Folks looking to upgrade their day-to-day lives with smart technology have no particular shortage of options, with most of the major tech companies offering devices to manage almost any scenario you can fathom. But in the smart assistant game, it really comes down to a few major players: Apple's Siri, Google's Gemini (and its former iteration, Google Assistant), and, of course, Amazon's very own Alexa. Those AI assistants no doubt play a big role in the lives of most folks in the modern world. However, Alexa may own a slight advantage over the competition when it comes to hardware due solely to its ties to Amazon, which happens to be the largest e-commerce outlet in existence by a pretty wide margin. To that end, most of the major manufacturers of tech now make devices that are compatible with Alexa.
Amazon, naturally, also makes an entire line of smart devices that are Alexa enabled and ready to make your life a little easier whether you're at home or out and about for the day. For this particular list, we're focusing on that set of smart devices. Similarly, we are keeping to options which can be purchased directly through Amazon, as it sometimes makes sense to buy directly from the source. In any case, if you are looking for Alexa-ready devices for your home and beyond, here's a look at a few of the cheapest you can currently buy.
Smart Display: Echo Show 5 - $89.99
Key Facts:
- Price: $89.99 (often on sale for less)
- 5.5-inch screen for streaming news, shows, and music
- Video calling capabilities
- Smart home hub integration for lights, thermostats, and security
- Can function as a digital photo frame
Many of Amazon's Alexa enabled devices are designed to provide some level of service to users by allowing them to control compatible devices through a single digital point of origin. Some of those devices are also geared towards providing users with entertainment options. One of the more popular Alexa devices in that category is the Echo Show 5. This compact smart display packs a 5.5-inch screen that can stream content from Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and other services. The audio quality has been significantly improved over previous generations, making it suitable for music playback as well. Beyond entertainment, the Echo Show 5 acts as a central hub for your smart home, allowing you to check doorbell cameras (including Ring devices), adjust lighting, and manage thermostats with voice commands or on-screen controls. Its video call feature supports both Alexa-to-Alexa and Skype calls, making it a versatile communication tool. The device also doubles as a digital frame, showcasing your favorite photos when idle. Given its price point, the Echo Show 5 is an excellent entry point into the world of smart displays.
Smart Speaker: Echo Pop - $39.99
Key Facts:
- Price: $39.99
- Compact design with full-range speaker
- Voice control for music, questions, and smart devices
- Bluetooth connectivity for streaming from mobile devices
- Eco-friendly materials: 100% recycled fabric, 80% recycled aluminum
- Supports the new Alexa+ program
If you don't need an Alexa device equipped with video capability and just want a little something that can help you kick out the jams in your kitchen, office, or bedroom, Amazon's Echo Pop may be just the stripped-back speaker you need. It is also one of the cheaper Alexa enabled devices that Amazon makes, selling for just $39.99. Don't let the term 'stripped back' put you off of this little speaker, as it is as well-designed and developed as any of Amazon's Alexa devices. Though it may be small in stature, it's built to provide solid punch on the audio front, with Amazon claiming it'll easily fill any average-sized room with big sound. It'll do so directly through Alexa or through a mobile device connected via Bluetooth if you prefer to blast a playlist from your favorite streamer. Its Alexa capabilities also extend to the control of certain smart devices like lights and plugs via voice commands. The Echo Pop can answer many questions and is fitted with a light bar that indicates when the AI assistant is engaged. Notably, the device is eco-friendly, with a fabric covering made of 100% post-consumer recycled yarn and a casing manufactured from 80% recycled aluminum. It is also equipped to run the new Alexa+ program, ensuring future compatibility.
Smart Car Companion: Echo Auto - $54.99
Key Facts:
- Price: $54.99
- 5-microphone array for clear voice pickup in noisy cars
- USB-powered and mounts in vehicle
- Hands-free calling, texting, music, and podcasts
- Remote control of home smart devices (locks, lights, thermostats)
- Compatible with most cars via auxiliary or Bluetooth
Amazon does make a few devices that allow you to take Alexa with you. While the Echo Buds wireless earbuds would have been a natural fit, they have been listed as 'currently unavailable' for some time. The Echo Auto accessory fills that gap, putting Alexa in your vehicle. This device is designed to provide more hands-free functionality to drivers on the road. The microphone-equipped device—it actually has five mics built in to ensure you are heard over in-cabin noise—mounts anywhere in your vehicle and connects via USB for power and audio. Once it is up and running, you have a mobile Alexa device that can perform many of the same functions as the one in your living room, controlled by simple voice commands. That includes playing music, podcasts, or radio broadcasts, sending text messages, and making phone calls. You can also connect the device to your Alexa enabled home hub and use it to engage smart locks, turn lights on and off, and adjust the thermostat while away. The Echo Auto may seem like overkill to some, but at $54.99, many will find it a valuable companion for staying connected and managing their smart home on the go.
Smart Alarm Clock: Echo Spot - $79.99
Key Facts:
- Price: $79.99
- Customizable display showing time, date, and temperature
- Personalizable wake-up routines
- Plays music, audiobooks, and podcasts
- Motion detection for thermostat adjustments
- Connects to smart home hub for lighting and other controls
In the context of smart home upgrades, alarm clocks are one place where technology has largely failed us because even as necessary as they are, they are still just infuriatingly loud and limited in personalization. The Echo Spot Alarm Clock feels like a solid step in the right direction if you are looking for a new one. The first version of the Spot was discontinued a couple of years back, but the re-imagined Spot is basically a modified version of the Echo Dot, with Amazon flattening the face of that high-tech orb and replacing it with a flat surface that is half shiny digital display and half speaker. That display is customizable to each user's needs, but is also designed to prominently feature the time, the date, and the temperature. Perhaps more importantly, the device allows users to tailor their wake-up routine to their specific desires, making it easier than ever to rise and shine on your own terms. Like most Alexa tech, the Echo Spot is equipped to play music, audiobooks, and podcasts at your request, and provides other voice-activated functions. It can connect to your home hub to dim lights and even uses motion detection to tweak the thermostat based on occupancy. At $79.99, it is an affordable option for such a major alarm clock upgrade.
Smart Home Hub: Echo Hub 8 - $179.99
Key Facts:
- Price: $179.99
- 8-inch touchscreen, wall-mountable
- Compatible with Alexa+ and thousands of smart devices
- Control lighting, speakers, thermostats, cameras, and security systems
- Connects to Alexa App for remote monitoring and control
- Can be hardwired for a clean look
In the smart home tech market, the home hub is essentially a 'one device to rule them all' option. By that standard, 'cheap' is a relative term, as the hub offers such a wide range of functionality. Still, there are plenty of budget-friendly smart home hub options on the market, with Amazon's Alexa enabled Echo Hub 8—which can be purchased for well under $200—ranking among them. The Echo Hub 8 typically sells for $179.99 and is compatible with Amazon's upgraded Alexa+ AI assistant. That means it can be used to run thousands of other compatible devices and serious streamline your smart home setup. Featuring an 8-inch touch screen, the wall-mountable Echo Hub can be plugged into a standard outlet or hard-wired for a cleaner look. It is easy to set up via the voice command, 'Alexa, discover my devices.' As for what that hub will discover, you can count pretty much any Alexa smart device on that list, as well as a myriad of others. The easy-to-use Echo Hub can operate lighting and smart plugs in every room, adjust the thermostat, operate any connected speaker systems, show feeds from doorbell and other security cameras, and provide easy-access control over home security systems. You can even connect it to your smartphone through the Alexa App so you can check the status of all those smart devices and settings while you are out.
Source: SlashGear News