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5 Best Alexa Smart Speakers and Amazon Echo Devices, Explained
An easy-to-shop guide to find the right model for you.
What do you even use an Amazon Echo for, man? I mean, you can use it to play and pause the TV, make a grocery list, or, like, get the weather forecast. Most of the time, we're just asking Alexa to play a song out of our smart speakers. It's simple, but it feels like something out of a sci-fi movie, like answering a call on your Apple Watch or watching your robot vacuum clean up the popcorn you dropped on the floor. The future is now, nerds.
That said, buying an Alexa—sorry, Amazon Echo—from the Amazon search page is horribly confusing. This one looks like that one, and the names range from dumb (Dot and Pop) to kind of helpful (Show and Studio). At the end of the day, it's tough to figure out which one you should buy.
Thankfully, you've got us to tell you which Amazon Echo model is best for you. Whether you want a basic smart speaker, a heavy duty upgrade, or a multi-purpose smart device that will respond to your voice's every command, we've tested and tried, every model to find the best Amazon Echo for you.
Pros
- Quick, painless setup
- Connects with a plethora of smart devices
- Sound quality noticeable better than Dot, Pop, and Show
Cons
- Don't love the how the buttons feel on the speaker itself
This is the OG. The fourth generation of Amazon Echo is the essential model of smart home Alexa speaker. This is going to be a safe bet if you want a voice assistant that's got a decent speaker.
In our experience, the main draw of any Echo device is that just about every smart device is Alexa compatible, and you can use it as a smart hub pretty easily. Not only does Alexa control one speaker, but through it, you can talk to other speakers, adjust the temperature in your house, and hell, even change the humidity in your fridge if you have the right one. The latest generation of Amazon Echo will do all that and more.
As a speaker, the regular Echo is pretty good. We found the sound quality issues we had with some other models to not be as present here due to its Dolby audio. However, it's still only $100 and compact, so if you want to connect it to more powerful speakers, you're not out a lot of money. But if you want it to be the speaker, it can do that in a smaller space.
| Dimensions | 5.7" x 5.7" x 5.2" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 34.2 oz |
| Percentage Recycled Materials | 50% |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Pros
- Nearly identical to the regular Echo but half the price
- Connects easily to third-party speakers
- Fits anywhere
- LED Clock and Kids variants available
Cons
- Short warranty
- Wimpy bass
If all you need is a simple Amazon Alexa device to connect to nicer home speakers, get the Echo Dot. It's half the price and does all the same shit as the standard Echo. Sure, it's a little tiny but that makes your setup choices simple. You pretty much have to connect it to a larger speaker if you want to listen to music on it.
In terms of being a smart assistant, the Echo Dot does the things you want it to. It's also lighter, smaller, and fits in more spaces than the Echo or Echo Studio Alexa speakers. As a result, possibly, it comes with a much more limited warranty than it's big brother. A mere 90 days compared to a full year with the Gen 4 Echo.
Shopping around, you'll notice there are a couple of upgrades to the Echo Dot out there. They are more like side-grades if you ask us. The Echo Dot with LED Clock—great for using as a bedside clock. The Echo Dot Kids will run you the same price, but instead of a clock the device looks like a cute owl or dragon.
| Dimensions | 3.94" x 3.94" x 3.53" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 10.7 oz |
| Percentage Recycled Materials | 55% |
| Warranty | 90 days |
Pros
- Big upgrade for audiophiles
- The only Echo with Dolby Atmos
- Just as easy to set up as the others
Cons
- Bulky and a bit of an eyesore
If you don't want to fool with connecting Alexa to third party speakers, you can upgrade to the Echo Studio. This is the cleanup hitter of the Echo's lineup. It's a great little speaker for the price, and it's only potential downside is that it could look cooler. It can easily find a place in most homes, for sure, but it's hard to think of any that can make it shine as the centerpiece—like with a great soundbar or record console.
The Studio is the only device in the Echo lineup that has Dolby Atmos capabilities. This speaker adapts its sound to the dimensions of your space and fills it with rich, bass. Plus, it's just as simple to set up as any of these Echo devices—for a speaker that is competing with over-complicated high-end electronics that's a big win in my book.
If you're a real audio nerd, you'll probably skip Amazon Echo devices altogether for something more A/V. But, if you're looking for a lossless streaming smart speaker, this one can do it. It supports all Hi-Fi audio from all major streaming services, except Apple.
| Dimensions | 8.1" x 6.9" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (123.2 oz) |
| Percentage Recycled Materials | 40% |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
Pros
- Comes in different colors; not enough of these things come in pretty colors
- Fully featured smart device
Cons
- Sound is the least impressive of all the Echo Alexa speakers
The most compact and lightweight Amazon Echo option is, believe it or not, the weakest in terms of audio power. If you want something simple, but still fully-featured, the Echo Pop is a stellar option for small spaces like bedrooms or bathrooms. If you want to rock out in the shower and say "Alexa, pause" when you hear your roommate shouting as if you are doing product placement for Amazon, the Echo Pop is worth it for that purpose alone.
