Best Alexa devices 2024

Whether you're in the market for a smart speaker or a pair of wireless earbuds, the best Alexa devices that money can buy are below.

We've researched, tested, and reviewed dozens of Amazon devices over the years, so you can trust that we know what we're talking about no matter what you're looking for.

At full price, Amazon's hardware is solid value, but with frequent sales like Prime Day, upgrading your home with Alexa-powered tech could be a no-brainer.

If you want to see what else is available that works with Alexa, this list has everything from thermostats to tablets and mesh routers, so keep on scrolling to see how you can complete your smart home ecosystem.

Patrick Farmer

Patrick is a no-nonsense deal hunter with over 10 years of experience in the eCommerce space. Whether you’re interested in a new wireless carrier, smart home device, or Android phone, Patrick combines hands-on research with practical shopping advice to get you the answers you need.

At a glance

Best smart speaker

The original Amazon Echo that debuted in late 2014 gave us our first introduction to Alexa, and we've been hooked ever since. What started as a stark, black tube has evolved over three generations to a softer, gentler-looking Alexa vessel and has spawned an entire line of other Echo devices.

This "regular" Echo (4th Gen) is the best of the series yet. During our testing of the product, we found that it boasts an improved sound architecture over the first three generations, one that is borrowed from the more expensive Echo Studio, as well as the same Zigbee home hub integration of its larger cousin. As with several other Echo devices, you can connect two of these to create a stereo pairing or connect it with your Fire TV for enhanced audio to go with your visual content.

After our time with the Echo (4th Gen), we were convinced that it's the best Alexa speaker to buy if you want great sound but don't want to spend an arm and a leg, or if you really care about sound, go for the aforementioned Echo Studio. The Echo Dot and Echo Studio got some upgrades that Amazon announced at its Fall 2022 event. During our review of the new Echo Dot with Clock (5th gen), the changes were very welcomed and made the speaker a lower-cost alternative to the full-sized Echo.

Best smart screen

We reviewed the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) and loved it — it is now one of our favorite smart home devices of the past few years and is our current pick as the best Alexa device with a screen. And the new 3rd Gen model only improved upon the experience. It shares the design cues of the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) and borrows some of the best features from the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen), like an all-new 13MP front-facing camera that can zoom and pan to keep you in the frame.

On its 8-inch screen, this Echo Show boasts the same HD resolution as the larger Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen). It also features the privacy-focused controls that debuted on the first Echo Show 5, including a physical camera shutter and mute switch. Unfortunately, the Echo Show devices are still only available in Charcoal or Glacier White, not in the fun Twilight Blue or PRODUCT (RED) colors seen in the recent Echo and Dot speakers, but we think the design still looks nice.

The Echo Show 8 (3rd) is one of the best smart displays for managing your smart home devices, watching videos, or even Amazon Prime content. Plus, this model adds spatial audio support for an even more immersive listening experience with compatible source content. This also helps improve the quality of audio with video calls. All-in-all, we love this device for managing our smart home life with Alexa!

Best value smart speaker

If you like the ease-of-use of the Amazon's Echo speakers but don't have the space or budget for another full-size speaker, the Amazon Echo Pop can be a great choice. This smart speaker is compact with only a 1.95-inch front-firing speaker, but can still deliver plenty of sound for a smaller room, like a bedroom. On the top, there's a button to switch off the microphone as well as volume up and down buttons. There's no button to summon Alexa on this model, so you'll have to use your voice.

Compared to the pricier Echo Dot, you give up a couple of nice-to-haves like the 3.5mm headphone jack, motion detector, and temperature sensor which can be used with your smart home tech. As a simple and compact smart speaker thought, the Echo Pop still delivers with good microphones and even smart home support with Matter and Bluetooth Low Energy Mesh. If you've got an eero Mesh system, or are thinking about building one, the Echo Pop can even function as a mesh node, further expanding your Wi-Fi coverage.

Last but not least, the Echo Pop comes in a range of colors: Charcoal, Glacier White, Lavender Bloom, Midnight Teal. You can even get a Disney Princess or Marvel's Avengers themed model for the kids. No matter the room or decor, you can likely find an Echo Pop that can fit in.

