Amazon Echo Smart Speakers 2019 | Look Like Design | Ages like the wine
Amazon Echo (2019)
It has been nearly five-and-a-half-year since Amazon conjured up the first Echo smart speaker in its mission of 'Alexa-fying' the world. Since then the company has added dozens of new smart speakers, speakers that are smart (did you forget about the Echo Studio already?), smart displays (the Echo Show series), and a whole bunch of other Alexa-powered devices like a smart microwave oven and a smart plug that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep a track of the devices that feature support for the company's virtual assistant and that don't. This year, Amazon kept good on its promise of over-loading us with its devices at its annual shindig and launched a whole new bunch (read 15) of Alexa-powered devices.
The Newly launched Echo smart speaker is priced in India for Rs 9,999 and it is available in Black, Blue, Grey and White colour variants.
As far as the design is concerned, the third generation Echo looks quite similar to the Amazon Echo Plus that we reviewed last year. But looks are not the only thing that the all-new Echo has borrowed from the second generation Echo Plus. It has 'Plus-quality' sound too. Good sound coupled with a virtual assistant that is smarter by the minute makes the new Echo smart speaker a total keeper. But just how good it is, we will find out in the course of our review.
Design
The Smart Echo Speker lool like primium design, Echo smart speaker has evolved in terms of the design in past couple of years and the change is too obvious to notice.
Like I said before, the new Echo smart speaker is a closer sibling of the second generation Echo Plus smart speaker than its predecessor, at least in terms of the design. While both, the second and third generation Echo speakers, stand 5.8-inches tall, the former is a bit slender and comes with a 3.5-inch wide base which is same as that of the second generation Echo Plus that was launched last year - like literally! What makes them look like twins is the fact that both the second generation Echo Plus and the third generation Echo come with curved edges and a body that is covered in fabric, which gives it a softer appeal and helps it blend in its surroundings. Keep them side-by-side and you wouldn't be able to differentiate between them
Design aside, what separates the second generation Echo Plus from the all new Echo is the fact that while the Echo Plus comes with built-in smart home hub Echo lacks that functionality, which is one of the reasons why Amazon is charging an extra 5 grand for the Echo Plus.
Beyond that the third generation Echo comes with a set of six microphones, which is the same as that of the second generation Echo smart speaker. However, the company has upgraded the speaker system of the Echo smart speaker. While the second generation Echo came with a 2.5-inch woofer and a 0.6-inch tweeter, the third generation Echo features a 3.0-inch woofer and a 0.8-inch tweeter, which is the same as that of the second generation Echo Plus. So how does it make a difference? It definitely makes it sound better. It comes with a set of four buttons on top, while two control the volume, the third can be used to disable the microphone and the fourth button can be used for summoning Alexa without using the wake word.
Performance
Amazon's Echo smart speakers have evolved a lot ever since they first arrived in the market back in 2014. Not only has the company's virtual assistant, Alexa, become smarter in the five years of her existence but the company's smart speakers have also become better with time. The quality of audio has improved remarkably. This coupled with Amazon's reasonable pricing has made them suitable for not just people who are looking to upgrade their homes to smart homes but also to the audiophiles who are looking for a speaker that is smart, never misses a note and goes easy on the pocket. The third generation Echo smart speaker fits this bill perfectly.
It is loud, it is clear and it is melodious. Be it Sufi numbers like Kabira by Tochi Raina and Rekha Bharadwaj or the Pop Rock hit, It's My Life, by Bon Jovi or Pop classics such as I want it that way or The One by Backstreet Boys, the new Echo smart speaker sounds just wonderful. The sound is crystal clear. You can hear every strum of guitar, every beat of drum clearly. What makes this experience even better is the strong bass effect that you can feel permeating through your room. While playing songs like Titanium by David Guetta, you can feel the thumping of the speaker's powerful base effect in the space around you.
That said, the speaker does get a bit muddy at higher volume levels. I experienced a similar sound experience while reviewing the Bose Home Speaker 300 that was launched earlier this year. The audio quality is great as long as you are not listening to high pitched songs at tox volume at which point it loose on the clarity, which is another reason why the second generation Echo Plus costs way more than the new Echo smart speaker. In case you still aren't sure - because it never misses a note. Beyond that the third generation Echo smart speaker is loud. It is so loud that it can easily become the life of your party in a medium sized room.
Another thing that I loved about the Echo smart speaker is the responsiveness of Alexa. Amazon's virtual assistant is prompt and extremely attentive. She would respond to your queries and requests whether your are summoning her from the opposite end of the room or when your room is too noisy that you can't hear your own voice.
Should you buy the Amazon Echo (2019)?
The answer to this question is a simple yes. The third generation Echo smart speaker looks good. With its soft edges and fabric cover, it blends in its surroundings easily. This comfortable look is complimented by a strong audio performance and an affordable price range. The all new Echo offers a crystal clear sound quality with an extremely powerful bass effect that is perfect for house parties. What adds to this mix is an extremely responsive Alexa that never fails to hear you speaks and respond to your queries whether your in a noisy atmosphere or you are speaking in Hinglish. Alexa handles everything well. And so, if you are planning to buy a smart speaker within a price range of Rs 10,000 the all Echo should be on the top of your list.
