Zigbee, Bluetooth LE, and Amazon Sidewalk radios onboard ; Alexa can control a huge number of smart home systems and devices; Plenty of bang for the buck;

Google’s Nest Audio sounds better ; Sonos supports more music-streaming services ; Polarizing industrial design ;

Although the same price as the old version, the Amazon Echo (4th Generation) gives you more features and a better design. This model has upgraded audio, so that you can happily listen to music without wishing you had a separate speaker. There's also a built-in Zigbee hub, which may be of limited to use to most people but it can be a handy add-on and means that you no longer have to pay the £50 premium for the Echo Plus. Pound-for-pound, then, this is the best smart speaker available today.

Great sound; Excellent value; Zigbee hub included;

Zigbee hub not compatible with all devices;

The Echo 4 is better value than ever, but you may not actually benefit from its built-in smart hub.

Fun design; More powerful processor; Smart hub;

Still not the best sound;

The previous Echo was great value and this newly designed version improves on the offering with new technology, a faster Alexa, and better sound.

Improved sound; New hardware; Ease of setup; Generally available on deals; Alexa can do so much;

New design can make it hard to see light ring; Larger footprint; Echo Studio the real room-filler;

Amazon's original smart speaker is back with a brand-new look and a bit more power. The fourth-generation Echo finds Amazon ditching the speaker's cylindrical origins for a more whimsical spherical design. More importantly, it's phasing out the $150 Echo Plus by putting all of its audio power and additional features, like a built-in smart home hub, into the new Echo. So for just $99.99, the fourth-generation Echo offers better audio performance than ever, the ability to control Zigbee devices, and, of course, Alexa voice assistance. That's more than you'll get from any other smart speaker at this price, easily earning the Echo our Editors' Choice award.Design and Features The fourth-generation Echo is a near-sphere, measuring 5.2 inches tall and 5.7 inches wide, available in black, blue, or white. Amazon notes that the fabric and aluminum it uses in its Echo speakers are 100-percent recycled materials. It's a fun new design, and looks similar to Apple's forthcoming HomePod mini. T...

The fourth-generation Amazon Echo speaker takes the sound quality and smart home hub capabilities of the Echo Plus and puts it in a new round package.

As powerful as the Echo Plus; Strong bass for the size; Built-in smart home hub

High frequencies don't get quite as much finesse as they could; Alexa can still be awkward to talk to

Amazon's original smart speaker is back with a brand-new look and a bit more power. The fourth-generation Echo finds Amazon ditching the speaker's cylindrical origins for a more whimsical spherical design. More importantly, it's phasing out the $150 Echo Plus by putting all of its audio power and additional features, like a built-in smart home hub, into the new Echo. So for just $99.99, the fourth-generation Echo offers better audio performance than ever, the ability to control Zigbee devices, and, of course, Alexa voice assistance. That's more than you'll get from any other smart speaker at this price, easily earning the Echo our Editors' Choice award.Design and Features The fourth-generation Echo is a near-sphere, measuring 5.2 inches tall and 5.7 inches wide, available in black, blue, or white. Amazon notes that the fabric and aluminum it uses in its Echo speakers are 100-percent recycled materials. It's a fun new design, and looks similar to Apple's forthcoming HomePod mini. T...

The fourth-generation Amazon Echo speaker takes the sound quality and smart home hub capabilities of the Echo Plus and puts it in a new round package.

As powerful as the Echo Plus; Strong bass for the size; Built-in smart home hub

High frequencies don't get quite as much finesse as they could; Alexa can still be awkward to talk to