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Amazon's Echo Devices Compared: Which One Is Best for Your Smart Home?

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Anyone who's 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 give you the weather, among other things.

Alexa has expanded her virtual footprint to other interesting products and even software. You can access Alexa in apps like Amazon Music on iOS or Android. But while Alexa on an app is nice, Amazon has some pretty cool hardware to house its virtual assistant, too. If you're wondering which one to get, especially with Amazon Prime Day deals on the horizon, read on for a rundown of what each device brings to the table.


Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 Release)

4.0 Excellent

The Echo Dot has long been a space-conscious, affordable way to bring Alexa into your home. And Amazon's formerly puck-shaped smart speaker now has a more orb-like form and a glowing blue LED. Ultrasound motion detectors let the smart speaker respond to tap gestures and movement. Plus, it includes Eero mesh Wi-Fi support, so Amazon Dots can serve as network nodes that can add up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to an Eero Wi-Fi network. (A version with an LED clock was unfortunately discontinued in 2024.)

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 Release) review

Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition

All-New Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 Release) Kids

The Echo Dot Kids Edition is shaped like the Echo Dot, but comes in owl, dragon, rainbow swirl, and stardust prints. It packs some kid-friendly features, like one free year of Amazon Kids+ for thousands of hours of kid-friendly Audible books, interactive games, and educational skills. (After a year, Amazon Kids+ is $5.99/month.) This Echo Dot also comes with a two-year, worry-free guarantee, so if it breaks, Amazon will replace it for free.

Amazon Echo Dot Max

4.5 Outstanding

The Echo Dot Max replaces the 4th-gen Echo at the $99 price point. It runs an AZ3 chip for "better conversation detection," Amazon says, while its dual speakers promise fuller bass. In our tests, we found that the Echo Dot Max delivers impressive sound for its size, as well as robust connectivity and smart home integration, and access to Alexa+. All that earns it our Editors' Choice award as the best all-around smart speaker.

Amazon Echo Dot Max review

Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen)

Amazon Echo Studio (2025)

4.0 Excellent

Amazon has slimmed down its Echo Studio speaker in a spherical package that looks more like the Echo Dot. It now measures 6.1 by 5.6 by 5.8 inches (HWD), down from 8.1 by 6.9 by 6.9 inches, but still a few inches bigger than the Echo Dot Max. In our tests, we found that this second-gen Studio is Amazon's smartest and clearest-sounding Alexa speaker yet, though the bass is less powerful than the original. You do, however, get extra sensors, connectivity options, and Alexa+.

Amazon Echo Studio (2025) review

Amazon Echo Pop

Echo Pop lavendar

4.0 Excellent

The baseline of the Alexa hardware experience is now the angled Echo Pop. Effectively a cheaper version of the orb-shaped Echo Dot, the Pop boasts a larger front-firing speaker and slightly different look, without sacrificing its Alexa-powered voice assistance functions. Designed to fit into small spaces like a dorm room or bathroom, the Echo Pop also features Amazon's AZ2 Neural Edge processor and can serve as a network extender for Eero mesh networks.

Echo Pop lavendar review

Amazon Echo Pop Kids (Marvel's Avengers)

4.0 Excellent

This kids' version of the Echo Pop smart speaker features Marvel, Anthro Pup, Disney Princess, and unicorn characters and comes with six months of Amazon Kids+.

Amazon Echo Pop Kids (Marvel's Avengers) review

Amazon Echo Spot

Amazon Echo Spot (2024)

3.5 Good

The original orb-shaped Echo Spot came out in 2017 as a more compact, clock-radio-like alternative to the Echo Show devices. But it was largely ignored until Amazon released an updated Echo Spot in 2024 that sits between a smart speaker and a full smart display. In our review, we found that new Echo Spot's display isn't too impressive, but it performs quite well as a smart speaker, provides useful bits of information, and offers basic smart home controls.

Amazon Echo Spot (2024) review

Amazon Echo Show 15

Amazon Echo Show 15 (2024)

3.5 Good

The Echo Show 15 is designed to be easily mounted on a wall, though Amazon is now selling it with an adjustable stand for an extra $125. It features a 15.6-inch, 1080p LCD surrounded by a large, picture-frame-like bezel that can look like a painting or smart frame when not in use. It includes Fire TV support and the visual ID feature. Amazon promises better audio quality, plus more bass and noise-reduction tech than the original, as well as an improved camera for video calls with a 65% zoom and auto-framing to keep you centered in a video chat. In our review, we found that its camera improvements help justify the higher price.

Amazon Echo Show 15 (2024) review

Amazon Echo Show 21

3.5 Good

The Echo Show 21 is wall-mountable, so it could double as a picture frame, a small TV, a security camera feed, a smart home lighting hub, or even a digital fireplace. Amazon is also selling an adjustable stand for an extra $125. There's a 13MP wide-angle camera with auto-framing, while a visual ID feature can identify anyone in a household who stands in front of it and loads their own calendars and lists. It features Wi-Fi 6E capabilities and costs $399.99. In our review, we said it's fairly expensive and produces only average sound but is worth checking out if you want the biggest smart display possible,

Amazon Echo Show 21 review

Amazon Echo Hub

4.0 Excellent

This scaled-down Echo Show 15 looks like a thermostat or home security system, but it’s an 8-inch touch-enabled display where you can manage smart cameras, organize widgets, or just 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 retails for more than twice as much. The Echo Hub stands out for its smart home prowess, especially if you prefer to control your devices from a screen rather than with your voice.

