Which One Is Best for Your Smart Home?

Anyone who has embraced Alexa likely has an Echo product to thank. Since 2014, Amazon’s smart speakers and displays have been listening for their wake words, ready to set timers and provide weather updates, among other tasks. Amazon’s next-gen Alexa+ promises more natural conversations with the company’s AI. While using Alexa via an app is convenient, Amazon offers a variety of hardware to house its virtual assistant. If you are wondering which device to purchase during Prime Day, read on for a breakdown of what each model offers.

The Echo Dot has long been an affordable, space-saving way to bring Alexa into your home. Amazon’s formerly puck-shaped smart speaker now features a more orb-like design and a glowing blue LED. Ultrasound motion detectors allow the speaker to respond to tap gestures and movement. Additionally, it includes Eero mesh Wi-Fi support, enabling these devices to serve as network nodes that add up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to an existing Eero network.

The Echo Dot Kids Edition shares the same form factor as the standard Echo Dot but is available in owl, dragon, rainbow swirl, and stardust designs. It includes kid-friendly features, such as one free year of Amazon Kids+ for access to thousands of hours of Audible books, interactive games, and educational skills. (After the first year, Amazon Kids+ costs $5.99 per month.) This version also comes with a two-year, worry-free guarantee, meaning Amazon will replace it for free if it breaks.

The Echo Dot Max replaced the 4th-gen Echo at the $99 price point (it is currently 35% off for Prime Day). It utilizes an AZ3 chip for what Amazon describes as “better conversation detection,” while its dual speakers promise deeper bass. In our testing, we found that the Echo Dot Max delivers impressive sound for its size, along with robust connectivity, smart home integration, and access to Alexa+. These features earn it our Editors’ Choice award as the best all-around smart speaker.

Amazon has slimmed down its Echo Studio speaker into a spherical package that resembles the Echo Dot. It now measures 6.1 by 5.6 by 5.8 inches (HWD), which is smaller than its predecessor but still larger than the Echo Dot Max. In our tests, we found this second-gen Studio to be Amazon’s smartest and clearest-sounding Alexa speaker yet, though the bass is less powerful than the original. You do, however, gain extra sensors, more connectivity options, and Alexa+.

The entry-level Alexa hardware experience is now represented by the angled Echo Pop. Essentially a more affordable version of the orb-shaped Echo Dot, the Pop features a larger front-firing speaker and a distinct aesthetic, without compromising its voice-assistance capabilities. Designed for compact areas like dorm rooms or bathrooms, the Echo Pop also incorporates Amazon’s AZ2 Neural Edge processor and can function as a network extender for Eero mesh systems.

This children’s version of the Echo Pop smart speaker features characters from Marvel, Anthro Pup, Disney Princess, Toy Story 5, Stitch, and unicorns, and it includes six months of Amazon Kids+.

The original orb-shaped Echo Spot launched in 2017 as a compact, clock-radio-style alternative to Echo Show devices. It was largely overlooked until Amazon released an updated version in 2024 that sits between a smart speaker and a full smart display. In our review, we determined that while the new Echo Spot’s screen isn’t particularly impressive, it functions well as a smart speaker, provides useful information, and offers basic smart home controls.

The Echo Show 15 is designed for wall mounting, though Amazon now offers an adjustable stand for an additional $125. It features a 15.6-inch, 1080p LCD surrounded by a large, picture-frame-style bezel that can display art when not in use. It includes Fire TV support and a visual ID feature. Amazon promises improved audio quality, more bass, and noise-reduction technology compared to the original, as well as an upgraded camera for video calls with 65% zoom and auto-framing to keep you centered. In our review, we found that these camera enhancements help justify the higher price.

This scaled-down version of the Echo Show 15 resembles a thermostat or home security panel. It is an 8-inch touch-enabled display used to manage smart cameras, organize widgets, or check the time. In our review, we found it to be an excellent value compared with the similar Brilliant Control ($399), a dedicated smart home control panel that costs more than twice as much. The Echo Hub excels in smart home management, particularly if you prefer using a screen over voice commands.