The Echo Pop is a lesser speaker than other Echo products, but it still has all the smart capability you need when it comes to connecting to apps or wherever you stream your music from. Like other Echo speakers, it can also be used as a Bluetooth intercom between two Echo devices in the same home. A rarely useful feature, but one that is cool when it works. On the whole, though, what the Pop lacks in punch it makes up for in cost efficiency and features.
| Dimensions | 3.26 x 3.91 x 3.58 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.9 oz |
| Percentage Recycled Materials | 3 |
| Warranty | 90 days |
Pros
- Has a damn screen
- Only Echo Show with spatial audio
- Functional as a security camera or digital frame
Cons
- No Dolby audio support whatsoever
- Not entirely necessary if you have a tablet already
The thing about the Echo Show is that it's way more than just a smart speaker. The Amazon Echo Show is a Cerberus of a device, acting as speaker, tablet, and security camera all in one beast of a package. This all-in-one device can also be used as a digital frame,
So, why the Echo Show 8. It's true that there are multiple other Echo Show models on the marketing including the high-end Echo Show 10 or the more simplistic Amazon Echo Show 5. So why do we recommend the Show 8 over these?
In short, we find the Echo Show 8 to be the best all around option. The Show 10 places emphasis on making improvements to the screen, but we know you are here looking for speakers. The Show 8 does the screen portion of its job, and it's capable of spatial audio, making it able to fill up a room without needing to blow out the speakers.
| Dimensions | 4.2 x 7.89 x 5.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2.28 lbs (36.48 oz) |
| Percentage Recycled Materials | 29% |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)
Which Amazon Echo speaker is best?
If you're making me choose, it's hard not to just recommend the Echo Gen 4. It's a great option for normal people who aren't audio freaks (like me). If you're looking for an Alexa speaker you likely want something to listen to music or podcasts on and the latest classic Echo is perfect for that.
If you plan on watching movies or connecting your TV to your Alexa speaker as your primary audio device, I would suggest spending the extra money on the Echo Studio. For a $200 speaker, it really fills up a space. Sonically, that is—one of the great advantages of these Alexa-enabled devices is just how compact Amazon makes them.
How does Amazon protect my privacy?
We understand the concerns about privacy when it comes to digital assistants and voice-enabled devices that wait around all day, listening to you, and waiting for an activation phrase. In theory, it's scary, but societal pressures are keeping Big Tech honest.
When it comes to the company line, Amazon promises that its entire line of Echo products are designed to protect the user's privacy. Each one of them includes the option to turn off or mute your mic at any point. You can read more here about the ways Amazon lets you adjust your Alexa privacy and security settings.
What's the difference between Alexa and Amazon Echo?
Alexa is the name of the Amazon smart assistant software. Amazon Echo is the actual speaker and hardware. Think of it as this: Alexa is your little helper that lives within an Amazon Echo.
Yes, we're big shot tech writers, but we get how that can be confusing for people who aren't. We've explained to our parents several times, and they're smart people. No shame. Alexa lives inside the Amazon Echo.
How to Choose an Alexa Speaker
Choosing the right Alexa Amazon Echo speaker for you comes down to your budget and needs. If you care about sound quality and are even familiar with the term audiophile, I strongly recommend either the Echo Gen 4 or the Echo Studio. If you're looking for an Echo to control your thermostat or bigger, better speaker, the Echo Pop will serve that purpose for the price of a chain restaurant meal for two. If you think it would be nice to have an extra screen so your kids don't have to split the iPad anymore, then sure, check out the Echo Show 8.
What We Looked for When Testing Echo Speakers
When testing Amazon Echo speakers we looked in a few different areas to determine key differences.
Smart features and Alexa capability: When it came to comparing Echo smart speakers, one of most important things to determine was how smart the speaker actually was. One of the most pleasing things we found from our tests was that across the board, all of these Echo devices perform the same suite of features with ease—each one can act as a way to control any and all other smart devices in your home with one simple voice via Alexa. Each of these picks is a fully-featured smart device that is easy to set up. Alexa capability is built-in and dummy-proofed in each of these.
Sound Quality: The first place where these Alexa speakers differ is in the category of sound quality. When it came to the aural experience of the Echo speakers, results were as expected. The speakers that are smaller and cost less money sounded worse than the larger speakers. Amazon makes it pretty easy to understand, in that respect.
Portability: The other place where the different sizes of the devices in the Amazon Echo line makes a difference is portability. In general, these aren't handheld devices—they are meant to be plugged into power. However, the Echo Pop and Echo Show 8 are both significantly more portable than their larger counterparts.
Why Trust Esquire?
We love testing and reviewing the latest and greatest in tech. We’ve spent a collective thousand hours using smart speakers and home devices—many of us use some sort of Alexa product every single day. That’s the thing: We test the devices we recommend and we recommend the devices we like. whether it’s Apple’s newest laptop, the best Bluetooth shower speakers, or the best handheld vacuums, you can trust we’re always ensuring that our picks are the best of the best. If we wouldn’t recommend it to a friend or family member, we wouldn’t send it your way, dear reader.
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