Alternative Alexa (or Alexa-Compatible) Speakers
- Amazon Echo Pop for $40: The Echo Pop (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a charming little speaker, arguably the most adorable in Amazon’s collection. Is its sound exceptional? Not really. It’s adequate for background music or confined spaces like dorm rooms, but you’ll achieve better audio quality from the Echo Dot, albeit at a slightly higher price and without the delightful color options!
- Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) for $90: This smart display is another satisfactory choice, but its size hampers its effectiveness as a display, and the included camera makes it unsuitable for a bedside table; it’s preferable to select the Echo Spot or Echo Dot instead.
- Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) for $250: This smart display boasts impressive sound quality, but its unusual shape makes it a challenge to incorporate into your home decor. While it’s interesting that it can follow you around during conversations, it also feels somewhat odd. It’s beneficial if you frequently move around a large kitchen island, but not particularly useful beyond that.
- Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen) for $300: This smart display works well, but it visibly aspires to serve as a TV and doesn’t perform excellently in that regard yet. I hope to see enhancements in its TV-related functions in the future to justify placing it in a kitchen or office. Nonetheless, it excels with widgets, thanks to its expansive 15.6-inch screen. There’s also a larger Echo Show 21 ($400) that offers the same features but in a bigger format.
- Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) for $227: The Beosound A1 is a stylish, durable, and excellent-sounding portable speaker, and the second-generation model comes with Alexa integration, making it an Alexa speaker usable anywhere. It’s a fantastic speaker, though pricier than the Sonos Roam.
Other Devices Featuring Alexa
Why limit your interactions with Alexa to your home? These gadgets allow you to have access to your favorite voice assistant no matter where you are.
- Echo Frames (3rd Gen) ($330): WIRED reviews editor Adrienne So was initially skeptical about these combined glasses and headphones but was pleasantly surprised by their appeal. They look stylish, are quite comfortable, and the sound quality is decent—albeit a bit tinny since the speakers are situated close to your ears. You can take calls effortlessly while jogging or walking, and the microphone quality ensures clarity. However, the charging stand is somewhat frustrating, as the glasses’ arms don’t fit securely, requiring careful balancing.
- Echo Buds (2021 Release) ($120): We appreciated the original Echo Buds, but the 2021 version has earned even greater acclaim (8/10, WIRED Recommends). Amazon’s earbuds come equipped with wireless charging, noise-cancellation technology, and a surprisingly comfortable design. Enhanced microphones ensure that Alexa’s voice commands are effective even amidst background noise. Using these earbuds feels like stepping into a sci-fi future. Need to set a timer, request the weather, or check sports updates? Simply ask with these earbuds. Amazon also offers a more affordable 2023 version ($50) that has a less appealing design and lacks active noise cancellation.
What is Alexa+?
Amazon is preparing to launch an enhanced version of Alexa, dubbed Alexa+. This next iteration of the Alexa voice assistant is designed to be more conversational, capable of executing intricate tasks and continuously learning, thanks to advancements in generative AI.
A subscription will cost $20 per month, or it can be accessed for free for Amazon Prime members. Since you likely have a membership if you’ve already acquired an Alexa device, this shift to a paid service represents a significant change from the previous offering. Amazon indicates that early access will start rolling out in the US next month, beginning with the Echo Show smart displays, specifically the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21.
How to Filter Spam from Your Echo Show Screen
If you own an Echo Show, you may have noticed an overload of default content displayed on your device. From sports scores to local news and recipe suggestions, this abundance can make the device frustrating to be near.
To tailor what content appears:
- Swipe down from the top of your Echo Show to access the menu, then select Settings.
- In the Settings menu, navigate to Home Content.
- Here, you can enable or disable over 40 content options. It’s advisable to turn off as many as you don’t utilize—typically, I disable everything except weather updates and recently played audio.
While you can opt out of interest-based ads from third-party services under the Alexa Privacy section in Settings, this won’t eliminate all ads. The only completely ad-free mode is selecting Photo Display mode, which can utilize Amazon’s photo library or your own images. The trade-off is that it will convert your device into a digital photo frame, meaning you won’t see the time or other features like widgets.
