Our best Amazon Echo prices roundup is here to sort you out with one of the best voice-controlled smart speakers money can buy. These great little devices have been responsible for bringing smart home functionality into millions of homes, and it's easy to see why they are so popular.
The great news is two brand new Echo Dots have just joined us this month for 2020, and we've already included them alongside the older iterations just down below, complete with a little review for you to check out. Of course, all the old favorites are here too this week, and we'll be providing the best prices for them too, as well as some handy tips on scoring the very best Echo Dot deals all year-round.
There's an Echo speaker for every occasion now, thanks to Amazon's ever-increasing lineup of releases adding new additions every few years. We're also seeing some great updates to older models which bring a range of speaker upgrades as well as new software. As always though, the diminutive Amazon Echo Dot deals start the list at the cheaper end today, offering a great starting point to any smart home. If you're just looking for pure Alexa functionality we've also got the best Echo Flex prices going as well.
We've also got prices for the larger versions too including the Amazon Echo, Echo Studio and more. If you want a visual element too, then we've got you covered with all three sizes of the Amazon Echo Show or the bedside table-friendly Echo Spot, all of which include a screen.
Although Amazon designed and built these smart devices, they're actually on sale at a large number of stores, which means they're never far away from a discount. We'll also list the standard price of each of these Amazon Alexa-powered speakers so you can get a better idea of how good the latest discounts in the comparison charts are.
This year's brand new Amazon Echo is here, the fourth generation in the long line of excellent smart speakers from the tech giant. No, your eyes don't deceive you, it is indeed much, much more spherical than last year's iteration, but luckily all that extra space around the waist has been put to good use with some upgraded internals.
A new speaker array looks to provide an all-around much higher fidelity experience for music lovers, while the inclusion of the new Amazon Sidewalk and Zigbee support should help with smart home device compatibility across the board. You're also getting a new 'AZ1 Neural edge' processor on board this year's which Amazon claims helps speed up voice-command recognition by double - not bad considering this new iteration is retailing for the same price as last year's on release.
Equally spherical, but much smaller, is the endearingly cute new Echo Dot – the fourth generation in the long line of excellent budget smart speakers from Amazon. Launching at just $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79, it's remaining one of the cheapest ways to get your hands on a voice assistant this year, but almost disappointingly, aside from its new eye-catching spherical design, improvements are mostly iterative.
That said, the new inclusion of Alexa Voice Profiles for Kid is a fantastic little feature if you've got kids in the house. This new child-friendly tech can recognize when a younger person is giving voice commands and tailors it's reception accordingly. So, if the child asks Alexa a question, they'll get an appropriate response, animal sound alarms, and even help with their homework should they need it. Read our Amazon Echo Dot review for more info.
The clue is in the name. One of the most recent Echo devices to hit the market, the Echo Flex is a supremely 'flexible' Alexa speaker. We use the term speaker fairly loosely, as you won't be picking this cheap Echo device up for its audio quality (it's not great). What is does have to offer is an extremely handy plug-in to stick Alexa functionality in any free plug socket. Speak to your virtual assistant and control your smart home just like any other Alexa-enabled device but for far less than you'd usually shell out for a fully fledged speaker.
With extra accessories on their way, this cheap Echo device is perfect if you're looking to add your smart assistant to every room in the house but don't want to cough up for a whole speaker every time.
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock launch price: $59.99/£59.99/AU$99.
The 2019 model Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is only a modest upgrade. It's technically still a 3rd-gen Echo Dot, but now comes with a neat display on the side that can display the time.
Amazon says one of the most requested questions Alexa gets is for the time, so this will save you a job. Many of us use smart speakers as timers around the kitchen too so we're happy to see the display is used to show the timer counting down. It will also display the temperature when asking about the weather. Other request types will start to take advantage of this extra functionality in the near future.
The only other improvement over the previous model is a 'tap to snooze' option when using the Dot as an alarm. If these new features don't do much for you, then you can save some money by opting for the regular Echo Dot deals below instead.
Amazon Echo Dot (3rd gen) launch price: $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.
The older, standard 3rd iteration of the Echo Dot comes in three colors - charcoal, heather grey, and sandstone (that'll be black, grey or white to the rest of us). The hockey-puck-shaped speaker has a more refined look thanks to the fabric finish - far better than the older all-plastic version. The speaker driver is much larger too, going from a 1.1-inches in diameter to 1.6-inches. It's 70% louder than the previous version and keeps the aux 3.5mm connection for a secondary speaker. You can also connect it wirelessly to external speakers via Bluetooth.
Amazon Echo (3rd gen 2019) launch price: $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149.
The standard-sized Amazon Echo speaker gets better and better each iteration and this new 3rd-gen model marks the biggest improvement yet, especially for music fans. The audio architecture is now in line with that found in the more expensive Amazon Echo Plus thanks to the neodymium drivers, a larger 3-inch woofer and bigger tweeter too.
It's ever so slightly chunkier than the 2nd-gen model while keeping the same height. The overall aesthetic remains thanks to the fabric design, however, though Amazon has launched a new color for the occasion in Twilight Blue (see image above).
If you already own a Dot and want to round out the sound with a little extra oomph then this will be a great purchase. Or if you're yet to buy any Alexa speaker, this is a great place to start if playing music will be one of the main reasons you're buying one.
Amazon Echo (2nd gen) launch price: $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$119.
With a newer version hitting shelves, we'd only go for this version of the Amazon Echo if there's a significant discount. And as stores start to clear stock out for the new Echo, we should see great deals some soon.
