Who is Alexa?
Some of those capabilities are built in, while for others the relevant ‘Skills’ have to first be enabled in the Alexa app. Skills are like apps created by developers, and can help you to control smart home products such as those from Philips Hue, LIFX and WEMO.
The standard Echo is now in its third-generation, which replaces the older version at a the same price of £89.99.
The Echo 3 is virtually the same as the Echo 2 but has the speakers from the Echo Plus inside it, and it comes in a new Twilight Blue colour.
( Buy Echo 3 | Read our Echo 3 review)
What is the Echo Dot?
Now on its third generation, the Dot has a more powerful speaker (up to 70% louder than the second generation) and the same attractive mesh fabric design seen throughout the Echo family. It’s available in four colours, including the new Plum version.
It still costs just £49.99, with the new model available to buy now.
First, and most obviously, the Echo Dot will use the Alexa Voice Service to provide users with everything from music playback to the latest news, and even control of smart home devices (if compatible). Alexa is also smart enough to work out which Echo you’re closer to (if you have more than one) and respond only from that speaker, despite being heard on multiple speakers.
The Echo Dot also has Bluetooth allowing you to stream music from your phone, or connect it to a Bluetooth speaker which brings Alexa functionality to, say, the high-end Kef Muo Bluetooth speaker. It also allows you to play music from services like Spotify, Prime Music and Pandora without the need for a computer or smartphone.
( Buy Echo Dot | Read our Echo Dot 3 review | Read our Echo Dot with Clock review)
What is the Echo Show?
Echo Show is an Echo with a screen and a camera as well speakers. It’s now available in three screen sizes: 5.5in, 8in and 10in.
As you’d expect, their prices increase with screen size. The smallest Show 5 is £79.99, the new Echo 8 is £129.99 and the big Echo Show has a much higher price of £219.99 but also better speakers and a built-in ‘Smart hub’ which lets you control smart home gadgets which work using the Zigbee wireless standard such as Philips Hue bulbs – it also removes the need to buy or use another Zigbee hub such as the Philips Hue Bridge.
The smaller two Echo Shows are the latest models and have physical shutters to cover the camera, and this also turns off the microphones.
With a screen, Alexa can show as well as tell.
An Echo Show allows you to:
( Buy Echo Show | Read our Echo Show 2 review)
What is the Echo Studio?
Like the Echo Plus below, it has a built-in Zigbee hub.
The 360-degree sound is designed for TV / movie soundtracks as well as music and it’s designed to work with 4K Fire TVs which can stream Dolby Atmos-encoded audio to an Echo Studio (or a pair of Echo Studios) for much better sound than your TV can muster.
It’s well priced at £189.99 / $199.99 – undercutting those rivals from Apple and Google.
What is the Echo Plus?
it’s available in three colours: Charcoal, Heather Grey, and Sandstone (basically white). There’s also an integrated temperature sensor, and Alexa should be clever enough to respond to changes by triggering your (smart) heating to go on or off.
( Buy Echo Plus 2 | Read our Echo Plus 2 review)
What is the Echo Flex?
Flex is the latest addition to the range and is an inexpensive Echo which plugs directly into a wall socket. It’s designed for hallways, garages or other areas where you still want to be able to talk to Alexa but don’t need great sound quality. The built-in speaker is akin to a phone’s speaker, so is fine for Alexa’s voice but not music.
An LED lights up when Alexa is listening and it has a mic-mute button as well as the select button you’ll find on top of the other Echo speakers.
What is the Echo Spot?
The Echo Spot is basically a smart alarm clock, and is quite likely to be phased out now that there are three Echo Show models.
One reason is the circular screen which isn’t much cop for video (though it can show video from news briefings and security cameras) but also because it’s expensive at £119.99/$129.99.
The 2.5in display that can show the time or allow you to make hands-free calls and video calls. Audio quality isn’t amazing, but you can hook up an external speaker via Bluetooth or AUX.
( Buy Echo Spot | Read our Echo Spot review)
What is the Echo Sub?
( Buy Echo Sub)
The Echo Sub is not in itself a smart speaker, but it wirelessly connects to other Echo devices to improve their bass output, with 100W from a down-firing 6in woofer. You’ll need to pair it with a second-gen Echo or Echo Plus, or the new third-gen Echo. It can also work with a pair of any of those models for a 2.1 stereo sound system.
Unfortunately, it will only provide bass when streaming music to the Echo via Wi-Fi, and won’t work for streaming music over Bluetooth from your phone or using the aux input.
It costs £119.99 / US$129.99.
For the best prices see Best Echo Deals.
What is the Echo Look?
A hands-free camera and style assistant, the Echo Look can ensure you are always looking at your best.
Echo Look can take full-length selfies and video at request, allowing you to show off your wardrobe to your heart’s content, or for personal use quickly and easily scroll through your outfits and pick out one to wear. The depth-sensing camera has built in LED lighting and computer vision-based background blur.
A dedicated companion app lets you see yourself from every angle, while Style Check can use a combination of machine learning and advice from fashionistas to let you know which outfit looks best.
However, while the Tap provides Alexa functionality, the real focus is on the audio quality – it features dual stereo speakers with Dolby processing, allowing for high-quality vocals and deep bass. It was also designed to provide users with 360 degree sound projection, providing users with omni-directional audio.
It’s small and lightweight making it the ideal travel companion, and the 9-hour battery life should serve most users well.
That’s the theory, anyway. In practice, Alexa can’t always hear you when the music is loud and you might have to turn it down a bit manually before she’ll respond.
If you want to know more, read How to use Alexa, 73 funny things to say to Alexa and how to control lights and gadgets with Alexa.
Marie is Editorial Director at Foundry. A Journalism graduate from the London College of Printing, she’s worked in tech media for more than 17 years, managing our EMEA and LatAm editorial teams and leading on content strategy through Foundry’s transition from print, to digital, to online - and beyond.
