The second-generation Echo Show 8 is practically identical to the first, measuring 5.4 by 7.9 by 3.9 inches (HWD) and having a roughly triangular side profile that tilts the 8-inch screen back slightly like an easel. The screen’s upper right corner houses a camera with a half-inch frame that is completely flush with the LCD. On the top edge, there are pinhole cutouts for the far-field microphones, volume up/down, mic mute, and a mechanical button for the camera’s privacy shutter. The Echo Show 8’s body cloth matches the colour of the front frame on the back. The hardware of the second-generation Echo Show 8 performs essentially the same in terms of audio and display as the first-generation model. It has the same 8.0-inch touch screen with 1,280 by 800 pixel resolution and two 2.0-inch speaker drivers with a passive bass radiator. In regular use, you probably won’t notice much of a change in performance or responsiveness even if the MediaTek MT8183 CPU in this smartphone is more powerful than the MT8163 in the previous model. The Blink Mini’s design is not very eye-catching, but that is totally OK. The Mini has a simple, refined appearance that is pleasing to the eye and completely unoffensive. Security cameras aren’t exactly supposed to stand out, and the simple rounded cube shape and minimalist black and white paint job of the Mini lend it that appearance. The Blink Mini certainly lives up to its name at just two inches/five centimetres tall. There are some typical creaks and moans while adjusting the angle and position using the plastic ball and socket joint, which is not surprising given the price. The base is the only component made of metal. Nevertheless, the entire package feels sturdy and solid, which is all you could want, and the stiffness of the aforementioned joint gives you the assurance that the correct position will always be maintained.
