These Are the Best Smart Devices for Amazon Alexa in 2024
Streamline your smart home routines with these Alexa-enabled devices.
Our Experts
Written by
David Priest
Macy Meyer
Chris Wedel
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
Reviews ethics statement
David PriestFormer editor
David Priest is an award-winning writer and editor who formerly covered home security for CNET.
Macy Meyer is a North Carolina native who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a second BA in Journalism. Macy is a Writer on the CNET How-To team, covering a variety of topics, including home security, fitness and nutrition, smart home tech and more. In each article, Macy helps readers get the most out of their home, tech and wellness. When Macy isn't writing, she's volunteering, traveling, walking her dog, Holden, or watching sports.
ExpertiseMacy covers a variety of topics for the CNET How-To team.Credentials
Macy has been working for CNET for coming on 2 years. Prior to CNET, Macy received a North Carolina College Media Association award in sports writing.
Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to stay online tricky — not to mention making my homestead smarter. However, by utilizing his years of experience in the tech and mobile communications industries, success is assured. When not conquering the outdoors and testing new gadgets, Chris enjoys cruising a gravel road in his UTV with some good tunes, camping, and hanging out with his family.
ExpertiseSmart home devices, outdoors gadgets, smartphones, wearables, kid's tech, and some dabbling in 3D printingCredentials
Covered the mobile and smart home tech space for the past five years for multiple large publications.
From security cameras to thermostats, there seems to be a never-ending list of smart home devices worth investing in. If you want the added bonus of being able to use the Alexa virtual assistant to control smart devices, we've rounded up a list of the best Alexa devices.
Amazon's voice assistant now supports even more impressive integrations than the traditional smart speaker, from smart TVs to smart thermostats to home security systems and cameras. It can be a lot to navigate if you're new to the space and trying to put together an Alexa-powered smart home of your own. We're here to help you make sense of it all and we've broken down the best of the best Alexa-compatible devices available. Also, keep in mind that an Amazon smart home gadget could make the ideal gift for the tech lover on your holiday shopping list.
What is the best overall Amazon Alexa smart device?
CNET experts have spent years testing smart displays, smart speakers, home security cameras and systems, smart thermostats, smart plugs and smart locks. All of this diligent testing has gone into building out this list of the best Amazon Alexa and Alexa-compatible devices. After years of hands-on testing, CNET staff have determined the Amazon Echo (fourth-gen) smart speaker is the very best Amazon Alexa device overall.
The fourth-gen Amazon Echo is the freshest smart speaker in years, adding real home smarts and premium sound quality. The best changes to this Echo are indeed the sound quality and home smarts, but the most obvious change is its cool spherical design. With a sleek design and improved functionality, this smart speaker can (and maybe should) be a staple in every household.
Best Amazon Alexa devices of 2024
Amazon's third-gen Echo Dot with Clock</a> was our previous favorite Alexa speaker, but since the 2020 product line, the flagship fourth-generation Echo speaker has got the nod. At $100, the spheroidal speaker is more expensive than the $50 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href=https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/best-alexa-devices/"https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-echo-dot-2020-review-the-50-smart-speaker-to-skip/">fourth-generation Amazon Echo Dot</a>, although the improvements in sound quality and some intriguing smart home features justify the additional cost. </p><p>This smart device's shape sets Amazon's newer Echo speaker apart. Where the third-gen Echo offered a barely noticeable sound quality improvement over its predecessor, the ball-shaped fourth-gen version has noticeably better audio output, including respectable bass for a speaker in its price range. </p><p>On the smart home front, the fourth-gen Echo also gets a built-in Zigbee receiver, carrying over a feature from the now-defunct Amazon Echo Plus. The Zigbee receiver lets the new Echo function as a smart home connectivity point for compatible smart lights, plugs, and other Zigbee-based accessories. That means you can use the Echo itself as a hub to play music, among other things, without the need for an additional piece of hardware to get those devices online. </p>" page-position linktext="Read our Amazon Echo (2020) review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-echo-2020-review-fourth-gen-alexa-smart-speaker-sphere-shape-a-ball-to-use-literally/" like="~ Improved sound quality and powerful bass ~ Better smart home connectivity ~ Easy and quality stereo pairing" dislike="~ A bulky design ~ No revolutionary upgrades from competition " can-collapse="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer="{"id":"e4fe0014-e9bf-46ce-a319-fc5e5c1fc882","label":"Amazon Echo (2020)","slug":"amazon-echo-2020","edition":["US","ES"],"imageId":"","imgUrl":null,"typeLabel":"Tech Product","objectType":"content_product","icon":"type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product ct-small"}" techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"e4fe0014-e9bf-46ce-a319-fc5e5c1fc882","slug":"amazon-echo-2020-charcoal","name":"Amazon Echo (2020, Charcoal)","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"PRISM","mod":1732292504747}" overridecredit="Chris Monroe/CNET" overridecaption="<p></p>" imagegroup="{"uuid":"c084c023-21be-4023-89c2-4626737f04eb","alt":"echo2.png","caption":"<p></p>","credits":"Chris Monroe/CNET","imageData":{"id":"c084c023-21be-4023-89c2-4626737f04eb","filename":"echo2.png","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/dedea44baf7209ff88a11663c94e1ff612966894/hub/2020/10/23/c084c023-21be-4023-89c2-4626737f04eb/echo2.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2020-10-23 23:33:12.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/dedea44baf7209ff88a11663c94e1ff612966894/hub/2020/10/23/c084c023-21be-4023-89c2-4626737f04eb/echo2.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Chris Monroe/CNET","imageAltText":"echo2.png","imageFilename":"echo2.png","imageWidth":2311,"imageHeight":1297,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2020-10-23","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"4o59mizg8tswzi2","type":"listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cnetlisticle__ebe1843f-6ed3-42ec-a557-5a008599834d" index="1" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="gap-project,hv60,ring,amazon-prime,home-security,august,alexa,freelance-update,wyze,amazon,philips,ecobee" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="Chris Monroe/CNET" imagealttext="echo2.png" class="c-bestListListicle">
Amazon's third-gen Echo Dot with Clock was our previous favorite Alexa speaker, but since the 2020 product line, the flagship fourth-generation Echo speaker has got the nod. At $100, the spheroidal speaker is more expensive than the $50 fourth-generation Amazon Echo Dot, although the improvements in sound quality and some intriguing smart home features justify the additional cost.
This smart device's shape sets Amazon's newer Echo speaker apart. Where the third-gen Echo offered a barely noticeable sound quality improvement over its predecessor, the ball-shaped fourth-gen version has noticeably better audio output, including respectable bass for a speaker in its price range.
On the smart home front, the fourth-gen Echo also gets a built-in Zigbee receiver, carrying over a feature from the now-defunct Amazon Echo Plus. The Zigbee receiver lets the new Echo function as a smart home connectivity point for compatible smart lights, plugs, and other Zigbee-based accessories. That means you can use the Echo itself as a hub to play music, among other things, without the need for an additional piece of hardware to get those devices online.
Photo Gallery1/1
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery</a> is a great camera for a lot of reasons, but thanks to its reasonable price and tight integration with Amazon Echo devices -- it's an easy pick here. Plus, because a rechargeable battery powers it, you can place it anywhere you want -- inside or out -- and not have to worry about a power outlet. </p><p>It comes with weatherproof housing, clear night vision, a 130-degree field of view, a loud siren and more. Thanks to that tight Amazon integration, if you have an Echo Show smart display, like the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href=https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/best-alexa-devices/"https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/amazon-echo-show-15-review/">Echo Show 15</a>, you can put a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href=https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/best-alexa-devices/"https://www.cnet.com/videos/alexa-has-its-own-widget-how-to-add-it-to-your-iphones-home-screen/">live view widget</a> on the screen. You can also just ask Alexa to show the feed on the screen with a simple voice command as well.