Best alarm clock

With the Echo Show device offering a large tablet-like display and the standard Echo focusing mostly on audio, the Echo Spot fits right between the two with a small display and a compact design. Its size places it between the Echo Dot and the Echo, though the speaker setup is much more similar to the Dot. That is to say, it should sound good enough for a small room for Alexa, podcasts, and even some low music.

On the front of the device, there is a 2.83-inch display that can show you the date and time, shortcuts for Alexa devices, album art for music, and even incoming calls. These all sound like features from the Echo Show line, but with the smaller display and the lack of a camera, the Echo Spot is a more focused device with no video calling. Some may appreciate the lack of cameras as the Spot is designed to be used bedside, as well as the physical microphone off button.

While this device supports dual-band WI-Fi with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, this is not an eero-compatible device, so it won’t be expanding your eero mesh. It does, however, support the setup and management of Matter devices and supports Bluetooth low-energy mesh. While the Echo Dot with Clock is a solid low-cost bedside option, the extra touchscreen controls with the 2024 Echo Spot make it a nice upgrade.

Best add on speaker

While the Amazon Echo speakers have improved overall sound throughout the years, one area that still lacks is the low-end audio spectrum. That's to be expected when using something like an Echo Dot, which sounds pretty good given the size of the speaker, but even on the larger Echo devices, the bass is still not a standout feature. This is where the Echo Sub comes into play.

This wireless subwoofer produces 100W of bass from a 6-inch downward-firing speaker. Though the Echo Sub cannot be used as a standalone speaker, it's easily paired with up to two of the same Echo devices — nearly all options are second-generation and newer. Adding the subwoofer to your Echo speakers is easy and is done so wirelessly.

By connecting the Echo Sub with two other Echo speakers, like the standard Echo, you get a great 2.1 channel audio configuration. You can pick up the Echo Sub on its own if you already have some Echo devices to pair it with. If not, Amazon offers speaker bundles to get you started. So, if you enjoy the audio from your Echo speakers now, just imagine how good they'll sound once you fill out more of the soundstage with some bass from the Echo Sub.

Best streaming stick

Amazon offers several paths to its Fire TV experience, from the best Fire TV Edition TVs made by Insignia and Toshiba to the set-top Fire TV Cube. But none of those options are as popular or affordable as the best Fire TV Sticks. If you've got a 4K TV with software that struggles to keep up, a Fire TV Stick 4K Max could be a great upgrade.

Yes, you can opt for the cheaper $20 Fire TV Stick Lite that gives you 90% of what the other sticks do at a fraction of the price. You still get access to full HD video and even Dolby Atmos Audio (via HDMI pass-through), and you get a handy Alexa Voice Remote to control your viewing experience and smart home. That being said, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max has a lot of improvements in terms of video quality with 4K HDR support as well as in performance with a faster SoC and more memory.

This 2023 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the most loaded model with features like the Ambient Experience, so you can turn your TV into a piece of art of display for photos when you aren't watching. It offers smooth 4K streaming for video as well as 1080p streaming for Luna games when you pair with with an Amazon Luna controller. The Enhanced Voice Remote that comes with this model has upgrades like voice control, a recent button, and dedicated channels for surfing live TV, too.

Best wireless earbuds

It seems like every technology company has its own version of wireless earbuds these days. However, if you want a pair of buds that give you seamless hands-free access to Alexa, the best option is the Amazon Echo Buds.

In addition to easy Alexa access (which works well, by the way), the Echo Buds just sound good. They don't feature active noise cancellation (ANC), but they do boast a semi in-ear design that helps reduce outdoor noise. They also include the latest Bluetooth 5.2 standard, multi-point connectivity, and an up to 20-hour battery when using the included charging case. They are sweat-resistant and come in black or Glacier white.

