For the past month, I’ve been living with the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) in my home, using it for everything from blasting music while I cook to checking the news in the morning. Here’s a breakdown of my experience, the good, the bad, and the bottom line.
The Good
- Surprisingly powerful sound: Don’t let the spherical design fool you. The Echo (4th Gen) packs a punch. The bass is surprisingly deep and the treble is clear, filling my living room with rich audio. Whether I’m listening to hip-hop tracks or classical concertos, the Echo delivers a well-rounded sound that’s impressive for its size.
- Smart home hub with future-proof connectivity: Beyond the audio quality, the Echo (4th Gen) shines as a smart home hub. It seamlessly integrated with my Zigbee-compatible smart lights and plugs, allowing for voice-controlled automation. Plus, with built-in support for the new Matter standard, the Echo seems well-positioned for the future of smart home connectivity.
- Alexa is generally helpful, with some quirks: Living with Alexa has its perks. Setting alarms, adding items to shopping lists, and controlling the lights are all a breeze with simple voice commands. The voice recognition is excellent, picking up my requests even from across the room. However, there have been occasional stumbles. Sometimes Alexa misinterprets instructions, especially when there’s background noise.
The Not-So-Good
- Not truly portable: Despite its spherical design, the Echo (4th Gen) is chained to the wall by its power cord. There’s an optional battery base that unlocks portability, but it’s an extra cost. This makes the Echo less versatile than some true Bluetooth speakers that offer on-the-go listening.
- Limited high-fidelity options: While the sound quality is good for casual listening, audiophiles might be left wanting. The Echo doesn’t support high-fidelity codecs like FLAC or aptX, which are common in higher-end Bluetooth speakers. Music streaming is limited to the quality offered by services like Spotify or Apple Music.
- Alexa can feel intrusive at times: Let’s face it, a constantly listening device can feel a bit intrusive at times. While there’s a mute button, it can be easy to forget to engage it. There have been instances where I’ve caught myself whispering to avoid setting Alexa off unintentionally.
The Verdict
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is a compelling smart speaker with a lot to offer. The audio quality is impressive for its size, and its functionality as a smart home hub is excellent. However, the lack of true portability and limited high-fidelity options might be dealbreakers for some. Ultimately, the Echo (4th Gen) strikes a balance between smart home convenience and decent audio quality, making it a solid choice for those looking for an all-in-one solution. But if portability or pristine sound are your top priorities, you might need to look elsewhere.