Amazon Echo (2nd gen. 2017)

Excellent value ; Easy to set up ; Expandable range of skills ; Clean audio and simple voice control

Similarly priced speakers offer better sound

It doesn’t have the audio prowess to take on the best Bluetooth speakers. However, clear audio, great looks and a significantly lower price than the original make this smart assistant a winner.

Here is a program I just invented with Alexa.

New look ; Low price ; Great new Alexa features

More of the same ; Alexa app could be better ; No more rotating dial

While the smarts stay the same, the new Amazon Echo has been given a much-needed makeover with a price just too compelling to resist.

Great music and list making ; You can shop through it ; Best. Kitchen timer. Ever.

Very middling as a speaker ; Lots of clonky apps ; Echo Dot is better value

Intelligent voice recognition ; Large ecosystem and growing ; Well built

Caters to Prime ; Lackluster sound quality ; Multi-user support lacking

As purely a Bluetooth speaker, the Echo leaves a lot to be desired. Paired with a natural, engrossing AI, however, Amazon's grand experiment in artificial intelligence is one of the most interesting gadgets of recent years.

Alexa voice control ; Improved hearing commands ; Smart design ; Affordable

Average sound quality

Everything from the price to the microphone performance has improved. Unfortunately, sound quality hasn't

Alexa is a wonderful smart home controller ; Compact design with changeable skins ; Lots of third-party compatibility ; Affordable price

Sound quality isn't great ; No physical volume control ring ; Software is occasionally buggy

If you want to dip your toe into the world of Alexa, the Echo might seem like the obvious choice. However, with the Plus better for music and the Show and Spot better for visuals, Amazon's principal speaker seems squeezed by its surrounding Echo...

Camera snapshot feature is great ; Compatible with a huge range of devices ; Setup is surprisingly easy ; Screen is clear and bright, touch is precise

Widgets need a bit more finesse ; Snapshot needs to have support for Arlo and others ; Most features can be used on existing Echo devices

Ideal for bringing a little more order to larger Alexa setups. But the software needs more work, while the signature snapshot feature needs to have more than just Ring support.

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

Sound is merely OK

All the same smarts, but for a lot less cash. For first time smart speaker buyers, the new Echo is a no-brainer