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Amazon Echo (2nd gen. 2017)

Amazon Echo (2nd gen. 2017)
alaScore 93

896 reviews

Mar, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 896 reviews of Amazon Echo (2nd gen. 2017). The average rating for this product is 4.7/5, compared to an average rating of 4.5/5 for other products in the same category for all reviews. Reviewers really like the size and design. The price and sound also get good feedback. There are some negative opinions about the reliability.

usability, sound, price, design, size

reliability

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other products in the same category the Amazon Echo (2nd gen. 2017) is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 93/100 = Excellent quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 896 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Showing 885 review(s)

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Showing 1 - 10 of 885 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (10)

Expert review by (engadget.com)

Amazon Echo review (2017): Good price, bad sound

 

The best thing about the new Amazon Echo? Its price. At $100, it's cheaper than the original, Google Home and Sonos One. But it also sounds worse than those devices, delivering somewhat flat audio that emphasizes the high end and vocals at the expense...

Cheaper than predecessor ; Attractive, interchangeable shells ; Powerful microphones ; Alexa keeps getting smarter

Subpar audio quality

Cherlynn is reviews editor of Engadget. She led a mostly unexciting life in Singapore, her home country, until she came to New York in 2012. Since then, she's earned her master's in journalism from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism...

Oct, 2017

Expert review by : Kim Wetzel (digitaltrends.com)

Amazon Echo review

 

The new Amazon Echo is cuter, smarter, and cheaper, and with a firmware update, now has improved acoustics.

Interchangeable shell allows you to mix up design ; Updated Alexa features include individual voice recognition and routines ; Compact ; Audio output Jack

Sound on calling feature was more muffled than with original Echo ; Acoustics better with firmware upgrade, still hoped for bigger sound

We’re glad the Echo is more affordable and more compact than before, but a little disappointed sound quality took a turn for the worse. Overall, the new Echo is more approachable and will likely be extremely popular.

Expert review by : Sascha Segan (pcmag.com)

Amazon Echo (2nd Generation)

 

The Amazon Echo is a great-looking, affordable smart speaker with the best voice assistant technology.

Less expensive and better-looking than previous Echo. Alexa is the best voice assistant ecosystem. Adds 3.5mm out. Loud.

Not much bass.

Alexa and Google Assistant are neck-and-neck among our favorite voice assistants, with Alexa getting a bit of an edge especially for its wider smart home support but Google Assistant edging it out in natural langauge recognition. Apple's Siri has some...

Jul, 2019

Expert review by : Ry Crist (cnet.com)

The new Amazon Echo is better than the first -- and a lot less expensive

 

Alexa's new flagship smart speaker is better than the first one -- and it costs a lot less, too.

With a variety of new designs, the new Amazon Echo is better-looking than the original, just as smart and a lot less expensive. The addition of an aux-out jack lets you connect it with your existing audio setup. It's also a slightly better listener...

Though fine for casual listening and strong enough to fill a room with music, the Echo still doesn't sound as good as premium, high-fidelity speakers. The volume ring of the original is gone, replaced with the cheaper volume buttons of the Echo Dot.

Alexa is still the most compelling voice control platform, and the new and improved Echo should only boost her momentum. It's well worth $100.

May, 2018

Expert review by : Sascha Segan (pcmag.com)

Amazon Echo Connect

 

Using your Amazon Echo speaker as landline phone is a great idea, but the company's Echo Connect, which lets you do just this, works poorly.

Lets you use an Amazon Echo speaker as a land-line speakerphone.

Buggy. No hold function. Lacks call logs. No way to enter DTMF tones.

Bottom Line: Using your Amazon Echo speaker as landline phone is a great idea, but the company's Echo Connect, which lets you do just this, works poorly.

Feb, 2018

Expert review by : Dan Seifert (theverge.com)

Amazon Echo (2nd gen) review: smaller and cheaper, but mostly the same

 

Lower cost ; Smaller, more attractive design ; Customizable appearance

Below average audio quality for music ; Decorative shells don’t look great

The new Echo’s best feature is its price

Oct, 2017

Expert review by : Michael Brown (techhive.com)

Amazon Echo (2nd generation) review: Better than the original, but not as important

 

Interested in voice-based home control? Buy an Echo Dot. Interested in multi-room audio? Buy a Sonos One.

Far-field mic array works wonders ; Auxiliary analog-audio output ; Customizable exterior

Mediocre audio performance ; Custom sleeves are expensive at $20 a pop ; Volume-control buttons are inferior to the volume-control ring on the original

The second-generation Echo offers significant improvements over the first, but if you’re looking for an Echo to control your smart home, the Echo Dot is Amazon’s most cost-effective offering. If music is your thing, the Fabriq Chorus delivers a better...

Oct, 2017

Expert review by (zdnet.com)

Amazon Echo (2017) review: More of the same, only better

 

Nearly three years after the first Amazon Echo was released, Amazon has released a redesigned smart speaker. Only instead of facing almost no competition, Google Home is ever growing, and Apple will soon release its HomePod smart speaker to compete...

Sleek design ; More affordable ; Quality sound

Would be nice to have a volume dial, instead of buttons, on the top.

Nov, 2017

Expert review by (androidcentral.com)

Amazon Echo Hub review: An underpowered great idea

 

Amazon's Echo Hub takes cues from the company's smart displays to give you a single screen to manage your smart home. I just wish it was as powerful. All of your smart home devices are in one place.

Feb, 2024

Expert review by : Hagop Kavafian (androidpolice.com)

Amazon Echo Hub review: A smart display for smart homes

 

Amazon's new Echo Hub connects and controls your smart home

User interface for smart home controls ; Versatility ; Sharp display ; Connectivity options

Poor audio quality ; No built-in camera ; Dull design

If you’re looking for a nice-looking wall-mounted photo frame, the Echo Show 15 is probably your best option, as it looks much sleeker and has a bigger display. It won’t be that great to quickly handle smart home controls, though, so you’ll have to...

Feb, 2024

Price comparison for Amazon Echo (2nd gen. 2017)

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