That said, if you are looking for something more in the same price range, the Echo Show 5 (REVIEW) that comes with a 5.5-inch display and camera is priced at Rs 8,999 is definitely worth considering. Alternatively, if you don't mind splurging a bit for a better sound quality, the second generation Echo Plus is worth looking at.
The Newly launched Echo smart speaker is priced in India for Rs 9,999 and it is available in Black, Blue, Grey and White colour variants.
As far as the design is concerned, the third generation Echo looks quite similar to the Amazon Echo Plus that we reviewed last year. But looks are not the only thing that the all-new Echo has borrowed from the second generation Echo Plus. It has 'Plus-quality' sound too. Good sound coupled with a virtual assistant that is smarter by the minute makes the new Echo smart speaker a total keeper. But just how good it is, we will find out in the course of our review.
Design
The Smart Echo Speker lool like primium design, Echo smart speaker has evolved in terms of the design in past couple of years and the change is too obvious to notice.
Like I said before, the new Echo smart speaker is a closer sibling of the second generation Echo Plus smart speaker than its predecessor, at least in terms of the design. While both, the second and third generation Echo speakers, stand 5.8-inches tall, the former is a bit slender and comes with a 3.5-inch wide base which is same as that of the second generation Echo Plus that was launched last year - like literally! What makes them look like twins is the fact that both the second generation Echo Plus and the third generation Echo come with curved edges and a body that is covered in fabric, which gives it a softer appeal and helps it blend in its surroundings. Keep them side-by-side and you wouldn't be able to differentiate between them
Design aside, what separates the second generation Echo Plus from the all new Echo is the fact that while the Echo Plus comes with built-in smart home hub Echo lacks that functionality, which is one of the reasons why Amazon is charging an extra 5 grand for the Echo Plus.
Beyond that the third generation Echo comes with a set of six microphones, which is the same as that of the second generation Echo smart speaker. However, the company has upgraded the speaker system of the Echo smart speaker. While the second generation Echo came with a 2.5-inch woofer and a 0.6-inch tweeter, the third generation Echo features a 3.0-inch woofer and a 0.8-inch tweeter, which is the same as that of the second generation Echo Plus. So how does it make a difference? It definitely makes it sound better. It comes with a set of four buttons on top, while two control the volume, the third can be used to disable the microphone and the fourth button can be used for summoning Alexa without using the wake word.
Performance
Amazon's Echo smart speakers have evolved a lot ever since they first arrived in the market back in 2014. Not only has the company's virtual assistant, Alexa, become smarter in the five years of her existence but the company's smart speakers have also become better with time. The quality of audio has improved remarkably. This coupled with Amazon's reasonable pricing has made them suitable for not just people who are looking to upgrade their homes to smart homes but also to the audiophiles who are looking for a speaker that is smart, never misses a note and goes easy on the pocket. The third generation Echo smart speaker fits this bill perfectly.
It is loud, it is clear and it is melodious. Be it Sufi numbers like Kabira by Tochi Raina and Rekha Bharadwaj or the Pop Rock hit, It's My Life, by Bon Jovi or Pop classics such as I want it that way or The One by Backstreet Boys, the new Echo smart speaker sounds just wonderful. The sound is crystal clear. You can hear every strum of guitar, every beat of drum clearly. What makes this experience even better is the strong bass effect that you can feel permeating through your room. While playing songs like Titanium by David Guetta, you can feel the thumping of the speaker's powerful base effect in the space around you.
That said, the speaker does get a bit muddy at higher volume levels. I experienced a similar sound experience while reviewing the Bose Home Speaker 300 that was launched earlier this year. The audio quality is great as long as you are not listening to high pitched songs at tox volume at which point it loose on the clarity, which is another reason why the second generation Echo Plus costs way more than the new Echo smart speaker. In case you still aren't sure - because it never misses a note. Beyond that the third generation Echo smart speaker is loud. It is so loud that it can easily become the life of your party in a medium sized room.
Another thing that I loved about the Echo smart speaker is the responsiveness of Alexa. Amazon's virtual assistant is prompt and extremely attentive. She would respond to your queries and requests whether your are summoning her from the opposite end of the room or when your room is too noisy that you can't hear your own voice.
Should you buy the Amazon Echo (2019)?
The answer to this question is a simple yes. The third generation Echo smart speaker looks good. With its soft edges and fabric cover, it blends in its surroundings easily. This comfortable look is complimented by a strong audio performance and an affordable price range. The all new Echo offers a crystal clear sound quality with an extremely powerful bass effect that is perfect for house parties. What adds to this mix is an extremely responsive Alexa that never fails to hear you speaks and respond to your queries whether your in a noisy atmosphere or you are speaking in Hinglish. Alexa handles everything well. And so, if you are planning to buy a smart speaker within a price range of Rs 10,000 the all Echo should be on the top of your list.
That said, if you are looking for something more in the same price range, the Echo Show 5 (REVIEW) that comes with a 5.5-inch display and camera is priced at Rs 8,999 is definitely worth considering. Alternatively, if you don't mind splurging a bit for a better sound quality, the second generation Echo Plus is worth looking at.