</p>" page-position linktext="Read our Wyze Cam (2020) review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/home/security/wyze-cam-v3-review/" like="~ Affordable ~ Works indoors and outside ~ Uses rechargeable battery" dislike="~ Does not support Apple HomeKit ~ Some features require a subscription" can-collapse="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"5ff72d77-0482-43d7-97ff-1bcd096ea357","slug":"ring-stick-up-indoor-outdoor-wire-free-1080p-security-camera-white-b0c5qrz47p","name":"Ring - Stick Up Indoor/Outdoor Wire Free 1080p Security Camera - White","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1732292509628}" overridecredit="CNET/Tyler Lacoma" overridecaption="<p>Ring's battery cam is on the higher-end but offers a versatile, weather resistance option to watch kids wherever they are.</p>" imagegroup="{"uuid":"aa7129e3-7219-4ddb-aa3a-005fd1a4a19b","alt":"A Ring Stick Up Cam Pro on a wooden table with its charging table. ","caption":"<p>Ring's battery cam is on the higher-end but offers a versatile, weather resistance option to watch kids wherever they are.</p>","credits":"CNET/Tyler Lacoma","imageData":{"id":"aa7129e3-7219-4ddb-aa3a-005fd1a4a19b","filename":"ring-stick-up-pro-hero.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/3d483ca10e59a6ea78b7ca90bf48078a34c75603/hub/2024/03/06/aa7129e3-7219-4ddb-aa3a-005fd1a4a19b/ring-stick-up-pro-hero.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2024-03-06 20:14:58.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/3d483ca10e59a6ea78b7ca90bf48078a34c75603/hub/2024/03/06/aa7129e3-7219-4ddb-aa3a-005fd1a4a19b/ring-stick-up-pro-hero.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"<p>Ring's battery cam is on the higher-end but offers a versatile, weather resistance option to watch kids wherever they are.</p>","imageCredit":"CNET/Tyler Lacoma","imageAltText":"A Ring Stick Up Cam Pro on a wooden table with its charging table. ","imageFilename":"ring-stick-up-pro-hero.jpg","imageWidth":4978,"imageHeight":3319,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2024-03-06","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"fj4uf4oyr3ekz2x","type":"listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cnetlisticle__fcb7c712-5317-49c4-83c5-44ee94acf44f" index="2" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="gap-project,hv60,ring,amazon-prime,home-security,august,alexa,freelance-update,wyze,amazon,philips,ecobee" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="CNET/Tyler Lacoma" imagealttext="A Ring Stick Up Cam Pro on a wooden table with its charging table. " class="c-bestListListicle">
The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is a great camera for a lot of reasons, but thanks to its reasonable price and tight integration with Amazon Echo devices -- it's an easy pick here. Plus, because a rechargeable battery powers it, you can place it anywhere you want -- inside or out -- and not have to worry about a power outlet.
It comes with weatherproof housing, clear night vision, a 130-degree field of view, a loud siren and more. Thanks to that tight Amazon integration, if you have an Echo Show smart display, like the Echo Show 15, you can put a live view widget on the screen. You can also just ask Alexa to show the feed on the screen with a simple voice command as well.
In Amazon's Echo Show 8, you get an 8-inch screen with the best resolution of any Echo Show yet, a camera shutter and all the smarts of previous Amazon smart displays. The Echo Show 8 has a built-in Alexa speaker. That means you can use this smart display to ask your Alexa digital assistant to do your bidding, whether that be asking it to play music, relay the weather or just tell you a joke.
Since it's a smart display, it also offers advanced compatibility with Alexa-enabled security cameras. Ask Alexa to "answer the front door" when someone rings your Ring Peephole Cam and you can see the live feed on your Show 8 -- and actually talk to the person, straight from the smart display.
August's Wi-Fi Smart Lock is a great smart lock. It retrofits to most standard deadbolts, so you don't have to deal with a complicated installation. The built-in Wi-Fi makes it possible to access and control your smart lock remotely via the Android or iOS app without needing an August Connect module. As its spot on this list might indicate, it's an Alexa-compatible device, too -- that means you can lock and unlock your door from an Alexa-enabled smart speaker using your voice.
The lock also comes with an open/close sensor -- called DoorSense -- that attaches to the door in question. That way, the app can not only tell you whether the door is locked or unlocked but also if the door is open or closed. That's a nice touch of functionality from such a simple-to-use smart lock.
Amazon's $80 Smart Thermostat is hard to beat in terms of value, and that's at full price. For starters, the thermostat works as well with Alexa as you'd expect given that it's an Amazon product, so if you have an Echo speaker or Echo Show display, you should be in good shape to get the best value out of the device.
Even for those who don't, the thermostat offers a simple, straightforward design that looks great on a wall and feels great to use, and it could even save you as much as $50 per year with its energy-saving settings.
