With millions of sales to its name, it’s safe to say that Amazon’s line of Alexa-enabled Echo smart speaker devices has made an impression on consumers. Despite the line’s success, though, it can be a little confusing for casual shoppers to find the device they need. Not only are there many different products to choose from, but each has been re-issued with updates in waves known as generations. Which one does what, and how does each one fit into your life?
To answer these questions, we’re taking a closer look at the current generation models of the five core types of Echo devices, the niche that each of them occupies, and how to decide which one is right for you.
1. The Echo Flex
Pricing and Product Details
At just $24.99, the Echo Flex is an extremely inexpensive smart speaker. It measures just 2.8 x 2.6 x 2 inches and includes a 0.6-inch mini speaker and a 3.5 mm line out, as well as USB hub you can use to connect peripherals or attach the speaker to your computer or any other device. It also features Bluetooth connectivity if you’d prefer a wireless connection.
For about $15 more, you can buy a detachable motion control sensor or night light peripheral for your Flex. The motion control sensor works from up to 20 feet away, but only captures movement at the level at which the device sits — in other words, don’t expect it to pick up on hand gestures and other complex movement cues.
Functions and Features
The Echo Flex’s standard price tag is by far the lowest of the set, and its capabilities reflect that. It can do many of the things you would expect an Alexa-enabled speaker to do, such as report on the weather or set reminders. It can also be used in pairs with other Echo devices to create an intercom system that runs between the two via the ‘Drop In’ feature. However, its sound quality isn’t good enough to create a pleasant experience when listening to music or having long conversations.
These mini-speakers are really only useful in conjunction with other Echo devices; there is little they can do on their own. As tools to extend your smart home network, however, they deliver excellent value. Placing one in a room lets you issue commands or trigger convenient motion-activated routines from that space, as well as listen in to what’s going on in there when you choose. Ever wish Alexa would have a morning news briefing ready for you as soon as you walked into your kitchen each day? With a Flex, that’s now possible, and so are countless other small conveniences around your home.
Who Will Like It
The Echo Flex is not for those who are new to Echo devices, but it’s a perfect little addition for those who already know and love this line and want to do more with the more expensive models they already own.
The Flex is ideal for a hallway, bathroom, or any other area in your home that sees frequent foot traffic but where you don’t spend long stretches of time.
2. The Echo Dot
Pricing and Product Details
The Echo Dot is the entry-level device of this bunch. It’s priced low at just $49.99, and frequent sales ensure that many consumers will be able to pick it up for even less. Appearance-wise, it is often compared to a hockey puck; it’s small, stands just 1.7 inches high, and is almost flat on top.
There are two notable variant versions of this device: one with an analog clock display that sells for $54.99, and a child-oriented one with built-in parental controls and a year of access to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited for $69.99. All versions have a 1.6-inch speaker and a 3.5 mm line out audio jack.
Functions and Features
The Echo Dot is essentially a smaller version of the basic Echo model that we’ll cover later. The nice thing about it is that it has all of the same functions that the larger model does, so you should rarely feel limited in what you can do with it. Its voice command system gives you easy, hands-free access to music, trivia, scheduling functions, reminders, timers, and much more. You can quickly add new functions as you need them using Alexa’s Skills feature (essentially an app store for Alexa-enabled devices).
The Dot packs a ton of utility into a tiny package, which only adds to its appeal for many; its small size makes it easy to tuck into a corner on a desk or cluttered countertop.
The main compromise you make when opting for the cheaper Dot is the sound. Older versions of this model were criticized for having poor sound quality, even relative to what you would get with other Echo speakers. Amazon has amended this problem somewhat in subsequent generations of the device, though, so any Echo Dot you buy new right now will be able to play relatively high-quality sound for its size and price point. However, it will never be able to match the larger Echo devices in this area, so true music aficionados might want to steer clear of the Dot in favor of the larger models.
Who Will Like It
Inexpensive, unobtrusive, and still extremely practical and fun, the Echo Dot is arguably the most all-around useful of all the Alexa devices. It’s a great choice for anyone who is on the fence about trying smart speakers; it lets you experience the full range of possibilities that these devices have to offer, but if that turns out not to be your thing and you only use the speaker a few times before forgetting about it, you haven’t lost much money for your trouble.
3. The Echo and Echo Plus
Pricing and Product Details
The Echo and Echo Plus are the mid-range options in this line. You can buy the basic Echo model for $99.99, double what you would pay for a Dot. It is noticeably larger than the Dot, too, particularly in terms of height; instead of a hockey puck, it most closely resembles a small tower.
The sound system in this device combines a 0.8-inch tweeter and a 3-inch woofer to create rich tones that allow for a relatively faithful musical experience. It also includes a 3.5mm line for both input and output, giving you the ultimate flexibility in how you use the speaker. The slightly larger Echo Plus sells for $149.99, but all of the specs mentioned above remain identical in this upgraded version.
Functions and Features
The Echo and Echo Plus both have the same wide-ranging set of possible functions as the Echo Dot; their main selling point is the improved sound quality they provide. Because the Plus model is one generation behind the Echo at the moment, the two are currently equal in this respect.
