The Best Amazon Echo Smart Speakers of 2021

We've always loved the Amazon Echo, so we weren't surprised to find that the third-generation model is another great option for anyone looking to bring an Alexa-enabled smart speaker into their homes. It has great sound quality thanks to Dolby audio, a 3-inch woofer, and a 0.8-inch tweeter. And it has an auxiliary input and output as well as Bluetooth if you want to stream music from another device. The Echo also uses far-field voice recognition so Alexa can hear you even if you're in the next room.

Every Echo speaker has access to the same Amazon Alexa skills and features, but we found the third-generation Echo offers a desirable blend of quality performance and value. It doesn't act as a hub for devices that require their own bridge like the Echo Plus, and it may not have a screen like the Show, but there’s still a ridiculous amount of stuff Alexa voice commands can do without a camera or display.

The Echo has respectable audio quality all on its own, but pair it with another Echo and an Echo Sub, and you have a 2.1-channel multi-room setup with rumbling bass.

Our favorite feature: We love the sound quality of the Echo. It can really fill the room when playing music while taking up very little space.

The biggest downside: As this isn’t a smart display, it doesn’t have a screen. Echo users miss out on the expanded video capabilities of the Show, but that won’t surprise anyone.

Who should buy it: Those who want Alexa but don’t want the visual distraction of a smart display.

The Echo Show 5 is my personal favorite among the Echo lineup. The combination of the small but super useful 5.5-inch screen with a sleek, modern design makes this little smart speaker look just as at home on a bedside table as it does on a home office desk, a living room shelf, or a kitchen counter. The screen displays a customizable clock but also cycles through personalized information categories to give you insights at a glance.

Considering that the Show 5 has a modest 1.65-inch speaker, the audio quality is not half bad for such a small device. It also gives you the ability to make hands-free video calls, which are surprisingly perfect with the small screen. You can also watch video feeds from smart cameras, video baby monitors, and video doorbells. And it can stream TV and movie content from Prime Video, though it's not really designed as a media streaming device. You can also listen to Apple Music using the Echo Show 5.

Our favorite feature: The Echo Show 5’s screen is somehow both compact and easy to read. The small footprint makes it easy to find the perfect spot in your home, but the screen is still easy to read from across the room.

The biggest downside: It has a built-in camera, so if you have privacy concerns this may be a red flag for you. However, you can disable Drop-In calling through the Alexa app and also say “Alexa, turn the camera off” to ensure no one is spying on you. You can also cover the camera with a built-in shutter.

Who should buy it: Anyone who wants an Alexa speaker with a screen.

The Echo Dot is the perfect entry-level smart speaker. It gives you access to all the standard Alexa features at a fraction of the price of its larger siblings. But with the price break, you do have to sacrifice sound quality. There is, however, a 3.5mm input on the back and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can easily connect it to any existing speaker for a boost in audio quality.

Our favorite feature: The price is the key reason to buy an Echo Dot, especially as it goes on sale occasionally for as low as $29.99.

The biggest downside: The small speaker delivers noticeably low-quality audio playback, though this generation presents a major improvement in that area over its predecessors. If you want to use it for playing music, connect it to an external speaker or go for an Echo instead.

Who should buy it: College students, people on a budget, people who aren't 100% sure if Alexa is right for them, and Echo enthusiasts who want to fill their home for less.

The Echo Plus is not just a smart speaker—it also acts as a smart home hub that can connect to some smart gadgets that might otherwise require a separate hub, including Samsung SmartThings smart plugs and Philips Hue lights, among others. While you can tell any Echo voice commands like, "Alexa, find my devices," to have her scan your network for compatible smart home gadgets, only the Echo Plus can connect to gadgets that are Zigbee compatible. Other Echos will simply not “see” them without a Zigbee hub on the premises.

What this means is that, if you've got SmartThings devices and Hue lights and would rather not manage three separate smart home systems, the Echo Plus can tie everything together and save you a big chunk of change if you haven't yet purchased additional smart hubs. If you've already got the appropriate hubs, the Plus might not be necessary unless you're looking to streamline.

Our favorite feature: The Echo Plus can act as a hub for many popular smart home products.

The biggest downside: It costs about 50% more than the Echo, so if you don't really need the hub functionality (and most folks won't), it's not worth it. But if you’re looking to avoid hub-clutter, it might be a good investment.

Who should buy it: People with lots of smart home gadgets who want to centralize control.

The second-generation Echo Show is perfect for people who want their Echo to be a visual centerpiece. This generation’s speakers are on the side/back of the display, which leaves more room for the crisp, 10.1-inch screen.

The Show’s camera and large screen make it perfect for hands-free video calling, which it can perform between Echo devices or via Skype. It can also pull in your favorite shows from streaming services like Prime Video and Hulu, and even the music listening experience is enhanced with cover art and rolling lyrics when playing music.

Our favorite feature: The display is vibrant and adds something beautiful to just about everything Alexa can do.

The biggest downside: It’s a bit bulky.

Who should buy it: Anyone who wants an Echo with a large screen.