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Amazon Echo (4th Gen) review: buy or skip?

Buy8.0/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want Alexa with fuller sound for music. Why: good-sounding Alexa speaker with a Zigbee hub. The catch: plain design.

By Buyrskip Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

Our verdict on the Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

Buy it if
you want Alexa with fuller sound for music.
Skip it if
you want a screen.
Best for
Alexa with good sound
Key feature
Good-sounding Alexa speaker with a Zigbee hub
Typical price
$59–$99
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

AssistantAlexa
Speaker3-inch woofer, 2 tweeters
ScreenNo
Smart home hubZigbee, Matter, Thread

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want Alexa with fuller sound for music
  • value good sound
  • can spend around $59–$99

Skip it if you

  • you want a screen
  • mind this: plain design
  • mind this: ads and promos

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Good sound
  • Zigbee hub
  • Alexa
  • Cheap on sale

Cons

  • Plain design
  • Ads and promos

The verdict in one breath

The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is a smart speaker we would point many buyers to. What earns it the buy: good-sounding Alexa speaker with a Zigbee hub. In our list it is the pick for: alexa with good sound.

Reasons to buy

  • Good sound
  • Zigbee hub
  • Alexa
  • Cheap on sale

Reasons to skip

  • Plain design
  • Ads and promos

The specs that matter

  • Assistant: Alexa
  • Speaker: 3-inch woofer, 2 tweeters
  • Screen: No
  • Smart home hub: Zigbee, Matter, Thread

Worth knowing

A built-in Zigbee hub connects many smart home devices without a separate bridge.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want Alexa with fuller sound for music. Skip it if you want a screen; the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best smart speakers.

Alternatives worth considering

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)

Google · Smart Speakers & Displays

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)

Buy it if you want a bedside display without a camera.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Bedside display
Typical price
$59–$99

Pros

  • No camera
  • Sleep sensing

Cons

  • Small speaker
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
Amazon Echo Spot (2024)

Amazon · Smart Speakers & Displays

Amazon Echo Spot (2024)

Buy it if you want a smart alarm clock without a camera.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Smart alarm clock
Typical price
$49–$79

Pros

  • No camera
  • Clock display

Cons

  • Small screen
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Amazon Echo (4th Gen)?

Buy it, if you want Alexa with fuller sound for music. Why: good-sounding Alexa speaker with a Zigbee hub. The catch: plain design.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want a screen. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is the better buy then.

What does the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) cost?

Usually $59–$99 on Amazon.com. It tends to dip during Prime Day and Black Friday.

Buyrskip Editorial Team

Part of the Buyrskip research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Amazon Echo (4th Gen): the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) worth buying? Short answer: buy it, if you want Alexa with fuller sound for music. This review explains what this Amazon model gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs in the US and which smart speaker to buy instead if it is not the right fit for you.

What the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) does well

The headline: good-sounding Alexa speaker with a Zigbee hub. Key specs: Assistant: Alexa; Speaker: 3-inch woofer, 2 tweeters; Screen: No; Smart home hub: Zigbee, Matter, Thread. In our list it is the pick for: alexa with good sound. It usually sells for $59–$99.

A built-in Zigbee hub connects many smart home devices without a separate bridge.

The trade-offs

Good: good sound, zigbee hub, alexa, cheap on sale. Not so good: plain design, ads and promos. Read the skip-if line before you order: skip it if you want a screen.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) ($59–$99): small Google display with sleep sensing and no camera. Better if you want a bedside display without a camera.

Instead, consider the Amazon Echo Spot (2024) ($49–$79): compact Alexa alarm clock with a small screen. Better if you want a smart alarm clock without a camera.

Instead, consider the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) ($29–$49): alexa, a temperature sensor and decent sound for very little. Better if you want a cheap voice assistant for timers, music and smart home.

Before you buy

Assistant: Alexa has the most smart home support; Google is best at answering questions; Siri suits Apple homes. Sound: small speakers are for voice; buy a bigger one if it doubles as your music speaker. Display: a screen helps with recipes, cameras and video calls.

US buyer tip

Echo devices hit their lowest prices on Prime Day and Black Friday, often half off.

Prices on Amazon.com move in a pattern. The deepest cuts land on Prime Day in July, Prime Big Deal Days in October and the Black Friday to Cyber Monday week, with smaller drops around Presidents Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and back-to-school. Judge a deal against the usual price we show, never against the crossed-out list price.

Order from Amazon itself or the brand's official storefront so the US manufacturer warranty applies, keep your order confirmation and register the product with the brand. Most items can be returned within 30 days, and holiday purchases often get an extended return window into January.