Amazon Echo (2nd Gen) review

As the Alexa family gets bigger, with an impressive array of differently-shaped and ever more complex devices, the new Echo delivers on a simple upgrade promise: it’s cheaper, looks sleeker, and performs (mostly) better. It’s not without compromise. For anyone after a smart speaker with truly bangin’ sound, there are better (if more expensive) choices, including the Sonos One and Amazon’s own Echo Plus, or even an Echo Dot plugged into an existing stereo. If you’ve got an original Echo, it’s probably not worth upgrading, either. For £89, though, there’s nothing else out there that looks quite as good, and gets the job done quite as well.

More compact and colourful; Alexa is constantly getting smarter; Great price;

Sound is merely OK;

Amazon Echo 2 review

The Echo is smaller, better looking and cheaper than the original. It has a removable shell so you can change its appearance, too. With a couple of other tweaks and improvements, it's good value but don't forget the Echo Show 5 costs even less, and is better if you want a screen.

Amazon Echo (2nd Generation) Review

The original Amazon Echo was the best smart speaker for over two years, but man, was it scary-looking. It was an unfriendly, black plastic cylinder that looked like it came from the wrong side of the Force. The second-generation Echo introduced in 2017 is a much more attractive speaker, and that's why Amazon hasn't touched it in two years despite updating nearly every other Echo device in that time. It's small, useful, sounds good for its size, and is reasonably priced at $99.99 (and often available for much less through Amazon). That's a killer combination, which is why it earned our Editors' Choice for voice assistant speakers in 2017, and why it's still a strong recommendation two years later. World of Echo Your choice of Alexa speakers has really expanded. You can get a little $49.99 third-generation Echo Dot or $34.99 Echo Input and pair it with a better speaker. You can get a $149.99 Echo Plus with more power and a built-in Zigbee home automation hub. Or you can get a third...

The Amazon Echo is a great-looking, affordable smart speaker with the best voice assistant technology.

Less expensive and better-looking than previous Echo; Alexa is the best voice assistant ecosystem; Adds 3.5mm out; Loud

Not much bass

Amazon Echo (2nd Gen) review review

More compact and colourful; Alexa is constantly getting smarter; Great price;

Sound is merely OK;