Is the Echo Spot better than the Echo Show 5 for a bedside clock?

For a bedside clock, the Echo Spot is usually the better choice. It’s designed more like a smart alarm clock, so it’s a cleaner fit for a nightstand if you mainly want the time, alarms, weather, and basic smart-home controls.

Choose the Echo Show 5 instead if you want a bedside device that can also do more screen-based tasks, like viewing camera or doorbell feeds and watching video.

A few practical differences: the Echo Spot is the simpler, more clock-focused option, while the Echo Show 5 is more versatile and includes a camera with a physical privacy shutter.

Bottom line:

• Best bedside clock: Echo Spot
• Best if you want extra screen features: Echo Show 5

If your main goal is just a clock, the Spot is the more focused and generally better bedside option.