Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Photo: amazon.com
The Amazon Echo smart home hub is one of the most functional smart hubs available, and it’s compatible with a wide range of smart devices. Powered by Alexa (Amazon’s voice assistant), the Echo hub allows users to control connected devices and interact with Alexa to answer questions or change settings using voice commands.
Beyond connecting and controlling devices, the system is also a high-quality smart speaker, so you can turn on clear-sounding music and podcasts with a single phrase or a tap of your phone. If audio is your main focus, the Echo Dot smart speaker (with clock) is another solid option.
Product Specs
- Control: Voice control
- Size: 5.7 by 5.7 by 5.2 inches
- Capacity: Dozens of smart devices
Pros
- Rich speaker sound
- Multiple layers of privacy protection
- Mobile alerts if Alexa detects fire alarm, breaking glass, and other noises
Cons
- Directional sound speaker as opposed to 360-degree sound