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Amazon has lots of Echos now, but its new Echois the best choice for most people.
It's more compact than the original Echo, costs less, and has an Auxiliary port to physically connect to a better sounding speaker.
If you're thinking about buying an Echo, now is a great time to do so. Amazon Prime Day 2019 is on July 15 and 16, and right now, there are a few Echos on sale as part of the company's early Prime Day deals.
Amazon's Echo was the first smart speaker to find its way into millions of people's homes. Since the original Echo launched in 2014, Amazon has launched several new versions of the original speaker as well as a host of other Echo devices that have Alexa voice control built in.
There are so many different Echos now that we've put together this guide to help you find the best one for your needs. Before we get into the specifics, though, it's worth pointing out that there are some features every Echo has, regardless of its specialty.
All of the Echo models below can control a wide variety smart home accessories using your voice or the Alexa App. Each has access to the thousands of third-party skills developers have made over the past couple of years as well as your Prime Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, or Spotify library. Most Echos have an audio out port to connect to external speakers, too.
In the slides below, we're going to focus on what makes the best Echos stand out, be it the Echo Plus' extra smart-home radio, the Echo Dot's small size, or the Echo Show's screen. For a deeper dive into the smart speaker ecosystem, you can read our full buying guide to smart home speakers on Insider Picks.
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Also, note that this guide is for Amazon's Echo smart speakers with Alexa built inside. We have another guide to the best Alexa smart speakers that aren't made by Amazon.
Here are the best Echo devices you can buy in 2019:
Updated on 07/01/2019 by Malarie Gokey: Updated the Echo smart speakers in this guide to the current models. Added the Echo Show 5. Updated prices and added Prime Day deals.
The second-generation Echo is smaller, more functional, and better-looking than the original.
The new Echo replaces the original Echo, which was larger, more expensive, and had fewer features. It also has all the same well-loved Alexa skills and smart home controls as the original. As such, the new Echo is a real triple threat.
Although it's not the entry-level Echo, Amazon dropped its price to $99.99, a full $80 less than the original Echo it replaces. Focusing on the big criticisms it received over the past couple of years, Amazon improved the Echo's audio quality, while also making it available in a series of more aesthetically-pleasing shells.
Speaking of audio, unlike the original Echo this second generation has an audio-out port so you can easily connect it to your favorite speakers or home entertainment center. For most people, this is going to be the go-to Echo option. It has better speakers than the Echo Dot, but it's not huge, ugly, or techy looking anymore. The new Echo can be the center of your smart home without being obtrusive.
Pros: An audio-out port, a nicer design, better sound quality, affordable, smart home controls
The Echo Dot may be the entry-level option on this list, but it's still just as smart as its siblings, plus, its small size is its biggest asset.
It's ok if you want to keep your love of technology out of eye shot. Subtlety is an art, but if you have an Echo Dot, it's not that hard.
Though it didn't receive a hardware update, the Dot is still the best entry-level smart-home hub on the market. For $50 you get a hockey puck-sized gadget that can help you control your lights with your voice, answer questions about the universe, and connect to external speakers through a Bluetooth signal.
The Echo Dot's best feature is definitely its small size. You can stick it just about anywhere, and because it has the same microphone array as its bigger siblings, it won't have a problem hearing your requests. Whether you're going for subtlety, or want the best way to dip your toe into the smart-home ocean, this is your best choice.
Pros: Small, smart, affordable, works just as well as all the others
The Echo Show can display information that its screenless siblings can only read to you, making it extra useful for timers and calendar events.
The Show is one of the newer members of the Echo family and the first one to have a display. To put it simply, this is an Echo with a screen. It can do anything a standard Echo can, but it shows the information visually, in addition, to audibly.
For instance, if you set a timer you'll be able to watch it countdown, you'll be able to see your calendar when you ask Alexa about your upcoming events, and until recently you could even watch YouTube videos. Google put a stop to that, sadly.
How useful the Echo Show will be to you ultimately depends on how you use your Echo. If it'd help to see a measurement conversion instead of just hearing it said out loud (there are 16 tablespoons in a cup, by the way), the Echo Show is a really good option.
Its speakers are also better than the ones found in the original Echo, although it's still to be seen whether or not they compare well to newer models. Still, if you love the idea of seeing Alexa's responses to your questions and requests, the Echo Show is your best option.
Pros: 10.1-inch screen, the ability to see Alexa's responses to you
Cons: No audio out, a higher price than the screenless options
The Echo Plus can communicate directly with certain smart home accessories without having to go through a third-party hub.
If you've packed your place to the limit with smart home accessories, you might want to consider the Echo Plus.
It looks like the first generation Echo, but has an improved speaker system, and more importantly, a Zigbee antenna built in. Zigbee is one of the standards smart home accessories use to communicate with one another. Traditionally, an Echo would have to talk to a third-party smart home hub to access and adjust accessories like light bulbs. The Echo Plus lets you ditch that hub and creates a direct link between itself and some of your favorite smart home tech.
You can find a full list of Zigbee-compatible smart-home accessories here, but I'm happy to see that Philips' Hue bulbs are on the list. As someone who uses those bulbs every single day, it'll be nice to save myself an outlet and some additional space.
Because of its antenna, the Echo Plus still looks like a big piece of tech, but if you're the type (like me) who has smart home accessories around your home, you probably don't care. The Plus also received the auxiliary out port so you can connect it to speakers if you'd like.
Pros: Improved audio quality over the original Echo, direct communication with smart-home accessories, decent price
The Echo Show 5 has a smaller 5-inch screen than the original model, making it perfect for use as a smart alarm clock on your bedside table.
The Show 5 is a smaller version of the original Echo Show. It has a 5-inch screen, so it can display video content, the time, and visual representations of Alexa's answers.
Just like the original Echo Show, you can watch Prime Video, view security camera footage, and other video content on the Show 5.
It can also display the time and you can use it to set alarms to wake you up in the morning, making it a great smart alarm clock for your bedside table.
If you love the idea of seeing Alexa's responses to your questions and requests, but you want a smaller device, the Echo Show is a great option. — Malarie Gokey
Pros: 5-inch screen, the ability to see Alexa's responses to you
Cons: No audio out, a higher price than the screenless options
Echo Spot ($129.99):The Spot is a cross between the Echo Show and the Echo Dot. Like the Show, it has a screen to display data and a camera for video conferencing. Like the Dot, it's small and out of the way. It's made to look like a "smart" alarm clock with its small body and rounded back, and that's basically what it is. Through Alexa, you can use the Echo Spot to control your smart home accessories — including the ability to watch a smart security camera's feed on the Spot's screen — ask questions and see the answers, or set an alarm to wake you up. We didn't include it in our guide because it's a bit too pricey for what it offers and the screen is a tad too small. You can find a full Echo Spot review here.
Echo Look ($199.99): Amazon's Echo Look is basically the objective personal style assistant you don't have space for in your budget. It's hands-free, normally $200, and helps you decide what to wear in the morning. It compares photos of two different outfits and tells you which one looks better. It also keeps a photo archive or catalog of your looks for your future perusal. You can separate them by season, color, type of event, or any other category you choose. Since it's such a niche product and it's expensive, we don't include it in this guide's top picks. You can find a full review of the Echo Look here.
