TLDR Review: Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Pros
- •Impressive and rich sound quality with deep bass, clear treble, and rooilling audio that outperforms many smaller smart speakers and even some standalone brands.
- •Functions effectively as a smart home hub with Zigbee support, allowing control of lights, TVs, and a variety of compatible devices through voice commands or the Alexa app.
- •Easy and straightforward setup process via the Alexa app, making it ideal for firsime Echo users.
- •Sleek, spherical design in a subtle charcoal color that suits most room decors without being obtrusive.
- •Useful builn temperature sensor that integrates into Alexa routines for added smart home convenience.
- •Multoom music support and stereo pairing options enhance the audio experience when paired with other Echo devices.
- •Able to act as an intercom between Echo devices in different rooms.
- •The 3.5mm audio jack adds versatility for connecting external speakers or audio inputs.
- •Alexa integration offers a wide range of voicontrolled smart home features and daily helpers like reminders and alarms.
- •Continues to receive software updates aimed at improving performance and expanding features.
Cons
- •Voice recognition is noticeably weaker than previous Echo models, requiring repeated or louder commands and struggling in noisy environments.
- •Multoom audio can be inconsistent, with issues like partial playback, crashes, or failure of the "Everywhere" group to work reliably.
- •Alexa's smart home integration sometimes falters, particularly with older Zigbee devices and certain smart bulbs, leading to unreliable device control.
- •The round, spherical design negatively impacts microphone pickup compared to older cylinder Echo models, leading to frustration over unheeded commands.
- •Requires a constant power connection; no internal battery for portability or backup.
- •Bluetooth management is cumbersome, and headset microphones are unsupported.
- •Short power cord may necessitate an extension for flexible placement.
- •Alexa's abilities in answering questions or controlling some devices remain limited and inconsistent, with occasional unhelpful responses.
- •Poor network or connectivity issues can cause buffering and dropouts, impacting music streaming and commands.
- •Privacy concerns persist due to constant voice activation and data collection inherent to Alexa devices.
Bottom Line
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) delivers a compelling combination of premium sound and smart home hub capabilities wrapped in a modern, attractive design. If you're starting fresh with smart speakers or want solid audio alongside smart home control, this Echo is a strong pick. However, the trade-off for style is a decline in voice recognition reliability and spotty multi-room audio performance, which might frustrate power users or those with complex smart home setups. If superior voice recognition or multi-room stability is mission critical, considering alternatives like Google Nest Audio or earlier Echo models might be worthwhile. Otherwise, this device offers solid value, especially when fully integrated into Amazon’s ecosystem.
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