If you can wait until (possibly) post-Christmas, Amazon’s got you covered for last-minute gifts with a slew of its Echo devices at unprecedented prices. From smart speakers to glasses, there’s a present for everybody that will answer to “Hey, Alexa.” Here are the best deals on Echo devices as of Dec. 22:
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Echo (4th Gen) — $59.99
$99.99(save 40%) -
Echo Link — $139.99
$199.99(save 30%) -
Echo Frames (2nd Gen) — $154.99
$249.99(save 38%) -
Echo Dot (4th Gen) Kids — $34.99
$59.99(save 41%) -
Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) — $44.99
$84.99(save 47%)
We’ve been spoiled for convenience with Amazon’s range of Echo products — “Alexa, make me a coffee” is no longer (necessarily) a rude, arguably sexist thing to say, but rather a way to start your coffee machine from two rooms away. The virtual assistant is available in a range of devices; get an Echo Dot speaker for your roommate that doubles as a subtle gift for yourself or buy your parents an Echo Show so they’ll be able to video call you with ease.
Here are some of the Echo products on sale for their lowest prices ever:
Echo (4th Gen)
The 2020 edition of Amazon’s OG speaker (still its newest iteration) has a 3.0″ woofer and dual front-firing 0.8″ tweeters. For the non-audiophiles to whom that sounds like a small version of Looney Tunes (Sylvester would be ~2″ in this scale), that just means that the compact little speaker has powerful sound that doesn’t miss out on acoustic detail, with support for lossless HD audio with compatible streaming services.
The Echo obviously has voice control for playing music, but Alexa also doubles as a butler to control your compatible lights, locks, and sensors (buy into the Amazon ecosystem with Ring smart lights and security cameras) with its built-in Zigbee smart home hub. You can set timers, reminders, and alarms, or call friends and family (as long as they have the Alexa app or an Echo device of their own). Call your own devices to instantly connect to a convo in another room or “announce to the whole house that dinner’s ready.”
Echo Link
If you prefer audio with higher fidelity and don’t mind splashing out for it, the Echo Link might be a better option. It’s designed as an upgrade to any stereo system, so if you already have an amp or some turntables you paid good money for, you can link it to your Echo devices for simultaneous playback, upping audio quality and offering options for surround sound or multi-room broadcasting. Combine digital with analog for the best of both worlds.
Echo Frames (2nd Gen)
Whether you’re legally impaired or genetically superior to the rest of us and have 20/20 vision, these glasses can come in handy. The Echo Frames were renewed in November 2020 for a second generation with new and improved Alexa that learns your voice in order to respond only to it, after which you can make calls, listen to podcasts or audiobooks, set reminders, receive notifications, get the news, or control your smart home. The audio glasses play sound directly into your ears with Auto Volume technology that minimizes sound to those around you (because nobody likes the asshole blasting music on the bus) and adjusts your own playback volume based on environmental noise.
Besides its fancier features, the Echo Frames are perfectly functional glasses that are lightweight and comfortable, and come in prescription-ready, blue-light-filtering, and polarized sunglass lens with UV400 protection. Their battery life might be shorter, with just over 2 hours of calling/Alexa interactions or 4 hours of audio playback, but as the most convenient, close way to always have a smart assistant with you (even more so than your phone), they’re not a bad bet.
Echo Dot (4th Gen) Kids
It can be difficult to know when to introduce your kids to technology and to figure out how much tech is too much, but the Echo Dot is designed for full parental supervision. It’s got the acoustic power of a regular Echo Dot for a full listening experience (although perhaps fidelity matters somewhat less to a kid listening to Let It Go for the fiftieth time in a row) and thumping bass to match (again, possibly less of a concern, as most Disney songs don’t exactly belong in the club). Parental controls include daily time limits, filters for explicit songs, and activity review. Kids have access to Alexa for any questions they may have — Alexa will help with their homework, remind them of daily routines, read stories, and call friends/family. The Kids’ Echo Dot even has an option to approve friends/family before allowing your little tykes to call, so that you won’t inadvertently end up with a phone bill for 2-hour international calls when they feel like ordering a pizza from Brunei and call every pizzeria in the country.
Bonus mention: the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Charcoal with Mandalorian The Child stand.
It’s not at its lowest-ever price, but it is on sale and also probably the cutest thing you’ve ever seen, even if you can barely tell Star Wars apart from Star Trek. Seriously, just look at it.
Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release)
This is the perfect gift for your grandparents who can’t seem to figure out how to Facetime you at a normal distance from their face (anybody else regularly get a good look at their ear canals over the whole hour-long call? Just me? Ok). The Echo Show line is a multifunctional display screen that can rotate through your Facebook or Amazon Photos as a digital frame or video call your friends and family (as long as they have the Alexa app on their phone, or an Echo device with a screen). You can even access the camera when you’re away from home to check in on your house and make sure you haven’t left the lights on. If you find that you have, simply instruct Alexa to turn them off. Recommended placement of the Echo Show is on your nightstand for easy access to Alexa’s features —including gradual lighting of the room, news updates, weather predictions, or your favorite songs — in the morning. You can even stream Netflix and other services on the 5.5″ screen if you so choose.
Other Echo Shows on sale:
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Echo Show 8 (1st Gen, 2019 release), $59.99
$109.99(save 45%)
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The best smart speakers: See where the Amazon Echo Dot, others rank
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Smart speaker showdown: Google Home vs. Amazon Echo
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Amazon’s Echo Show 5 Kids (2nd gen) is a magical portal without portability