Want Alexa? We reveal which Amazon Echo you should buy this Christmas
WANT to welcome Alexa into your household this Christmas? There are plenty of smart speakers to choose from.
We've rounded up the eight latest Amazon Echo speakers in the line-up, and help you decide which model is right for you.
Amazon Echo Dot
The Echo Dot is the cheapest and easiest way into the Alexa ecosystem.
It's always £50 or less, and offers very respectable sound for its price and size.
If you've never used an Alexa gadget before, this is probably the best option. It lets you find out if you like Alexa without paying a huge bill.
Also, your money isn't wasted if you decide to buy a more powerful Alexa speaker down the line. Simply put this Echo Dot in another room.
- Echo Dot at Amazon for £24.99 –
Amazon Echo Show 5
Amazon's Echo Show 5 is the smallest of the Alexa speakers with displays.
Screens add a brand new dimension to Alexa: you can watch the news or films, see your calendar or recipes, and make video calls to friends.
It looks reasonably stylish, and is probably best suited to someone who wants Alexa in their kitchen.
The price is also very reasonable, and is perfect for first-time Alexa-with-screen customers.
- Echo Show 5 at Amazon for £49.99 –
Amazon Echo
Amazon's third-generation Echo is the core speaker in the line-up.
It's got a middling price tag of between £60 and £90, and offers very impressive sound for the cost.
The new design is very stylish, and there are five colour options available to suit your decor.
This is probably the cheapest Amazon speaker that can serve as a proper home audio device.
- Echo at Amazon for £59.99 –
Amazon Echo Show 8
This is a step up from the Echo Show 5 in terms of screen size.
You move from a 5-inch display to an 8-inch HD panel, which looks significantly larger in real life.
It's a better buy than the Echo 5 if you've got the space for it, because it's much easier to see what's happening on the screen.
And the Echo 8's sale price is very similar to cost of an Echo 5, so if you know you want an Alexa screen, this is a hard deal to pass up.
- Echo Show 8 at Amazon for £59.99 –
Amazon Echo Sub
The Echo Sub is probably not a device for first-timers, unless you're a gadget geek.
For a start, you'll need a compatible Echo device (specifically an Echo or Echo Plus), which is sold separately.
Then you'll need to fork out £120 for the cost of the Echo Sub.
The reward is powerful and impressive bass to back up the music you're playing through an Echo.
Of course, it's only a good buy if you actually use your Echo for music streaming.
- Echo Sub at Amazon for £119.99 –
Amazon Echo Plus
This pricier alternative to the Amazon Echo proper is for Alexa fans who want better audio.
The Echo Plus is a fantastic speaker for the money, and comes with the added benefit of Alexa functionality.
It sounds better than an Amazon Echo, but then it costs £50 to £80 more.
If you're a proper audiophile then go for the Echo Plus, as it can easily fill a whole room with rich and balanced sound.
- Echo Plus at Amazon for £139.99 –
Amazon Echo Studio
The Echo Studio is for proper soundsters who really care about their audio quality.
If you need a very good speaker and you're looking to get Alexa in one purchase, this is a great choice.
It's costly at £189.99, but that's definitely in the right pricing region given the calibre of audio on offer.
Most buyers will be happy with an Echo or Echo Plus, so don't bother with the Studio (and its "3D audio") unless you're a true audiophile.
- Echo Studio at Amazon for £189.99 –
Amazon Echo Show 10
Amazon's Echo Show is the crème de la crème of Alexa speakers.
It's got a huge 10-inch screen that makes it perfect for watching telly, music videos or the news.
But it also has a powerful speaker system that will easily serve an entire room with powerful sound.
This probably shouldn't be your first Echo speaker however – don't splash £200 unless you're a dedicated Alexa fan.
- Echo Show 10 at Amazon for £199.99 –
Amazon Echo line-up – the quick read
Here are the headline points you need to know:
- Amazon Echo Dot – the best Echo speaker for first-timers, thanks to its low price
- Amazon Echo Show 5 – the cheapest Echo with a screen, although it costs only slightly less than the bigger 8-inch model
- Amazon Echo – the main Echo speaker, with powerful audio for a reasonable price
- Amazon Echo Show 8 – an impressive screen with decent sound for a very respectable price
- Amazon Echo Sub – this will provide heaps of pounding bass to your existing Echo speaker
- Amazon Echo Plus – a pricier (and better sounding) version of the core Echo, with the same slick design
- Amazon Echo Studio – the ultimate Echo device for audiophiles who are looking for a proper speaker
- Amazon Echo Show 10 – Amazon's most expensive Alexa speaker has a huge 10-inch HD screen and great sound, but isn't for everyone
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Are you tempted to buy an Alexa speaker this year? If so, let us know in the comments!
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