/organizer—something that can help our household run more smoothly and efficiently. With the sometimes hectic schedules that come with family life, it’s essential to have a tool that keeps us organized and enhances our daily routines. Unfortunately, my previous attempt with the Cozyla Calendar+ 22 fell flat. Its unimpressive screen lacked the vibrancy and clarity necessary for easy reading, and a jumbled assortment of Android widgets cluttered the interface, so it didn’t cut it. Is it too much to ask that the device we use daily should function well, look great, and be visually appealing? After that disappointment, I started looking at the Amazon Echo Show 21.
Some people are understandably wary of the Amazon Echo ecosystem—I find myself feeling skeptical at times as well. Perhaps what keeps me returning to some of their products is that I visited one of their development teams in Poland several years back. I had the opportunity to see firsthand how hard the engineers work to improve these devices. They are genuinely dedicated to refining the user experience and addressing the needs of consumers. Even if the company’s higher-ups prefer a tightly controlled, walled-garden approach to their product ecosystem, the people building the product seem focused on creating a solid, user-friendly experience within those constraints.
Regardless of my admiration for the team, I am straying from the goal: a family organizer with an intuitive interface that everyone in the household can easily use and that looks attractive in our kitchen. Let's explore what I liked about the Echo Show 21 and places where it can improve. Most importantly, is it something we will keep or send back?
Screen Quality and Touch Control
One of the most impressive features of the Echo Show 21 is its screen. The large display offers sharp resolution, vibrant colors, and a wide viewing angle, making it easy to read almost anywhere in the kitchen. The screen remains crisp and legible, whether glancing at it while cooking or quickly checking the day’s schedule on your way out the door.
The touchscreen’s responsiveness makes navigating a calendar or a long to-do list manageable. Swiping through your daily tasks or upcoming appointments feels smooth and intuitive—no wrestling with sluggish controls.
Compared to other devices I’ve tried—like the Cozyla Calendar+ 22—the Echo Show 21’s display doesn’t just look better; it feels fully integrated into the experience. Instead of straining to see what’s on the screen, you’re encouraged to use it. An attractive and functional display makes a difference.
Widgets, Organization, Voice Control
We primarily wanted a device to keep my family’s schedule and lists easily accessible, and in that regard, the Echo Show 21 succeeds. Essential widgets like the shared calendar (which syncs with Google and Outlook) and the to-do and shopping lists (linked to the Alexa app) are precisely what I needed. While cooking, I can say, "Alexa, add eggs to the shopping list," and then check that list on my iPhone while shopping. Regarding calendars, I am aware of critical events on my calendar and those of my family members. This makes it easy to understand and coordinate essential family activities. Therefore, the device fulfills our main usage goals.
The widget system on the homepage is straightforward and user-friendly, but here, we face the first significant limitation of the device. The selection of widgets in Amazon's app store is limited. Although I understand the product is relatively new, the Echo Show 15 has been on the market for over a year. There appears to be a greater focus on games and novelty items than tools that enhance productivity. This is an area where Amazon could make improvements.
Audio, Voice Control, and Privacy
The Echo Show 21 offers excellent audio clarity. It's easy to listen to whether you're streaming music or watching the integrated Fire TV. One limitation of our orientation is that streaming media occupies only a tiny portion of the screen. We could resolve this by mounting the device in portrait orientation, but we prefer our current setup. Additionally, we never intended to make this another TV in our home.
As mentioned earlier, the unit also features built-in Alexa voice control and responds to commands, allowing you to update calendars effortlessly, set reminders, or add items to your shopping list. This mostly accurate voice recognition facilitates hands-free management of household tasks, enhancing productivity and simplifying daily routines. However, while Alexa's command interpretation is generally impressive, it occasionally encounters issues. Sometimes, the assistant may not capture every word perfectly or struggle with more complex commands. Despite these challenges, ongoing improvements in Amazon's voice recognition technology offer hope for even more reliable performance in future updates.
Privacy also seems to be something Amizion made a priority for the Echo Show 21. Amazon has equipped the device with a physical camera shutter and a microphone mute button, ensuring that you have complete control over your privacy at home. These features allow you to easily disable audio or video recording, providing peace of mind and making the Echo Show 21 a trusted tool for enhancing home management.
Ecosystem Drawbacks
A notable drawback of the Echo Show 21 is its difficulty in seamlessly integrating with devices outside the Amazon ecosystem. For instance, my Sonos speakers are not supported for direct audio streaming. Although I can use an Alexa Skill to control my Sonos system remotely, direct streaming isn't available, resulting in a somewhat cumbersome integration. Additionally, it fails to display music information on the Echo Show's screen, unlike when streaming to Amazon devices. This issue is widespread, with many users expressing similar frustrations online. Instead of adopting common standards to facilitate the use of products I've already bought (which have also benefited Amazon), the company's approach appears to encourage the purchase of more Amazon-brand devices.
Ads and Promotions
Before setting up the Echo Show 21, I did my research. I have come across numerous complaints about the Echo Show 15, with one of the most frequent issues being the device's relentless stream of ads in its default settings, ranging from sponsored content to promotions for Amazon products. Unfortunately, the Echo 21 faces the same problem. Remember, I aim to have a clean and helpful family organizer, and I don't want that cluttered with promotional ads.
There is a solution. On the first day, I went directly into the configuration settings. Disabling the ads from the beginning made a huge impact. Instead of a screen filled with unwanted promotions, I got a dedicated family hub that was clean, useful, and tailored to our needs. It's annoying that I had to do this, but at least the option is available. I wish Amazon made this an opt-in feature during setup. Some might want that content, but I don't want it to be an Amazon marketing kiosk.
Verdict: Does it Remain on Our Wall?
After a week of using the Echo Show 21, it has become a valuable addition to our home. Although imperfect, it effectively fulfills our primary needs as a family organizer. The vibrant, high-quality screen, effortless syncing with our calendars and to-do lists, and intuitive voice controls have greatly enhanced our household's organization.
At $399 USD, the Echo Show 21 offers great value for its features, and for the foreseeable future, it will remain mounted on our wall, continuing to streamline our daily routines.
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