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

Put a slant on things with 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.

This kids version of the Echo Pop smart speaker features Marvel or Disney Princess characters and comes with six months of Amazon Kids+.

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.

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.

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,

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.

The third-generation Amazon Echo Show 10 smart display features a motorized base that lets it follow you around the room. There’s a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera with digital pan and zoom, so it automatically keeps you centered in the picture during video calls, which now support up to seven other people thanks to Alexa Group Calling. Echo Show devices also support Zoom.

Note: The Echo Show 10 appears to be out of stock on Amazon and other third-party retailers. The company could be readying an update; the Echo Show 15 was similarly out of stock for awhile prior to its most recent update. We’ll keep an eye on it and update accordingly.

The Echo Show 8 features a rounded edge and a bump-out on the back, which makes it slightly bigger than its predecessor. The 13MP front-facing camera is also centered versus off to the side. The main internal upgrade here is the built-in Zigbee smart home hub and Amazon’s AZ2 Neural Edge processor. There are also some audio upgrades and a feature that will sense where you are in the room to display fewer things when you’re far away and more detail as you walk closer.

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.

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. In late 2022, Amazon announced an update with a new audio system, a custom full-range driver that Amazon says doubles the bass the previous models can put out. Ultrasound motion detectors are also built into the new smart speakers, letting them respond to tap gestures and movement. Plus, it includes Eero mesh Wi-Fi support, letting Amazon Dots serve as network nodes that can add up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to an Eero Wi-Fi network (the 4th-gen Dots also got an update adding Eero support). A version with an LED clock was unfortunately discontinued in 2024.

The Echo Dot Kids Edition is shaped like the Echo Dot, but comes in owl and dragon 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.

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’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.

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 and offer genuine active noise cancellation.

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.”

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.

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.