We reviewed the Echo Buds (2nd Gen) review, also a good option to consider, and they improved on the minor flaws of the first-generation in virtually every way. For example, they come with an available wireless charging case, which can charge via USB-C cable (as does the 3rd gen model), and the buds are lighter, more comfortable, and sound better than ever. The 3rd gen buds improve on all those factors as well, with a more lightweight design, bigger drivers, 2 mic with voice detection, and customizable tap controls.

Best car device

Despite an initially-lukewarm reception, the Amazon Echo Auto (2022) finally provides enough features and thoughtful design choices to make it the best choice for enabling Alexa hands-free controls from the comfort of your vehicle. The device has certainly seen some ups and downs over the years, but the 2022 model is a pure refinement of everything that past generations did well, while leaving behind the few areas where the device needed improvement.

The Echo Auto’s minimalist design fits discreetly in your car, but you’ll still enjoy the benefits of the Alexa device’s internal 5-mic system. This means that you can use simple voice commands to make calls, control the music, and adjust your smart home settings remotely, even when you’re driving on the noisy highway or setting the A/C to full blast. If you want a little privacy, the Echo Auto has a microphone off button that completely disconnects the mics, plus you can view or delete past voice recordings to your heart’s content.

Best gaming device

During our hands-on with Luna, we found that Amazon's new cloud gaming service, which has had a relatively quiet initial launch, is something to definitely check out. It can be played across various devices, from PCs and Macs to the best Android phones, to Amazon's own Fire TV devices. However, it cannot be used with other gaming consoles like the PS5 or Xbox, and is strange that the controller can't act as a TV remote.

Naturally, Amazon was keen to introduce its own Luna controller, which at first glance looks like many of the more popular gaming console controllers out there. Regardless of the style, it is one of the more comfortable controllers that we've reviewed. Aside from working seamlessly with the Luna service with particularly low latency, what makes this controller special is that you can use Alexa at the press of a button when playing on Fire TV. You can also ask the voice assistant to launch your favorite game titles, control smart home devices like lighting, or answer questions and trivia.

Best security camera

Before Amazon purchased Ring several years ago, the Ring video doorbells, cameras, and lights worked well with Alexa. Now that the company is a legitimate part of the Amazon ecosystem, we found while reviewing the camera that the integration is better than ever. If you're looking to pick up a smart camera (or multiple cameras) to protect and monitor your property, you can't go wrong with the Ring Stick Up Cam.

The Stick Up Cam was updated in late 2019 and had several configurations to choose from. You can get a wired or battery-powered version, and whichever option you pick can be converted to the other after the fact. The cam can be used indoors or outdoors and is easy to install either way. It's also available in two colors: a standard white and a striking black.

Most home security cameras offer a subscription plan to access and store video recordings, and with Ring, this is no different. While being one of the more reasonably-priced plans in the home security market, it is still an additional expense that you'll need to consider. Also, if all you want is an indoor camera, Ring offers a version that only works inside, but that is almost half the price of the Stick Up Cam. Whichever version you go with you will be getting one of the best wireless security cameras and you can easily ask Alexa to show you your camera feed on your Echo Show, Fire Tablet, or Fire TV device so that you'll always be connected to your smart home.

Best smart thermostat

While the best smart thermostat list is not as extensive as other smart products, some heavy hitters exist in this space. One of our favorite smart thermostats, and the best with Alexa, is the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium with Voice Control. Not only do you get smart features like a touch display and the ability to create schedules and routines with ease, but you get Alexa and Siri built-in. Of course, there's nothing cooler than seeing Alexa's blue LEDs light up on that black circle on your wall whenever you make a request. It reminds us of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey (only not as creepy).

Having that built-in Alexa integration helps control the ecobee, but it's also useful in managing your smart home in general. For example, perhaps your thermostat is in a place where you can't put an Echo (a hallway) or where you may not want one (an office or dining room). Well, this device has you covered! Plus, with the new radar sensor, we found in our testing that the thermostat does a better job knowing when people are home and when they aren't.

This ecobee also comes paired with a smart sensor to help you better manage the temperature in rooms that may not have the same exposure as the base unit, and you can purchase additional sensors to put around your home. The company claims that its smart sensors and intelligent thermostat can help you reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 23% per year, so while this thermostat is pricey, it's cost-effective.

