Best Amazon Alexa Devices

Alexa lovers everywhere, pay attention. Out of the many options, we’ve picked the three best Amazon Alexa devices for your home (and car).

Keep reading to get the skinny on which devices we picked and why we think they’re the best Alexa devices.

The simple Echo speaker still holds up in the smart hub market. Of the basic Echos, the Echo Dot is our favorite for home automation.

What’s not to like about the Amazon Echo Dot? It’s small, it’s cute, and it does everything a full-sized Echo does. That means that it can do the following, among other things:

• 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
• Order ingredients
• Remind you of things
• Wake you up with alarms
• Alert you with timers

As if the regular Echo Dot isn’t enough, you can also get upgraded versions.

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. And it’s a great way for kids to access the content on Amazon Kids+.

We thought of one thing we don’t like. The Echo Dot is smaller than other Echo versions, so it lacks hard-hitting bass capabilities. The sound isn’t bad, but it’s not good enough for some audiophiles, who may find their Amazon Music playlists lacking when heard through a Dot.

If sound is a priority for you, we recommend an Echo Plus or Amazon Echo Studio. Or you can just buy all three.

With the Echo Show 10 smart speaker, Alexa can help you watch Amazon Prime Video, read recipes, video call friends, and visit some websites.

Those of us used to devices with screens may feel slightly disconnected from the screenless Echos. Plus, there are things you just can’t do without a visual display.

Enter the Amazon Echo Show. It has all the Echo Dot’s features and even more. The screen lets you video chat with friends and family, watch movies and TV shows, read recipes instead of having them read to you, browse the internet, and pore over new colors for your LIFX bulbs. You can even look at your security camera’s feeds.

We’ve included a few versions of the Echo Show in the table. The Echo Show 10 is the latest and greatest, but you can also get some of the same functionality with a Show 8 or Show 5. It depends on how badly you want the most up-to-date version.

The Echo Show 10 has a bigger screen than the other two models, so if you want a lot of real estate, that’s the way to go.

Compared to the price tag of the Echo Show 8 or Echo Show 5, the Echo Show 10 is quite a bit more expensive. It comes with an HD smart screen and a few other notable features, but it's definitely not your cheapest option.

If you’ve ever been sitting in your car and thought, “Man, I wish I had Alexa with me!” then you’re in luck with Echo Auto.

Meet the only Echo made for the inside of a car, the Echo Auto. This little thing is designed specifically for commutes and road trips. It has eight microphones so Alexa can hear you over the engine, and its Bluetooth audio plays through your car’s speaker system.

The Echo Auto won’t work with all cars or even phones. Check before you buy so you don’t end up with a product you can’t use.

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.

Let's look at a couple of other Amazon Alexa products we love.

Alexa-controlled TV? Yes, please. This little cube can access multiple streaming services and act as a smart home hub.

A Fire TV Cube brings you 4K Ultra HD, and it’s voice-controlled. You can ask Alexa to change the channel or turn off the lights—all without lifting a finger.

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!

Not everyone wants to drop $50+ on an Echo. If you’re one of those people, you could try getting an Echo Flex. It usually runs at about half the price of a Dot.

The Echo Flex was discontinued, but you can still purchase this product through independent sellers on Amazon. 

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.

Essentially, if you’re looking for a pocket-sized Echo, this won’t work. But if you don’t want to buy a large Echo for every room in your house yet still want unlimited access, a Loop is a perfect fit.

Just know that you have to request an Amazon invitation to try the product since it's not fully on the market.

Let’s walk through our top Alexa picks once more.

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 10: Most versatile—Whether you want to video call, watch something, find a new recipe, or just unlock the door, Echo Show 10 is here for you. But you’ll have to shell out a bit of extra money for these features.

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.