The 2nd-gen Amazon Echo was the firm middle ground of the Alexa family, with a more powerful speaker than the Echo Dot. This second-generation version is a bit shorter but houses an upgraded speaker powered by some neat Dolby processing.
At launch, this was the 'just right' option in the Echo lineup. It's not as budget as the Amazon Echo Dot nor is it as premium as the Amazon Echo Plus. In 2017, you would have bought this if you wanted to use the smart speaker primarily for quality music but wanted to keep prices down. Today, the newest third-generation Echo does a far better job at that for the same price. If you do see it reduced, check out the state of the third generation's price tag before making your purchase.
Amazon Echo Show 8 launch price: $129.99/£119.99/AU$TBC.
Not long after the release of the Show 5, Amazon came along with the Amazon Echo Show 8 and a larger screen. So while you may prefer the smaller Echo Show 5 for a bedside table, the new Show 8 works better in larger spaces.
If you're looking for some hands-free recipe guidance in the form of kitchen video tutorials, then this is ideal. The Echo Show second-generation does offer a larger screen, but that 10-inch display comes at a significant price jump. This 8-inch screen is perfect for larger use than you'd need from a bedside table, without offering a hefty price tag to match.
You're also getting the superior display and audio quality of the Echo Show (2nd Gen) with all the privacy and app benefits that came with the Show 5. It's an amalgamation of the best bits of the last two models that comes out with a price tag sitting closer to the cheaper end than the premium 2nd Generation.
Amazon Echo Show 5 launch price: $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.
This is the cheapest Amazon Echo Show you'll find out in the wild right now. It comes with a smaller five-inch screen than the other Echo Show deals in this list, but if you're after something for a bedside table display, or you simply don't need another intrusive screen in your living room, it'll sit perfectly.
Compared to its bigger siblings, or Google's rival offerings, you might find the screen a little small depending on where you're going to be seeing it from after requesting something via the Alexa voice-commands. Plus, you'll be missing out on the improved display and audio quality of the more recent Show 8 as well. The huge selection of how-to videos are super handy though if you can plug it in close by, especially in the kitchen. Check out our full Amazon Echo Show 5 review if you want to learn more about this budget-friendly smart speaker display.
Amazon Echo Show (2nd gen) launch price: $229.99 / £219.99 / AU$349.
Amazon released a 2018 update for the Amazon Echo Show, the Alexa smart speaker with a touchscreen. As things stand, it's a bit more expensive than the previous-gen version and a lot more expensive than the rival Google Home Hub prices. With the original model fully phased out, however, this is the only way you'll get your hands on that classic mega 10-inch display.
The oldest Amazon Echo Show on this list has the biggest screen, with louder speakers and superior display quality over the Show 5, but offering a comparable experience to the Show 8. That makes it a much better fit for video content to be enjoyed via your Amazon Prime membership or for free on other channels. You can, of course, still use it as a smart hub for other devices like smart thermostats or bulbs. That's more important than ever, as well, now that many smart devices don't require their own hubs to work - simply slotting straight into the Alexa ecosystem.
Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen) launch price: $149.99 / £139.99 / $229.
Amazon revamped the Echo Plus smart speaker in late 2018. Then it revamped the Echo in 2019. Now they look pretty similar. The truth of the matter is that the second-generation Echo Plus carries the same speaker configuration as the new Amazon Echo third generation which also pulls it off for far less cash. That said, when the second-generation Echo Plus was released in 2018, it marked a step up in Alexa's audio quality remit.
So why would you pay more for the same speaker released a year earlier? If you use Zigbee smart home devices, you don't want to be too hasty in dismissing the older model. The latest Echo third-generation dropped Zigbee support, whereas you'll still find it on the Echo Plus second generation here. Herein lies the main advantage of the Amazon Echo Plus, and possibly the only reason you should pick it up - the fact that there's a Zigbee smart home hub built-in.
If you've been watching the Echo Sub for a while wishing you could just add the smart speaker into the fantastic sound for a complete package, you'll want to check out 2019's Echo Studio. The massive Echo smart speaker works as a complete high quality audio solution that not only offers impressive sound quality for its price tag but can also easily create a home cinema with a Fire stick.
Amazon have pitched their Echo Studio as low as possible in price - excellent times for all the bargain hunters out there. Don't be fooled by that relatively low price either, this is a powerful speaker. While the 3D audio can be hit and miss, we found that the Echo Studio offered fantastic value for money with powerful sound and a wealth of features.
Amazon Echo Sub launch price: $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199.
If you're going all in on the Amazon Alexa audio setup at home, then you'll want to take a look at the latest Amazon Echo Sub prices. The Echo Sub is not a smart speaker though, it's a subwoofer to connect to your other Echo speakers, so you'll need to pick up one of those (you're already on the right page for them!) if you don't have any yet.
Or, check out some of the bundles available as Amazon has started selling the Echo Sub with a pair of regular Echo speakers in some regions to give you a full stereo sound setup at home. If you'd prefer to just have one beast of a smart speaker with a huge sound, then you may want to check out the latest Amazon Echo Studio, though it's a little pricier.
Amazon Echo Spot launch price: $129 / £119.99 / AU$179.
The Amazon Echo Spot has been discontinued, meaning it's unlikely you'll find a particularly impressive price drop any time soon - at least not one that will make it feel more valuable than a Show 5. The small, circular screen was designed to show you little pieces of information rather than watch episodes of The Grand Tour or Mr Robot. The 2017 model hasn't seen much action in the last three years, so you'll be better off picking up something a bit newer.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3cNtufy
No comments:
Post a Comment