Best mesh router

The latest offerings from Eero feature welcome enhancements to make them faster and more secure and are among the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers around. They also include a built-in Zigbee smart home hub to help connect your disparate smart home devices. Eero also announced a Pro version of its Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that you might want to consider if you need even faster coverage, but for most, the standard setup should be more than sufficient.

I recently purchased this Eero mesh three-pack because I experienced several dead or low-bandwidth spots in my 2,300-square-foot home, even with fiber internet. Connecting the Eero base unit to my fiber box was super easy, and in minutes I had the other units set up around the home. Now, I'm getting better Wi-Fi speeds than I ever did before (over 900 Mbps), and I have virtually no issues or complaints from family members who are working or watching Netflix.

Eero devices already allow you to monitor and control device usage, test your network, and share your Wi-Fi password. Still, you can subscribe to Eero Secure or Eero Secure+ if you are so inclined. These plans offer additional security and network monitoring features and include add-ons for 1Password, encrypt.me, and Malwarebytes (in the plus version). The integration with Alexa enables Eero owners to control different aspects of their home network, including opening and closing guest networks and providing threat scans and ad-blocking. The Eero units are available individually or in multi-packs.

Amazon has released a Eero 6+ variant for roughly $50 more, which boasts of up to 1Gbps speeds. However, the Wi-Fi standard and other features remain identical to the Eero 6.

Best smart doorbell

We're back with yet another Ring product as they just work so well with Alexa. We've picked the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus as the best doorbell that works with Alexa. It's regularly available for just under $100, and you can get a further discount if you buy it as a combo along with the Stick Up Cam Battery from the company's website.

The setup is very simple and doesn't require any wiring since it's powered by batteries (although wiring is an option). It can capture HD+ (1440x1440 resolution) quality video for better clarity, and the wide angle lens allows you to view the whole person from head to toe. It has motion detection and will send you an alert if it detects movement. There's also a live-view two way talking feature which lets you converse with a visitor in real-time, via the app on your phone.

Some features are locked behind a paywall, but the subcription is fairly low at $4.99 a month, per device. These premium features include the ability to store the captured footage in the cloud for 180 days, customize alerts based on where the package is left on your doorstep, and a photo preview to see what exactly triggered the alert without needing to open the Ring app.

Best smart lock

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is one of the most popular smart locks in the market, and our top pick for the best smart locks overall. This fourth generation model features built-in Wi-Fi so it can be controlled directly via the August phone app, and it can be upgraded with August's Keypad Touch bundle if you wish to add a fingerprint sensor. It has remote access with auto lock and unlock when you leave your home or approach the door.

Even though it's still fairly large, there has been a considerable reduction in size compared to the previous model, as we noted in our review. The beauty of the August Wi-Fi smart lock is that it lets you keep your existing deadbolt and key, while offering the advanced security that we've come to expect from smart locks. Its deceptively simple design is also a joy to use. In addition to the security aspect, we loved the app design and remote biometric security that's on offer. The app didn't play nice we reviewed it on a Pixel phone, but that should have changed now with subsequent updates.

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How to choose

There are dozens of devices with Alexa built-in, and literally, thousands that work with the smart voice assistant. We've done our best to comb through all the options to share our favorites with you so that you can make the best purchase decisions when it comes to setting up your smart home with Alexa, whether that is a small and mighty smart speaker like the Echo Dot or the big-screen experience of the Echo Show 15 — there's something for everyone.

If you don't have an Echo already, we recommend starting with the Echo (4th Gen), as it offers an outstanding balance of sound, functionality, and affordability. You can use it to control other smart home and Alexa-compatible devices with just your voice and can pair two of them together to get a stereo sound system or connect them to your Fire TV for an even better Disney+ binging session. If you really want to save a few bucks but still want a great experience, be sure to check out the new Echo Dot (5th gen).

Now you know our favorite Alexa devices, so hop online now and pick some of these gadgets up for your household! We've put together an explainer breaking down how we test and evaluate smart home devices to give you a better idea of what goes into choosing devices for this list.

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