Photo Gallery1/1
smart light</a> that works with voice commands, this is the best Alexa-enabled one out there. A two-pack of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href=https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/best-alexa-devices/"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084TFWJTH/ref=sw_img_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1%22>standard, white-light bulbs</a> can be had for just $23, but the fully color-changing versions only cost a few bucks more at $27 for a two-pack, which is worth it even if you'll only break those colors out on rare holiday occasions. Either way, you're getting a 2-pack of Alexa-compatible bulbs that connect directly to your home internet network via Wi-Fi. Screw them in, connect via the Wyze app and you're ready to go.</p><p>Colors aside, the Wyze bulbs have a great range of white light, from candlelight-like to daylight-white. Plus, despite the low price, they produce better brightness than many bulbs that sell for more.</p>" page-position linktext="Read our Wyze Bulb review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/reviews/wyze-bulb-review/" like="~ Affordable ~ Many smart home integration options ~ Useful features like scenes, shortcuts and a vacation mode" dislike="~ Doesn't dim as much as some competitors ~ Doesn't support Siri voice controls via Apple HomeKit ~ Limited app functionality" can-collapse="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"f1308fa3-5d43-48bc-952c-39cd489374d6","slug":"wyze-bulb-color-1100-lumen-wifi-rgb-and-tunable-white-a19-smart-bulb-works-with-alexa-and-google-assistant-two-pack","name":"Wyze Bulb Color, 1100 Lumen WiFi RGB and Tunable White A19 Smart Bulb, Works with Alexa and Google Assistant, Two-Pack","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1732292503419}" overridecredit="Chris Monroe/CNET" overridecaption="<p></p>" imagegroup="{"uuid":"785477a8-5fd1-44bb-abab-22bf8da14730","alt":"wyze-bulb-1-720","caption":"<p></p>","credits":"Chris Monroe/CNET","imageData":{"id":"785477a8-5fd1-44bb-abab-22bf8da14730","filename":"wyze-bulb-1-720.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/8b72b8dae184a18c1839cd9420b860ffaa32c2a1/hub/2019/07/26/785477a8-5fd1-44bb-abab-22bf8da14730/wyze-bulb-1-720.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2019-07-26 16:51:40.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/8b72b8dae184a18c1839cd9420b860ffaa32c2a1/hub/2019/07/26/785477a8-5fd1-44bb-abab-22bf8da14730/wyze-bulb-1-720.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Chris Monroe/CNET","imageAltText":"wyze-bulb-1-720","imageFilename":"wyze-bulb-1-720.jpg","imageWidth":720,"imageHeight":405,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2019-07-26","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"u9vxa9stfqgcn0q","type":"listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cnetlisticle__c26c5dfe-b178-4c50-952e-476dba27c43c" index="6" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="gap-project,hv60,ring,amazon-prime,home-security,august,alexa,freelance-update,wyze,amazon,philips,ecobee" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="Chris Monroe/CNET" imagealttext="wyze-bulb-1-720" class="c-bestListListicle">
Wyze is well known for its super-cheap prices, and its Wi-Fi connected smart lightbulb is no different. If you're looking for a smart light that works with voice commands, this is the best Alexa-enabled one out there. A two-pack of standard, white-light bulbs can be had for just $23, but the fully color-changing versions only cost a few bucks more at $27 for a two-pack, which is worth it even if you'll only break those colors out on rare holiday occasions. Either way, you're getting a 2-pack of Alexa-compatible bulbs that connect directly to your home internet network via Wi-Fi. Screw them in, connect via the Wyze app and you're ready to go.
Colors aside, the Wyze bulbs have a great range of white light, from candlelight-like to daylight-white. Plus, despite the low price, they produce better brightness than many bulbs that sell for more.
While other DIY home security systems work well with Alexa, the Ring Alarm Pro offers excellent performance with unique built-in Alexa integrations. With the higher-end Ring Protect Plus subscription, you even get Alexa's security feature -- Guard Plus -- packaged in for free. That means Alexa will listen for glass breaking or footsteps while you're away and will alert you if it hears anything fishy.
Beyond its Alexa integrations, the Ring Alarm Plus offers fantastic features, like a built-in Wi-Fi 6 gateway, backup internet, local processing and storage (a first for Ring), cellular backup, professional monitoring and more. A fourteen-piece system costs $380, and subscriptions range from $4 per month to $20 per month -- the most expensive of which still undercuts some of the best competition. In short, this system is a fantastic value.
