Keep reading to get the skinny on which devices we picked and why we think they’re the best. And a guide for troubleshooting your Alexa.
Turn the smart lights on and off Lock and unlock the front door smart lock Change the smart thermostat temperature Change the smart TV channel Call your mom Play music Play games Tell jokes Tell riddles Tell stories Read recipes Remind you of things Wake you up with alarms Alert you with timers
There’s the Echo Dot with Clock, which sounds gimmicky at first. After all, it’s not that hard to ask Alexa for the time. But take it from us: it’s seriously nice to have that digital display. If you jerk awake in the middle of the night, disoriented, the time’s automatically displayed on your nightstand. There’s also the Echo Dot Kids Edition. You’ll pay a premium for this Echo’s built-in parental controls. But for the concerned parent, it could be worth it for the restricted access, time limits, and transparent activity tracking. See the Echo Glow If sound is a priority for you, we recommend an Echo Plus or Echo Studio. You can type the YouTube site into the search bar and navigate it that way. It just takes away a lot of the convenience. The Flex is essentially a small, square Echo that plugs into a standard electrical outlet. It works as a smart home hub and connects with other Echo models for drop-in calls or announcements. It also has some cool Flex-only features, like a USB port. You can use the port to charge your phone or watch or to plug in an accessory. It also has limited functions compared to other Echos. It can’t be used for home automation, which is fine, but it’s still as much as the full-featured Echo Dot. We guess you’re paying a novelty tax for the convenience of putting it in your car. If you enjoy watching television, the Fire TV Cube is an easy way to incorporate Alexa into your TV room. Its price is on par with the Echo Show, and you can even get it bundled with a Food Network Kitchen subscription. Bon appétit! Our other reviewers also think the Echo Loop is an amusing concept, and it can come in handy when you aren’t near one of your stationary Echos. But it’s really only useful in your home. It won’t work when it’s not Wi-Fi connected, so you can’t travel with it. Echo Dot: Best smart home hub—If you mostly want to manage your smart home, go with the Echo Dot. You’ll get full voice control over your system in a tiny, round package. Echo Show 8: Most versatile—Whether you want to video call, watch something, find a new recipe, or just unlock the door, Echo Show 8 is here for you. But you’ll have to take a few extra steps to watch YouTube. Echo Flex: Best budget pick—If you don’t want to spend much to get Alexa, the plug-in Flex is inexpensive. It doesn’t look like much, but it gets the job done and has a USB port for add-ons. Echo Auto: Best mobile option—Technically your only mobile option, but it’s the perfect way to get on the road with Alexa. Just make sure your car and phone are compatible with the Auto. Resident internet expert Catherine McNally says, “The more devices and people you have using the internet, the more speed you need.” So with each person and each device using your internet connection, you’ll want to increase your Mbps. Here are some higher-speed plans we recommend. For that reason, we would recommend the Cube over the Stick in most circumstances.
