Bottom Line. If you're looking for basic smart-home functionality, the $149 Echo Plus is a good deal; it would cost you at least $50 more if you were to purchase an Echo and a smart hub separately. If you're looking to set up a more complex smart home, then purchasing the $99 Echo and a third-party hub makes more sense
You can use voice commands on an Amazon Echo Dot through an Alexa personal assistant to answer questions, play the news, play music, and hundreds of other tasks. The Echo Dot has all of the skills of the original Echo and can be used instead of, or in addition to, another Echo smart speaker in a multi-room home.
If you're not a Prime customer however, you'll still be charged the customary $9.99 per month. If you happen to own an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or Amazon Tap device, the price is even lower at $3.99 per month, but music playback only works on that device.
The Echo Show 8 can play video from Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and NBC, but not Netflix.
Here are the best Echo devices you can buy:
- Best Echo overall: Echo.
- Best Echo for smart home: Echo Plus.
- Best budget Echo speaker: Echo Dot.
- Best Echo with a big screen: Echo Show.
- Best Echo with a small screen: Echo Show 5.
Of the two, the Amazon Echo Plus is the superior sounding device. While both offer Dolby-tuned internals for as rich a sound as their components can deliver, the Plus has the beefier drivers. It has a 3-inch woofer and 0.8-inch tweeter, while the regular Echo sticks with a 2.5-inch woofer and 0.6-inch tweeter.
Basically, the only difference between the two devices, other than size and cost, is sound. If you're just looking to be introduced to Alexa, you'll be fine with the Echo Dot. It has all the smarts of Alexa in a small speaker. All in all, the Echo Dot is an ideal choice for most people.
Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
Overall, the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is the best Echo you can buy. It's compact, looks great, and has an outstanding price.Basically, the only difference between the two devices, other than size and cost, is sound. If you're just looking to be introduced to Alexa, you'll be fine with the Echo Dot. It has all the smarts of Alexa in a small speaker.
The
Echo Plus (2nd
Gen) is technically a separate product to the
Echo (
3rd Gen), so we can see why it is still listed, but the two devices do share an awful lot in common.
Is there an Echo in here?
| Echo (3rd Gen) | Echo Plus (2nd Gen) |
|---|
| Music Streaming | Yes | Yes |
| Pair Multiple for Stereo Sound | Yes | Yes |
However, the Echo Plus is mostly limited to lights, outlets, and smart locks right now, and the Alexa app can't really do anything with those extra sensors. It can directly control Philips Hue lights, without the need for the Philips Hue Bridge, which other smart home hubs need to piggyback off of.