Amazon Tap (2016)

Better sound quality ; Decent battery life ; Totable ; Steadily improving AI

Requisite Amazon Prime ; Alexa's still learning

Amazon Tap improves upon the Echo's legacy by adding dual stereo speakers and a battery pack … only to take two steps back by cutting out one of its predecessor's most important features.

The Amazon Tap offers all of the conveniences of Amazon's assistant Alexa in a battery powered bluetooth speaker. Now that it has a hands free option, it works well both as a way to take Alexa on the road and as your primary Alexa device at home.

Alexa aside, the Tap doesn't sound as good as other Bluetooth speakers in its price range. It's not waterproof and Alexa doesn't work at all without Wi-Fi.

Now fully hands free, the Amazon Tap does everything the original Echo can do for less and adds portability to the package.

Compact size ; Comes with Alexa ; Convenient wireless charging cradle

Alexa isn't hands-free ; Lower than average battery life ; Average sound ; Sling Covers cost extra

Alexa's not the same when you need to literally push her button to make her listen.

Battery operated. Same Alexa voice assistance features as the Echo, including hands-free activation. Better sound quality than the Echo Dot.

Average audio quality compared with dedicated Bluetooth speakers.

The Google Home is available for the same price as the Tap, but it's not portable. Thanks to the addition of hands-free voice activation, the Amazon Tap is a very appealing alternative to the Echo, and its battery means you can use it anywhere instead...

Convenient charging cradle ; Blue lights give it personality ; Portability

No hands-free Alexa magic ; Mediocre Bluetooth speaker ; Can't dock to charge while using Sling

Links to Amazon's Alexa digital voice assistant ; Very easy to set up ; Beautiful industrial design ; Long battery life

Missing the Echo's best feature: Hands-free access to Alexa ; Inferior sound quality compared to comparably priced speakers ; Protective case costs $20 extra, covers the charging contacts on the bottom

Amazon pitches the Tap as an “Alexa-enabled portable Bluetooth speaker;” in other words, a mobile Echo. It’s not. Without hands-free access to Alexa, and with even more lackluster audio capabilities, the Tap is more of a digital curiosity than a...

Now in battery powered form within the portable Amazon Tap, Amazon's digital assistant Alexa is as good as ever. You can play music, command your smart home or add something to your to do list -- all with your voice. The Tap is lightweight and fun to...

Because it's not always listening -- you have to push a button to talk -- Alexa isn't as convenient to use on the Tap as it is on the other Echo devices. The audio distorts at high volumes and the bass is flat, so you can find better sound performance...

The Amazon Tap is a competent mix of portable Bluetooth speaker and digital assistant. It's worth a look if you want Alexa on the go, but the Tap isn't the best Bluetooth speaker or the best Alexa-enabled device you can find.