Smart Displays / Google Nest Hub Max vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)
Google Nest Hub Max vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)
Google Nest Hub Max
Seven-year-old hardware, the best speakers in the category, and no successor in sight.
Wins overall by 0.3 points
Quick Verdict
The Google Nest Hub Max wins by 0.3 points, which is not enough to settle it. The one to buy — if you can live without the camera shutter Amazon just deleted. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Google Nest Hub Max and Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) are both closely matched smart Display models, and the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) is $49 cheaper than the Google Nest Hub Max ($179.99 vs $229). On Ad Freedom, the Google Nest Hub Max leads (9.0 vs 3.5/10) — how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off. On Value, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) leads (7.5 vs 4.5/10) — hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box. On Privacy Hardware, the Google Nest Hub Max leads (6.5 vs 4.5/10) — physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default. Overall, the Google Nest Hub Max scores 6.7/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.4/10 for the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Google Nest Hub Max | Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.00 | $179.99 |
| Release Year | 2019 | 2025 |
| Voice Assistant | Gemini for Home (has replaced Google Assistant on this device); basic voice control needs no subscription | Alexa+ — Amazon's own FAQ states there is no free Alexa+ tier on Echo hardware: it needs Prime or a $19.99/mo Standard plan |
| Screen Size (in) | 10✓ | 8.7 |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 | Sources conflict: PCMag's spec sheet lists 1,340 x 800, while Amazon publishes only 'over a million pixels' |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | 6.5 MP, 127-degree field of view, Face Match and auto-framing; also works as a Nest indoor camera | 13 MP with auto-framing, 3.3x zoom and ambient noise reduction |
| Physical Camera Shutter | No sliding shutter — a hardware switch on the back electrically disconnects the camera and mics and turns the status LED green | NO physical shutter — the 2025 redesign removed it; only an on-device button that electronically disables camera and mics |
| Speakers | Two 18 mm 10 W tweeters plus one 75 mm 30 W woofer (stereo) | Two front-firing full-range drivers plus one custom woofer, tuned for spatial audio |
| Smart Home Hub Radios | Matter controller AND Thread border router — one of only three Google devices Google lists as a border router | Zigbee hub + Matter controller + Thread — Amazon's press material confirms all three radios on this generation |
| Subscriptions Required | Voice control is free, but the camera-history and familiar-face features the product is sold on need Google Home Premium ($10/mo Standard or $20/mo Advanced) | Alexa+ requires Prime or $19.99/mo; Ring event summaries shown in Amazon's marketing require a Ring subscription; Oura integration requires an Oura account and its subscription |
| Home-Screen Ads | No sponsored cards — the ambient screen is Google Photos, weather and your own content | Sponsored cards appear on the home screen; Amazon's own help page says these ads cannot be turned off, only swiped away |
| Video Calling | Google Meet only; Duo was retired into Meet in October 2025 and Zoom support was dropped in 2023 | Alexa calling and Drop In within the Alexa ecosystem; no Meet, no FaceTime, and Skype ended in May 2025 |
| Wall Mountable | No | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Charcoal | Graphite, Glacier White |
Category Scores
Display Quality
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on size, resolution and pixel density for the money. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Hub Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Sound
The Google Nest Hub Max leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on whether it is honestly a music speaker or just a voice speaker with a screen. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Assistant
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on how capable and responsive the built-in assistant actually is on this hardware. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Hub Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Hub
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on zigbee, Matter and Thread border-router support — often the real reason to buy the bigger model. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Hub Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Ecosystem Freedom
The Google Nest Hub Max leads clearly here, 5.5 against 4.5 — a 1.0-point margin on how much of a rival ecosystem's gear, apps and calling networks it will still talk to. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Privacy Hardware
The Google Nest Hub Max leads clearly here, 6.5 against 4.5 — a 2.0-point margin on physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Ad Freedom
The Google Nest Hub Max leads clearly here, 9.0 against 3.5 — a 5.5-point margin on how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 4.5 — a 3.0-point margin on hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Hub Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Google Nest Hub Max if…
- • Ad Freedom matters most to you — the Google Nest Hub Max scores 9.0/10 here (how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off).
- • Privacy Hardware matters most to you — the Google Nest Hub Max scores 6.5/10 here (physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default).
Choose the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) scores 7.5/10 here (hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box).
- • Display Quality matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) scores 7.5/10 here (size, resolution and pixel density for the money).
- • Assistant matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) scores 8.0/10 here (how capable and responsive the built-in assistant actually is on this hardware).
- • You want to spend less — it's $49 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Google Nest Hub Max
Pros
- +The best-sounding smart display here — a real 75 mm woofer and two tweeters
- +Hardware camera/mic switch cuts power rather than just toggling software
- +No advertising on the ambient screen at all
- +Face Match personalises the screen without you touching it, and it doubles as a Nest camera
Cons
- −A 2019 product still priced at $229 in 2026, with several colourways already sold out
- −No physical lens cover — the privacy control is a switch, not a shutter
- −Camera history and familiar-face alerts need a Google Home Premium subscription
- −Video calling is Google Meet only; Zoom and Duo are both gone
- −Google has stripped most on-device apps from Nest displays and has not shipped a successor
Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)
Pros
- +Best sound-per-dollar in the category — a real woofer, not a single full-range cone
- +Zigbee, Thread and Matter in a $179.99 tabletop display
- +13 MP auto-framing camera is a serious upgrade over the 2 MP Show 5
- +AZ3 Pro makes it the most responsive Echo Show yet, by a wide margin
Cons
- −Amazon deleted the physical camera shutter in this generation — a software toggle is all you get now
- −Sponsored home-screen content cannot be turned off, per Amazon's own help pages
- −Alexa+, the entire pitch of the device, is gated behind Prime or $19.99/mo
- −Amazon publishes no resolution figure; the only numbers available come from third parties
- −Omnisense presence sensing means the device is always modelling who is in the room
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Google Nest Hub Max or Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Google Nest Hub Max comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Ad Freedom, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max scores higher on Ad Freedom (9.0/10 vs 3.5/10) — how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off.
Which is better for Value, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)?+
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) scores higher on Value (7.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box.
Which is better for Privacy Hardware, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max scores higher on Privacy Hardware (6.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default.
Which is better for Display Quality, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)?+
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) scores higher on Display Quality (7.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — size, resolution and pixel density for the money.
Is the Google Nest Hub Max worth the price difference over the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)?+
The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) is the cheaper option at $179.99 versus $229. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Ad Freedom.
What's the warranty on the Google Nest Hub Max vs the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max ships with a 12-month warranty; the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) — $99.99
Premium Option
Google Pixel Tablet (128 GB, dock sold separately) — $399.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.