Which Amazon Echo speaker should you buy?

When Amazon first launched the Echo smart speaker, it was easy to work out which one to buy. Just over a year on, the product range has ballooned, including everything from small and cheap devices up to smart speakers with built-in screens. In addition, there are even some third-party devices that have Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant built-in.

The breadth of the range means that you’re very likely to find a smart speaker to match your needs perfectly. Conversely, whittling down your options has become more complicated. We’ve now updated this guide to cover the new Echo speakers released recently.

The all-rounder – Amazon Echo 2nd Generation (2017)

The first Echo was good, but it was fairly basic in terms of its overall look and was that little bit too expensive. Step forward, the second-generation Amazon Echo.

With prices starting at just £89.99, it’s near-on £70 cheaper than the original Echo. Even better, this standard Amazon Echo is smaller and comes in a wider array of finishes than its predecessor. Truly, this product has been designed to fit into a variety of homes, and it’s one attractive-looking smart speaker.

Audio quality lags behind the best Bluetooth speakers, but the Amazon Echo is still more than good enough to fill a decent-sized room and for occasional listening. Its audio prowess is better suited to voice content, such as radio, talking books, or for replying to your questions.

For general smart home control and occasional radio – Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)

The Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is a big improvement over the original Dot (featured below). It’s nicer to look at and has upgraded audio that makes it easier to understand. And, you can even use the new Echo Dot for a bit of music or, more realistically, listening to radio.

This model still has the 3.5mm audio output and Bluetooth option, so you can connect it to a more powerful stereo. That feels like a slight waste of its capabilities, and if you want something to hook up to an existing stereo, the older Echo Dot is a cheaper option.

For use around your home, the new Echo Dot is a far better product than the older model, and its clearer audio improves the entire Alexa experience. Even better, it’s the same 

While the original Amazon Echo Plus felt like a bit of an odd product, with its smart home hub not giving the level of control we’d expect, the new model is an improvement. Now, with the Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen) you get a better overall experience.

First, the speaker has been redesigned and looks far nicer. Internally, Amazon has boosted the audio quality, and the new Echo Show is now the best-sounding Echo speaker. That’s particularly true if you use the speakers in a stereo pair, and if you then add in an Amazon Echo Sub subwoofer, too. With two Echo Shows and a Sub, you get a music experience that rivals other smart speakers.

David LudlowNovember 21, 2018 4:42 pm