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Echo Show 21 vs. Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen): which is best for your smart home?

The Echo Show 21 and Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen) are two premium smart displays, but which is better for your home? Here's a closer look at both to help you decide.

Amazon just released two new smart displays — the completely new Echo Show 21 and the updated Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen). Both are premium options for your home, offering powerful speakers, Full HD displays, and heaps of useful apps so you can stream videos or check your schedule. But which is the better option? The gigantic Echo Show 21, or the updated Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen)? Here’s a closer look at both to help you decide.

The Echo Show 21 is the biggest member of the Echo Show family, and it’s got the price tag to prove it. Clocking in at $400, it’s a hefty investment. Its design is pretty premium, however, and it can be either mounted on a wall or placed on a table with an adjustable stand (sold separately). The Echo Show 15 looks much the same, though it’s quite a bit smaller. But from a design standpoint, it’s essentially a shrunken version of the Echo Show 21. It too can be mounted on a wall or placed on a table with an optional adjustable stand. But at $300, it’s much easier on the wallet.

Both products offer a 1080p resolution. The only difference here is the screen size. On the Echo Show 21, you’ll get a 21-inch display. On the Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen), you’ll get a 15.6-inch display. They should look great no matter what you’re using them for, whether it be streaming TV shows, looking up a recipe, or taking a video call. However, the extra real estate on the Echo Show 21 could be a game-changer for most families, as you’ll have more space to hold all your widgets and can quickly parse information from across the room.

There are no significant differences between the Echo Show 21 and Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen) when it comes to smart home connectivity or available features. Both are supported by Alexa, come with Fire TV built-in, let you customize your home screen, and sync to other Alexa devices. They also feature a 13MP webcam with auto-framing, which follows you as you move to ensure you’re always in the picture. If you’d prefer privacy, there is a manual privacy shutter that covers the camera when not in use.

Other shared specs include two 0.6-inch tweeters, two 2-inch woofers, and the option to use Live View to check in on your device while away from home. Popular supported apps include Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and YouTube, among others.

At the end of the day, the only significant difference between the Echo Show 21 and Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen) is screen size. Beyond that, they feature the same internal hardware, support the same software, and work seamlessly with other Alexa devices. Because of that, we’d recommend simply picking whichever one works best in your space.

If you’re hoping to use the device to watch movies or as a central hub for all your family’s activities, springing for the Echo Show 21 could be a good choice. But if you need something to place on a somewhat crowded countertop or want to save $100, you’re not missing out on anything but screen size when choosing the Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen).

Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.

Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.

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With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.

Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.