The wall-mountable Echo Show 21 can function as a picture frame, a small TV, a security camera monitor, a smart home lighting hub, or even a digital fireplace. Amazon also sells an adjustable stand for an extra $125. It includes a 13MP wide-angle camera with auto-framing and Wi-Fi 6E capabilities. A visual ID feature identifies household members as they approach and loads their personal calendars and lists. In our review, we noted that while it is quite expensive and offers only average sound, it is worth considering if you require the largest smart display available.

Amazon updated its Echo Show devices last year, though the changes are not a massive departure from previous generations. The new Echo Show 8 features an 8.7-inch HD display and a 13MP camera with auto-framing, which recognizes and greets you when you approach. In our review, we found that the latest Echo Show 8’s upgraded speakers provide richer sound, while a faster processor enables more seamless and natural voice interactions with Alexa+. It earns our Editors’ Choice as the best Amazon smart display for most users. It is available in graphite or glacier white, with an optional adjustable stand for $40.

For those needing a smaller footprint, the third-gen Echo Show 5 improves upon its predecessor with a speaker engineered for deeper bass and a 20% faster response time for requests, allowing you to set alarms, add items to grocery lists, or hear jokes more quickly. Available in black, blue, and white, the 5.5-inch smart display fits almost anywhere and includes a 2MP HD camera with a built-in shutter, as well as the ability to disable the microphone and camera.

The kid-focused Echo Show 5 allows children to ask Alexa for homework assistance, make video calls to approved contacts, and set wake-up alarms using the voices of their favorite characters. Now featuring an additional microphone for improved responsiveness and a faster AZ2 Neural Edge processor, the device includes a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ (starting at $5.99 per month for Prime members after the first year) for access to thousands of books, movies, TV shows, and games. It also includes a two-year “worry-free guarantee,” which provides a free replacement if the device is broken.

If you require more screen space, the Echo Show 11 offers an 11-inch HD display. In our review, we found it best suited for larger rooms, combining excellent sound quality, a spacious screen, and the conversational intelligence of Alexa+ for convenient voice control.

This colorful smart light orb is designed for children. You can ask Alexa to change the Glow’s colors, or tap it to make it flicker like a campfire or flash while an Echo Dot plays music for a dance party. The Echo Glow does not support standard Alexa skills and cannot be configured to flash for notifications or messages. However, for the price, it serves as a decent smart light for a child’s bedroom. (This should not be confused with the discontinued Amazon Glow, a $300 smart speaker and projector that allowed children to connect with distant relatives to play games.)

The Smart Plug is part of the Alexa Gadgets line, which requires a connection to other Echo smart speakers. It links to devices like the Echo Dot to turn appliances with mechanical switches into smart devices. You can then issue commands such as “Alexa, turn on the coffee pot.”

With Google offering Android Auto and Apple providing CarPlay, it was inevitable that Amazon would enter the automotive market. The Echo Auto debuted in 2018 as a small dashboard-mounted device that responds to queries just as it would at home. A slimmer, more expensive version was released in 2022 for $54.99. As noted in our review, the latest Echo Auto is essentially a high-quality microphone that enables Alexa voice controls in your vehicle. It is not significantly different from the Alexa mobile app, though it may offer better voice pickup.

Fire HD Tablets With Hands-Free Alexa

2024 Fire HD 8 tablets (Credit: Amazon)

While they are not dedicated Echo devices, Amazon Fire HD color tablets feature hands-free Alexa support (even when the screen is asleep), allowing them to perform the same functions as an Echo Show. On non-Kids versions, these prices reflect models “With Lockscreen Ads”; you can remove these by paying an extra $15.

$99.99 at
Amazon$139.99Save $40.00
See It

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Review

Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024) Review

$79.99 at
Amazon$129.99Save $50.00
See It

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (2024) Review

$74.99 at
Amazon$149.99Save $75.00
See It

Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet Review