Photo Gallery1/1
A smart plug</a> like this one connects via your Wi-Fi connection directly to a wall outlet and converts your non-smart lamps, fans and other gadgets into smart devices.</p><p>Use the TP-Link app to connect and control devices -- or enlist Amazon Alexa and use voice control. Say, "Alexa, turn on the reading lamp" to get the Plug Mini smart plug to control the devices connected to it with ease.</p>" page-position linktext="Read our TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/reviews/tp-link-kasa-smart-wi-fi-plug-mini-review/" like="~ Keeps other outlets free ~ Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa ~ Offers plenty of scheduling and timing options" dislike="~ Not compatible with Apple HomeKit" can-collapse="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"a3ff976f-5a5c-46bf-9958-5b488c195a69","slug":"kasa-smart-plug-by-tp-link-smart-home-wi-fi-outlet-works-with-alexa-echo-google-home-ifttt-no-hub-required-remote-control","name":"Kasa Smart Plug by TP-Link, Smart Home Wi-Fi Outlet Works with Alexa, Echo, Google Home & IFTTT, No Hub Required, Remote Control, 15 Amp, UL Certified, 1-Pack(HS103) , WHITE","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1732292504350}" overridecredit="Chris Monroe/CNET" overridecaption="<p></p>" imagegroup="{"uuid":"f7c9be8c-5b5a-4797-8620-e24a237341eb","alt":"tp-link-kasa-2","caption":"<p></p>","credits":"Chris Monroe/CNET","imageData":{"id":"f7c9be8c-5b5a-4797-8620-e24a237341eb","filename":"tp-link-kasa-2.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/adf981af028b651b9ecf4eea70635c179d4da067/hub/2018/04/12/f7c9be8c-5b5a-4797-8620-e24a237341eb/tp-link-kasa-2.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2018-04-12 17:20:02.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/adf981af028b651b9ecf4eea70635c179d4da067/hub/2018/04/12/f7c9be8c-5b5a-4797-8620-e24a237341eb/tp-link-kasa-2.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Chris Monroe/CNET","imageAltText":"tp-link-kasa-2","imageFilename":"tp-link-kasa-2.jpg","imageWidth":4117,"imageHeight":2316,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2018-04-12","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"7xs2e1o3i2nlxoe","type":"listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cnetlisticle__d9b41a73-319e-4e8e-b6a4-1841f8a07ba8" index="8" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="gap-project,hv60,ring,amazon-prime,home-security,august,alexa,freelance-update,wyze,amazon,philips,ecobee" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="Chris Monroe/CNET" imagealttext="tp-link-kasa-2" class="c-bestListListicle">
The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini is a big name for a tiny smart plug that costs about $20. A smart plug like this one connects via your Wi-Fi connection directly to a wall outlet and converts your non-smart lamps, fans and other gadgets into smart devices.
Use the TP-Link app to connect and control devices -- or enlist Amazon Alexa and use voice control. Say, "Alexa, turn on the reading lamp" to get the Plug Mini smart plug to control the devices connected to it with ease.
Photo Gallery1/1
Amazon Echo Hub</a> such a great device. For the full price of $180, the tablet-looking product may seem pricey compared to the<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href=https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/best-alexa-devices/"https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/amazon-fire-hd-8-2022-review/"> Fire tablets</a> Amazon offers. That is until you realize the genius simplicity the Echo Hub possesses.</p><p>It's the software interface that makes using the Echo Hub so easy and intuitive. Amazon brought the smart home controls that are available on its smart displays to the smart home controller and made them better. With a customizable home screen, quick toggles, easy-to-understand buttons and more, the Amazon Echo Hub can do almost anything for your smart home.</p><p>I do wish the speakers were better and you could put more than just Ring cameras into the live widgets, but the Echo Hub is a great central location to control your smart home. Plus, it can also act like Amazon's Echo Show smart display and Echo smart speakers, too.</p>" page-position linktext linkurl like="~Affordable ~Easy to setup and use ~Many integrations ~Doubles as a smart display" dislike="~Camera live view limitations ~Speakers aren't very good" can-collapse="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"68e51c90-839e-4003-aa09-f0fbd25355c0","slug":"introducing-echo-hub-8-smart-home-control-panel-with-alexa-compatible-with-over-140-000-devices","name":"Introducing Echo Hub | 8” smart home control panel with Alexa | Compatible with over 140,000 devices","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1732292502455}" overridecredit overridecaption="<p></p>" imagegroup="{"imageData":{},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"ia6jczlj3qobdck","type":"listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cnetlisticle__2b3693ce-79e4-404c-a80d-90190843adf0" index="9" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="gap-project,hv60,ring,amazon-prime,home-security,august,alexa,freelance-update,wyze,amazon,philips,ecobee" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit imagealttext class="c-bestListListicle">
There aren't many smart home controllers available for the average smart home user to pick up and start using. The ones out there tend to be pricey and require a fair bit of know-how to set up. This is partially what makes the Amazon Echo Hub such a great device. For the full price of $180, the tablet-looking product may seem pricey compared to the Fire tablets Amazon offers. That is until you realize the genius simplicity the Echo Hub possesses.
