The Amazon Echo is the most popular Smart Speakers in the U.S (Trailing behind Google Home and Microsoft Cortana). It has the ability to control the home with your voice. It gives detailed instructions of all the devices within your house. It can also provide weather updates and a whole lot more. It is even capable of accessing your calendar and also does intercom calls for you.
The Echo is equipped with 7 far-field microphones. It can hear you even when you are across the room from it.
The Echo is lead by Alexa. There are many different Alexa Skills that can be used. With these Skills, it can give you different instructions. It can also perform different music activities as well as give you different suggestions.
With all these features already added, there are some problems that still need answers. Here is a full review of the top 10 Amazon Echo devices in 2022.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Echo Dot | Best Overall |  |
| Echo Flex | Budget Pick |  |
| Echo Link | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Echo Dot
Pros:
- Longer battery life than 2nd gen
- Bluetooth functionality
- Improved audio to multi-room / stereo
- Can be used to control your home features such as thermostats, lights or fans
- Can control your smarthome products from popular brands like Nest, Phillips, Lifx, SmartThings, Wink and more
- Can stream almost anything from Spotify to Apple Music to Amazon Music to Pandora
- Can create shopping lists
- Can read you audiobooks
- Can make phone calls using the Alexa App for Calls feature
- Can use for news, weather reports, traffic reports, sports reports, and much more
Cons:
- Has smaller microphones than the Google Home Mini
- Cannot be upgraded to OneLink
Is the Echo Dot really the right smart speaker for you? Read more in this review of the voice controlled speaker from Amazon. The Echo Dot is the smallest of the Echo family yet it still has the same capabilities as the larger Echo smart speakers. The Echo Dot features far-field voice recognition which means that Amazon Echo products always hear you from any direction (360-degree coverage) and over music or noises like TV or a fan. This makes them perfect for home and office use. Other Echo products that work with Echo Dot are the Echo Sub, the Echo Input and the Echo Plus.
2. Echo Studio
Pros:
- Bluetooth and AUX-in for audio out
- Alexa can answer to verbal requests
- Comes with a display
This all-new Echo looks more like an audio component than a speaker. It’s tall and shows some serious finesse. It is designed for your kitchen counter. It has a built-in display, which is a first for the Echo devices.
There are a lot of reasons why you should consider buying the Echo Studio. If you want a smart speaker, but you don’t want it to be limited to playing music, then the Echo Studio is a great pick. You can ask this device to do a lot more than play you music. It can play audio books, news or just tell you the weather forecast for your location.
In some cases, Alexa is a little too slow. However, given the fact that this is a first-generation product, we’re willing to pass on that for now.
3. Echo Show 5 –
Pros:
- 5.5” HD screen
- LTE support
- Hands-free calling
Cons:
- Lacks Bluetooth
- Sound quality is not the best
The new Amazon Echo Show 5 is a smart display with a 5.5-inch HD screen. It’s Alexa-powered and comes with a front-facing camera, so you can make video calls.
It supports LTE calling, so you don’t have to make Wi-Fi calls. Video calls are currently limited to Alexa contacts, but you can make audio calls to anyone on the Echo app. The sound quality isn’t the best we’ve heard, but it’s on par with what other smart displays offer.
The Echo Show 5 works with smart home devices and supports activities like shopping on Amazon and ordering food. It’ll offer a cheaper voice-controlled alternative to the Echo Show 10.
4. Echo Show 8 –
Pros:
- Can see YouTube videos
- Improved sound
- Can stream music via Spotify
5. Echo Flex
6. Echo Sub
Pros:
- You'll never feel a hit or crackle again
- The bass is deep and rich
- It works with all Amazon devices
- By integrating the sub, the Dot goes from sounding tinny to having more full bass, creating a much better overall sound
Cons:
- It's not wireless
- There is no volume button on the actual device. You'll have to adjust the selected Echo
- The Sub requires a separate power cord
This is a wireless subwoofer that is designed for the popular Amazon Echo. It adds a big boost to the sound of the Echo Dot. It comes with easy setup instructions and includes all the speaker cabling you need to connect it up to your Echo. This is a great gift for the music lover who is also on a budget.
You might not have heard of their company before, but Anker is at the top of the accessory market thanks to the quality of their products. This is a smart home kit that gives you all the smart home features you need in a single package.
7. Echo Plus
8. Echo Auto
Pros:
- Hands-free calls and messages
- Alexa voice commands
- Control your music from Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora and iHeart Radio
- ¾¾¾¾ loud dual speakers deliver crisp vocals and dynamic bass response
- Ask Alexa to call anyone hands-free from your contact list
- Use your voice to compose and send a text message
- Get information from Wikipedia and¾¾¾¾Facts and more
- Sync your calendar and on-call schedule from your phone
- ¾¾¾¾ GPS-enabled digital assistant to help filter life's minutiae
Cons:
- Needs the Echo Auto App downloaded on your phone
- You can’t use it inside your house
Echo Auto is a kind of Alexa-enabled device even though it is a new product. You need this device to give you hands-free access to Alexa and it can¾¾¾¾ connect your phone to your Alexa.
9. Echo Buds
Pros:
- It is wireless, has a charging case and it is earbuds.
10. Echo Link
From Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap or any Alexa-enabled device.
Echo link is a powerful speaker system that gives your home hi-fidelity sound. It supports multi-room music and is compatible with most music services including Spotify and Pandora. What makes it truly stand out is the support for Spotify connect. This means you can play songs on your Echo speaker and the speaker will then broadcast the sound to the Echo link for high fidelity stereo sound. Once you tune the system using the provided microphone, it will be control from your phone, Echo or Echo dots (all of which can be controlled from the Link app)
It’s big, but it’s prices match similar speaker systems. If you are thinking of buying this, but already have Alexa-enabled devices, you might be better off with the cheaper Echo Dot 3rd Generation, which is the same size but contains the same Alexa capabilities. Oppo’s R11s is a close competitor. It’s smaller, but a little bulkier and does not come with Alexa. If you don’t see an immediate use for the link, I would also go with the Amazon Echo Dot. It’s cheaper and more versatile.
Conclusion
Still, even the best smart speaker can’t be a replacement for a good pair of regular, old regular speakers. So if you need some wireless speakers for your next party or just want some music playing in the background of your home or in your yard, you’ve come to the right place.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Echo Dot | Best Overall | |
| Echo Flex | Budget Pick | |
| Echo Link | Upgrade Pick | |