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The Amazon Echo Gen 4 is a portable speaker that is shaped like a sphere and comes equipped with Alexa capabilities. Alexa can be activated using just your voice, and the speaker will comprehend you even if you are a good distance away or if there is a lot of background noise. In addition to that, it is equipped with a Zigbee hub that can be used to manage other smart home devices, such as thermostats and lightbulbs, located anywhere in the house.
Its default sound profile is somewhat boomy and veiled, but you may modify the levels of its bass and treble using the settings in the Amazon Alexa app. There is also a button to mute the microphone, giving you control over whether or not the speaker is listening to what you have to say. Unfortunately, due to the fact that it is powered by AC, it cannot be taken outside.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) Specifications
Amazon’s Echo was well received upon its initial introduction, and the company has continued to refine the Echo line with each new model. However, the original Echo was released six years ago.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Amazon Echo (4th Generation) |
| Dimensions | 5.7″ x 5.7″ x 5.2″ (144 x 144 x 133 mm) |
| Weight | 34.2 oz (970 g) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Audio | 3.0″ woofer, dual front-firing 0.8″ tweeters |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa |
| Supported Smart Home Devices | Over 100,000 |
| Additional Features | Built-in Zigbee smart home hub |
| Link | Check Price |
Amazon Echo (4th Gen): Design
The fourth-generation Echo has the appearance of a near-sphere and has dimensions of 5.2 inches in height and 5.7 inches in width. It comes in either black, blue, or white. Amazon emphasizes that both the cloth and the aluminum that it uses in its Echo speakers are made from recycled materials that are one hundred percent. It’s a cool new design, and it looks very much like the HomePod small that Apple will release in the near future.
The light ring has been relocated from the top of the speaker to the bottom, which results in a less direct glow but is still easily distinguishable because it illuminates in blue whenever you speak the wake phrase that you have set for Alexa. The top panel has controls for Alexa, the volume up and down buttons, and a mute button for the microphone. The 3.5mm audio output and the connector for the power adaptor are both located on the back of the device.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen): Software and Connection
Even though this is a smart speaker that includes a voice assistant, it is likely that you will utilize the companion app to operate practically everything and accomplish a great deal. In addition, you cannot begin the initial configuration of the machine without it. via the app, you are able to set alarms, manage the volume, couple devices via Bluetooth, add a second speaker or subwoofer, create multi-room groups, pick whether the aux is being used as an input or output, and a lot of other things. You can also download additional skills to add to your Alexa speaker in order to give it extra capabilities. To use the Echo (4th Gen) to play music, connecting it is a simple process.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen): Sound Quality
Those individuals who are looking for the highest possible sound quality can do so in the Echo Studio. People who are looking for something that simply has a pleasant sound can consider purchasing an Amazon Echo. This all begins with what the online retailer Amazon stuffed inside of this entertaining ball. Because it has two tweeters measuring 0.8 inches (20 mm) each and a woofer of 3 inches (76 mm), it produces a significant amount of bass.
You can get a warm tone with the factory settings, but the voices might not be as clear and loud as you’d like them to be. When turned up to high volumes, the sound remains unaltered, making this an effective method for filling a space with sound. The Amazon Echo gives off the impression of being a much larger speaker than it actually is.
The sound may be altered in a number of straightforward ways, but the controls for doing so are buried deep within the settings. There is no question that Amazon could do a far better job of making it simpler for you to control the sound on your various devices. However, after you do so, you will notice that there are sliders for the bass, the mids, and the highs.
Pricing and Availability
It should come as no surprise that the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) can be purchased almost exclusively through Amazon for the suggested retail price of $100. Additionally, you have the option to select from three other colors, which include white, blue, and charcoal. You will pay the same amount for them if you purchase them from a third-party shop, such as Best Buy in the United States.
The real thrill of buying an Amazon Echo is waiting for one of the frequent sales to come around so you can get a good deal on it. The major ones are Prime Day and Black Friday every year, but there will also be irregular sales throughout the year, and Amazon isn’t shy about delivering significant price reductions on the products that are included in those offers.
Final Words
Voice assistants work great with the Amazon Echo. It has Amazon Alexa built in, and you can use your mouth to turn it on or off. Even if you are far away or in a noisy place, the speaker can still hear you. You can also turn off the microphone if you don’t want it to hear you, and the built-in Zigbee hub lets you control smart home devices like lightbulbs and thermostats throughout your house.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) review: The good and The bad
As long as you live in an Alexa environment, the Amazon Echo (4th generation) is an excellent smart speaker that offers a good value for the money.
The Good
- Strong bass for the size
- Built-in smart home hub
The Bad
- Alexa can still be awkward to talk to
Questions and Answers
The wake word, “Alexa,” is always being listened for, but Alexa does not actively record or save your conversations.
No. Alexa only becomes a part of your life if you let her. Alexa does not eavesdrop on private conversations by default; she only starts listening when your Echo device hears the wake word.