The Amazon Echo (4th generation) is, well, the fourth generation of the popular smart speaker. The original Echo looked like a large soda can, but each model since has been refined (and rounder). The third-generation Echo was a small, clunky speaker that was more of a smart home device than a speaker. That changes with the Amazon Echo (4th generation), which is supposed to be a decent-sounding speaker. It’s bigger and rounder than the previous generation, but it’s still the same Alexa speaker that so many people like.
The speaker itself weighs 986g and is a large sphere wrapped in a nice fabric. The design and build of the speaker is probably one of my favorite parts of the speaker. Its spherical shape makes it pretty unique in the smart speaker selection. The round shape does limit the spaces you can comfortably place it in, but once you find a good spot, it blends in nicely.
Connecting to play music on the Echo (4th generation) is easy. All you have to do is take it out of the box, plug it into an outlet, and follow the instructions in the Alexa app, which is available for both iOS and Android. Once you’ve connected it to your Wi-Fi, you’ll have access to the Alexa personal assistant.
An LED ring on the bottom lights up blue when you activate Alexa. This gives you immediate feedback whether the speaker has registered your voice. On the back of the speaker are the power input and an aux input. A threaded universal mount on the base is handy if you want to add the speaker to an existing system.
If you want to make your home smarter but don’t know where to start, consider installing a Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED. This affordable smart bulb can be installed in any standard E26 socket and connects directly to your home Wi-Fi without the need for a hub. It displays 16 million colors, supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, and can interact with other smart home devices via IFTTT applets.
The Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED is a dimmable A19 bulb with an E26 base that can be used with any standard lamp socket. It measures 2.3 inches in diameter, is 4.2 inches long and has a maximum light output of 800 lumens, which is roughly equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. It is a 16-million color lamp with a white temperature range of 2000K to 6500K and a rated life of 25,000 hours.