The Amazon Echo has come a long way since its debut, and with the release of the Amazon Echo 4th Gen, the company has packed more features into an increasingly sleek and capable smart speaker.
While the Echo lineup has always been known for its integration with Alexa, smart home control, and music playback, the 4th Gen model takes things up a notch with improved sound quality, a more modern design, and broader compatibility with smart home devices.
In this Amazon Echo 4th Gen Review, I’ll take a deep dive into what makes the Amazon Echo 4th Gen one of the best smart speakers on the market and why it deserves a spot in your home.
Amazon Echo 4th Gen Review
Let’s dive into the Amazon Echo 4th Gen Review and explore its amazing features:
Design: A Modern, Refined Look
The first thing you’ll notice about the Amazon Echo 4th Gen is its new spherical design. Moving away from the cylindrical shape of previous models, this rounded form gives the speaker a more modern and sophisticated look, easily blending into any room’s décor.
The fabric finish is available in three colors—Charcoal, Glacier White, and Twilight Blue—each with a soft texture that complements the device’s overall aesthetic. At 5.7 inches in diameter, the Echo 4th Gen is slightly larger than its predecessors but still compact enough to sit comfortably on a nightstand, kitchen counter, or shelf.
The light ring, now located at the bottom of the device, gives off a soft glow when Alexa is active, adding a touch of elegance to its design.
Sound Quality: A Major Upgrade
One of the most significant improvements in the Amazon Echo 4th Gen is its sound quality. The speaker is equipped with a 3-inch woofer and dual front-firing 0.8-inch tweeters, delivering 360-degree sound that fills the room. Amazon has put a lot of effort into upgrading the audio experience, and it shows.
Whether you’re listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks, the sound is rich and full-bodied, with a nice balance of bass and treble. The bass is notably deeper than in previous models, providing a much more immersive listening experience, especially for genres like hip-hop, rock, and EDM. Even at higher volumes, the audio remains clear, without distortion or harshness.
If you’re a fan of multi-room audio, you’ll be pleased to know that the Echo 4th Gen can easily be grouped with other Echo devices, allowing you to synchronize music playback throughout your home. Plus, the speaker supports Dolby Audio, which further enhances the clarity and depth of sound.
Alexa Integration: Smarter Than Ever
As expected, Alexa integration is seamless with the Echo 4th Gen. With just a simple voice command, Alexa can play music, control smart home devices, set timers, check the weather, and much more. Amazon continues to refine Alexa’s capabilities, and with the 4th Gen, the assistant is quicker and more responsive than ever.
One standout feature is the integration with Amazon Sidewalk, a low-bandwidth network that connects Echo devices and other compatible gadgets like Ring cameras to enhance connectivity around your home. This allows devices to stay connected even when Wi-Fi is out of range, making your smart home ecosystem even more reliable.
In terms of privacy, Amazon has also made efforts to ensure that users feel secure with Alexa listening in. The Echo 4th Gen includes a microphone off button, which electronically disconnects the microphones to give you peace of mind. Additionally, you can review and delete voice recordings in the Alexa app for added control over your privacy.
Smart Home Hub: A Built-In Zigbee Hub
One of the most exciting features of the Amazon Echo 4th Gen is its built-in Zigbee smart home hub. This eliminates the need for an additional hub to connect compatible devices, such as smart lights, locks, and thermostats. With Zigbee integration, the Echo 4th Gen can act as a central hub for your smart home, simplifying the process of managing your connected devices.
Setting up new devices is as easy as plugging them in and asking Alexa to discover them. From there, you can control these devices through voice commands or the Alexa app, making it easier than ever to create automation and routines that fit your lifestyle.
Connectivity: More Than Just a Speaker
The Amazon Echo 4th Gen comes packed with a variety of connectivity options. In addition to Wi-Fi, it includes Bluetooth, so you can stream audio directly from your phone or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. The speaker also features a 3.5mm audio jack, which allows you to connect it to external speakers if you’re looking for even more powerful sound output.
Another notable feature is the Echo’s ability to act as an intercom system. Using Alexa’s Drop-in feature, you can communicate between different rooms in your home, sending quick messages or announcements through other Echo devices.
What Could Be Better?
While the Amazon Echo 4th Gen offers impressive sound quality and smart home functionality, there are still a few areas where it falls short. For example, while the speaker supports high-quality audio streaming from services like Amazon Music HD, it doesn’t support Apple Music Lossless or other high-resolution audio formats.
Audiophiles looking for the highest fidelity might find this to be a drawback. Additionally, the Echo 4th Gen is still very much tied into Amazon’s ecosystem. While it does work with services like Spotify and Apple Music, Amazon’s own services are more deeply integrated, which might be a limiting factor for users who prefer other platforms.
Conclusion
The Amazon Echo 4th Gen is undoubtedly a major step forward for the Echo lineup. Its improved sound quality, sleek design, and expanded smart home capabilities make it one of the best smart speakers currently available. Whether you’re a music lover, a smart home enthusiast, or just looking for a convenient way to interact with Alexa, the Echo 4th Gen delivers on all fronts.
If you’re already part of the Amazon ecosystem or looking to dive into the world of smart home automation, the Echo 4th Gen is an excellent choice. It offers impressive versatility, a richer sound experience, and seamless integration with other smart home devices, all at an affordable price point.
For those upgrading from an older Echo model or purchasing their first smart speaker, the Amazon Echo 4th Gen is well worth the investment. It strikes the perfect balance between performance, design, and functionality, making it a must-have for any modern home.
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