Amazon Echo Hub review

Amazon Echo Show 8

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025)

4.5 Outstanding

Amazon gave its Echo Show devices a slight makeover this fall, but they're not a huge departure from the previous-gen versions. The new Echo Show 8 features an 8.7-inch HD display and a 13MP camera with auto-framing capabilities, which will recognize and greet you when you approach it. In our review, we found that the newest Echo Show 8's upgraded speakers offer richer sound, while a faster processor makes for more seamless and natural voice interactions with Alexa+. It earns our Editors' Choice as the best Amazon smart display for most people. Get it now in graphite or glacier white. Add an adjustable stand for $40.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025) review

Amazon Echo Show 5

4.0 Excellent

For something even smaller, the third-gen Echo Show 5 improves on the previous model with a speaker designed for deeper bass and 20% faster request response time, so you can set that alarm, add that grocery list item, or hear that joke marginally quicker. Available in black, blue, white, the 5.5-inch smart display fits virtually anywhere in your home, and comes with a 2MP HD camera and built-in shutter, as well the option to turn off the microphone and camera.

Amazon Echo Show 5 review

Amazon Echo Show 11

Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)

4.0 Excellent

If you need a little more screen real estate, the Echo Show 11 features an 11-inch HD display. In our review, we found that it's best-suited for large rooms, but combines excellent sound quality, a large screen, and the conversational smarts of Alexa+ for easy voice control.


Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) review

Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids

Echo Show 5 Kids (3rd Gen, 2023 release)

The kid-centric Echo Show 5 makes it easy for little ones to ask Alexa for homework help, make video calls to pre-approved contacts, and set wake-up alarms in the voice of their favorite characters. Now with an additional mic for improved voice-assist responsiveness and a faster AZ2 Neural Edge processor, the device comes with 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, educational apps, games, and skills. There's also a two-year "worry-free guarantee," which offers a free replacement for broken displays.

Amazon Echo Glow

3.5 Good

This colorful smart light orb is intended for kids. Ask Alexa to change the Glow's colors; tap to make it flicker like a campfire or flash while an Echo Dot plays music for a dance party. The Echo Glow doesn't work with any Alexa skills and can't be set to flash or give any indication of you getting a message or alert. But for the price, it seems like a fine smart light for your kids' rooms. (Not to be confused with the now-defunct Amazon Glow, a $300 smart speaker plus projector that let kids connect with faraway loved ones and play games.)

Amazon Echo Glow review

Amazon Echo Buds (2023)

4.0 Excellent

Amazon's Echo Buds true wireless earphones promise up to five hours of music playback per charge, and a sub-$50 price tag. The in-ear accessory, which sports an easy-hold stem, connect to two devices at the same time, so you can take that video call from computer to phone without missing a beat. Echo Buds are compatible with iOS and Android, with hands-free access to Alexa, Siri, and the Google Assistant.

Amazon Echo Buds (2023) review

Amazon Echo Buds With ANC

Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Generation)

4.0 Excellent

The second-generation Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which offer hands-free Alexa voice control, improve upon Amazon's original true wireless earphones with a smaller, lighter design and active noise cancellation. These Echo Buds are smaller and lighter than their predecessor, offer genuine active noise cancellation, and come with a wireless charging case.

Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Generation) review

Amazon Smart Plug

3.5 Good

The Smart Plug is part of a line of products called Alexa Gadgets, which need to be connected to other Echo smart speakers. It connects to Echo devices like the Dot to turn compatible devices with mechanical on and off switches into smart ones. You can then say things like "Alexa, turn on the coffee pot."

Amazon Smart Plug review

Amazon Echo Frames (3rd Gen)

3.0 Average

The $269.99 Echo Frames ($389.99 for the Carrera-branded version) offer hands-free access to Alexa to make calls, request podcasts or Audible books, set reminders, and other tasks. The third-gens promise extended battery life (up to six hours of continuous media playback), better Alexa performance, and a more stylish look. In our review, we found them to be better looking and more comfortable than ever, while falling short on audio quality.

Amazon Echo Frames (3rd Gen) review

Amazon Echo Auto (2nd Gen)

Amazon Echo Auto (2nd Gen, 2022 Release)

3.0 Average

Google has Android Auto and Apple has CarPlay, so it was inevitable that Amazon would also get into the automotive space. The Echo Auto debuted in 2018 as a small device that attaches to the dashboard and responds to questions just like it would at home. A slimmed-down (and more expensive) version arrived in 2022 for $54.99. As we found in our review, the latest Echo Auto is ultimately just a good microphone that lets you use Alexa voice controls in your car. It's not any more unique than the Alexa mobile app, but it might be able to hear you better.

Amazon Echo Auto (2nd Gen, 2022 Release) review

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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