It's the software interface that makes using the Echo Hub so easy and intuitive. Amazon brought the smart home controls that are available on its smart displays to the smart home controller and made them better. With a customizable home screen, quick toggles, easy-to-understand buttons and more, the Amazon Echo Hub can do almost anything for your smart home.
I do wish the speakers were better and you could put more than just Ring cameras into the live widgets, but the Echo Hub is a great central location to control your smart home. Plus, it can also act like Amazon's Echo Show smart display and Echo smart speakers, too.
Factors to consider when choosing an Alexa device
Privacy
Amazon's voice assistant makes it easier to control the devices in your home, set timers and find out how long your commute to the office will take. Privacy has become an increasing concern as smart speakers and displays grow in popularity. Reports that Amazon keeps transcripts of your voice conversations, even after you've deleted the Alexa audio recordings, led to concerns over user privacy. Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, wrote a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos seeking answers about Amazon's Alexa user data and how it's stored.
Amazon isn't alone in its privacy concerns. Its subsidiary Ring and other major tech companies such as Facebook and Google have faced their own privacy issues, prompting questions about data usage. Amazon and others appear to be working to win back consumer trust, but it is still an important factor to consider.
Type of smart home device
There are literally thousands of Alexa and Alexa-compatible devices that you can buy on the market right now, from smart speakers and home security devices to smart lighting and smart thermostats. Before you make a purchase, consider how you plan to use your Alexa device so you can be sure to find the one that best suits your needs.
Installation and set up
Amazon makes installation seamless with the help of Alexa voice commands. Plus, many of the best Alexa and Alexa-compatible devices offer a companion app to help with installation and controlling the device. Before buying an Alexa device, consider your other smart home devices, too. It wouldn't necessarily make a ton of sense to buy an Alexa device if your smart home is already made up of an ecosystem of Google Assistant or Siri devices.
Price
Cost is always a factor. The good news is most of these Alexa devices are budget-friendly, ranging from $30 to $300, depending on the device.
Hands-on testing is critical to the CNET mission. No matter what device or product we're evaluating, we'll always be transparent about the unbiased and unmatched testing standards that went into our review.
Since Alexa-compatible devices are all different in type and ability, and since testing home security devices is very different from testing smart displays, there wasn't one single testing method to build this list. You can trust that our CNET experts have spent hours doing in-depth testing with each product.
There are thousands of Alexa and Alexa-compatible devices on the market and we've tested most of them. Considering the magnitude and volume of devices, we can't list every single one here. We can direct you to our other best lists with devices that are compatible with Alexa. Here are a few to start:
Today, the race is extremely close between Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa. Apple's Siri is on the board but in a solid third place when it comes to reliability, knowledge and comprehension of human requests.
Overall, we give the edge to Google Assistant for its superior cadence, naturalistic tone and ability to understand (and answer) questions and follow-up queries consistently. It's close enough that you can safely invest in either Google Assistant or Alexa based on other preferences like speaker style, devices and compatibility with other popular smart home products.
Alexa is nearly as good as Google Assistant, so you really can't go wrong no matter which assistant you choose. You'll learn its quirks and how to interact with your assistant to coax the best responses and helpful information.
What is the difference between Amazon Echo and Alexa?
Amazon Alexa is a voice assistant that can control your smart home devices via voice commands. Simply saying things like, "Alexa, turn down the lights" can dim all your smart lights at once. The voice assistant also answers questions and completes simple virtual tasks.
On the other hand, the Echo is a line of Amazon smart speakers, the actual hardware rather than a service.
Alexa is the main way you control all of your Amazon Echo and Alexa-compatible smart home products. Alexa can do an extraordinary array of simple tasks, answer questions and respond to commands. There are over 200 Alexa voice commands available right now and we've broken them all down here.
In general, Alexa is available to answer quick questions, play music, control your smart home or TV, set timers, conduct calls and write messages, purchase items off Amazon and even play games.
