The Amazon Echo is a firm favourite for shoppers, with Alexa offering easy access to music, or for more advanced users, voice controls over your smart home.
Amazon offers a wide range of Echo devices, from the that's really popular, through to the that's capable of playing Hi-Res music and spatial audio. Whichever speaker you choose, Alexa will drive the experience, able to connect to loads of different services to deliver information and entertainment.
Not only is the Amazon Echo range affordable, but there are regular discounts too. Currently, all the Echo speakers are selling at full price, but we expect that prices will be slashed in February or March. If you can't wait that long, the best deal right now is on the - it's a great starter kit and will save you a few pounds compared to buying them separately.
Amazon is naturally one of the top choices for shoppers, although the Echo speakers are available through a wide range of different stores, often at the same price. Below we're detailing the best current prices for the Echo speakers and then we'll move on to talk a little more about the pros and cons of each different speaker.
As there are no deals currently available, we'll be keeping an eye on the price changes and as soon as it drops, we'll update with the best prices on Echo speakers, so you can be sure you're getting the best deal.
The most recent update to the Echo family, is the . If you're a fan, you'll know that there was an , which has now been . It replaces the Echo Dot with Clock and if you're looking for a bedside unit, the Echo Spot is a great choice.
But many people choose the , because it's compact, it's really affordable and the sound quality from this speaker is surprisingly good. The latest version also includes a temperature sensor, so it can tell you the temperature of whatever room you put it in. This is the most popular Echo and you can see how it .
The landed with a stylish new spherical design in 2020 that dramatically improved the sound quality over older versions and is one of the best smart speakers you can buy. It's a little more expensive, but it's a really good speaker.
On all the Echo speakers, Alexa can play tracks, set timers and reminders, read the latest headlines and forecasts, order takeaways and cabs, stream radio stations from around the world, and answer general knowledge queries. You can pair multiple Amazon Echo speakers together to beam your favourite tracks from Amazon Music, Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music throughout different rooms in the house.
If you want to spend a little more, the . This blockbuster smart speaker pairs the chatty Alexa AI with high-fidelity components that enable Dolby Atmos sound. For those with Amazon's Music Unlimited or Apple Music, you'll be able to listen to HD songs on the five-speaker system inside the Echo Studio. Echo Studio sees fewer discounts than other Echo models, so be prepared to pay a little more.
Whichever Amazon Echo model you decide is best suited to your needs, it's well worth looking into an Amazon Prime membership. This annual membership scheme - which can be accessed (and cancelled at any point during that period so you pay nothing) - includes millions of songs via Prime Music to stream to your Echo speaker, exclusive boxsets and blockbusters via , unlimited cloud backup, and more.
Of course not! A number of the biggest high street and online retailers stock this impressive smart speaker and there are a number of advantages to buying from these stores. For example, if you live across the street from Argos, you might be able to wander across and pick up your brand-new Amazon Echo within minutes. That's even faster than Amazon Prime can muster, despite offering same-day delivery in some parts of the UK.
Prices are usually matched across retailers, so the prices are usually very similar, but if you have a preference for where you spend your hard-earned cash, then feel free to shop elsewhere. Below, you'll find the latest prices on the cheaper Amazon Echo speakers from across the web to compare to Amazon.
Amazon Echo is a speaker fitted with a far-field microphone array that enables the chatty AI assistant, Alexa. Using the wake phrase "Alexa...", you can ask the Amazon Echo to perform a number of common tasks. From controlling smart lightbulbs, adjusting internet-connected thermostats, setting timers, reminders and alarms, ordering takeaways, and answering general knowledge questions about anything from the height of the Eiffel Tower to the age of your favourite celebrity ... Alexa is incredibly useful.
The Amazon Echo is also compatible with a number of the most popular services - from Spotify to Apple Music and BBC Sounds, Philips Hue to Ring, Audible to Fitbit. You can use Alexa to control all of these services, including Spotify playlists created on your smartphone, resume an audiobook at the exact spot you left-off in the car ride home, and more.
If you have multiple Echo smart speakers dotted around your house, you can also use Alexa to wirelessly beam messages to people in other rooms.
If a friend or family member has an Amazon Echo in their home, you'll be able to use these speakers to chat to one another, using Alexa Calling.
These internet calls won't be susceptible to international call rates, so it's perfect for international calls. If the recipient is out-and-about, they can answer within the Alexa companion app on their iPhone or Android handset, so you should always be able to get through to them.
The Amazon Echo is more expensive than Echo Dot, but with that price rise comes dramatically improved sound quality. The redesigned components inside the fourth-generation Echo mean that is can play High Definition (HD) songs, like those included as part of the Music Unlimited subscription or Apple Music, which supports Dolby Atmos.
However, it's worth noting that these components take up space, so the Amazon Echo is considerably larger than Echo Dot. As such, you might want to measure up to make sure you have space on the shelf, kitchen counter, or desk that you want to house this talkative speaker.
Both the Echo Dot and full-sized Echo include a 3.5mm audio port. That allows you to wire-up the voice-controlled smart speaker to an existing sound system - bringing Alexa to older equipment. That's a clever way to upgrade an older system, and also allows you to incorporate speakers that you already own in a multi-room system, or control playback and volume with a quick voice command.
The Amazon Echo isn't the only option for a smart speaker, and for some people, having to use another app to control Alexa on top of the smart assistant you already have on your phone might be too much - you might prefer Apple's Siri or Google Assistant instead to keep things simple.
Echo also isn't the only device that offers Alexa. If you're after a speaker that offers better sound quality than the Echo but with the skills of Alexa, then you could try the , which offers amazing sound quality - with great Dolby Atmos delivery.
If you're an Apple user then you might be tempted by the . There are two options for the HomePod, the full-sized version and the Mini, both of which offer Siri voice controls and work well with Apple Music, but don't get access to services like BBC Sounds - or even digital radio, so you can't just ask to listen to LBC.
Alternatively, Google has its own range of smart speakers, including the which offers Google Assistant and will give you access to a full range of information, smart home control and music streaming services. There's also a Nest Mini which is a rival to the Echo Dot.
MORE LIKE THIS