The only difference between the two presently is that the Echo Plus has built-in Zigbee hub integration, an inclusion that makes it easier for you to connect and run any smart home systems you may have. This is a great inclusion if you use many home automation products like smart lights, home alarms, or internet-enabled appliances, but many people won’t need this extra functionality.
Who Will Like It
The Echo and the Echo Plus are both a step up from the Dot in terms of sound, but neither can match the next model we’ll be covering, the Echo Studio. This makes them the middle-ground option of the line, a solid choice for those who want a premium product at a moderate price point.
Unless you’re really into home automation, you can skip over the Echo Plus and its extra $50 cost and just stick to the basic Echo.
4. The Echo Studio
Pricing and Product Details
The Echo Studio looks almost indistinguishable from the regular Echo and combines a 1-inch tweeter, a 5.25-inch woofer and 3 2-inch speakers to create the most robust sound system of any of the Echo devices. Its $199.99 price tag also makes it the most expensive of the products we’ve covered so far — only fitting for a device which is meant to be a direct upgrade of the cheaper versions.
Functions and Features
The Echo Studio is most similar to the standard Echo, but the sound system has been significantly upgraded. The larger woofer allows for much greater depth of sound when compared to the standard Echo and especially the Dot. It still won’t beat top-of-the-line speakers that are made expressly to make music sound as good as possible, but it isn’t reasonable to expect that considering its secondary focus as a productivity device and its relatively low price point. It can do all the things the other models can do and sound noticeably better while doing them, and that’s all it needs to be able to do.
Who Will Like It
The Echo Studio is by far the best device of this line when it comes to producing high-quality sound; even the most recently revamped models can’t hold a candle to it. If good sound really matters to you, it is unquestionably the Echo device for you.
5. The Echo Show
Pricing and Product Details
The Echo Show line takes Echo devices in a different direction by adding a small screen and embedded camera to allow video integration as well as audio functions.
The Echo Show 5 is the smallest and most budget-friendly version of the three you’ll find in stores now, priced at $89.99 with a 5.5-inch screen and 960x480 resolution.
The Echo Show 8, on the other hand, offers the same crisp resolution as the standard version (1280x800) in a smaller 8-inch package; it also costs just $129.99, making it the best choice for most people interested in video functionality on their Echo device.
The $229.99 standard version does include a significantly better camera (5 megapixels as opposed to the 1-megapixel version the other two use) and Zigbee hub functionality, but most users won’t notice the downgrade.
Functions and Features
Echo Show devices can do everything that the screenless devices can do and a whole lot more. One of the more obvious uses for them is to tap into subscription-based streaming services. Users are currently limited to those Amazon owns or is partnered with: this means no Netflix, but you can still watch Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Go, and more. Echo Show devices also cannot be used to stream YouTube directly, but you can accomplish many of the things you would do there through specific Alexa Skills — for instance, you can ask Alexa to show you a particular movie trailer or to stream the latest news from your preferred outlet.
If those features aren’t cutting it for you, you can also use the pre-installed Firefox web browser to get onto YouTube and watch content that way; it’s not the most expedient method, but it works.
Perhaps most importantly of all, you can also use the screens on Echo Show devices for video calling purposes. It’s extremely easy to both make and receive calls from them using simple voice commands, and the high-resolution screen and camera ensure that the video feed looks great too. All models have excellent sound quality for their size and should have no trouble transmitting clear conversation back and forth.
Who Will Like It
An Echo Show is perfect for any room where a screen is needed but using a smartphone or TV would be impractical. They’re great for killing a few minutes between tasks or providing visual aids during hands-on activities. You can use one to display recipes for you in the kitchen, help you through a mechanical tutorial in your workshop, or display a digital slideshow of family photos in the hall. You’ll probably want to use something else to watch shows and movies just because the screen is relatively small, but these devices can easily be used for that purpose if it suits you.
However, their video calling functionality is where Echo Show devices truly shine. They don’t necessarily do anything that a good laptop couldn’t also do, but they can’t be beaten in terms of convenience; the hardware is always out and ready, and activating it as simple as giving a few quick verbal instructions. Since you don’t necessarily need to be tech-savvy to use them, they’re great for giving elderly relatives or young children an accessible way to communicate with others.
Final Thoughts
While the company is sure to keep adding to this immensely popular product line, Amazon’s current line-up of Echo smart speaker devices has something for everyone. Whether you want to keep a single device on your desk or wire your entire home into a smart speaker ecosystem, some combination of these products can get the job done.
Which is most likely to appeal to the common consumer? Well, numbers don’t lie. There are currently well over 400,000 ratings for the Echo Dot on Amazon.com, almost quadruple the 115,000 ratings of its closest competitor, the Echo Show 5. Even if some of the people who rated these products never purchased them, the Dot is the clear winner in terms of public interest. The device delivers a lot of value for its low price and makes perfect sense as an entry point into the world of Echo smart speakers.
In the end, what matters most when choosing an Echo device is understanding the kind of experience you want to have. As long as you know what you want from your new device, you’re sure to find that at least one of these products is up to the task.
