The new Amazon Echo is a mid-range smart speaker stronger than its predecessor redesigned to offer an immersive audio experience and includes smart home hub connectivity that was previously exclusive to the more-expensive Echo Plus. Amazon Echo (4th Gen) offers a generous speaker package, which consists of a three-inch woofer and a pair of 0.8-inch tweeters.
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The Echo will also give you access to Dolby-enriched audio, and support for Amazon’s Alexa and Amazon’s Sidewalk long-range wireless system, all thanks to Amazon’s new AZ1 Neural Edge processor.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) Key Specs
- Size / Dimension: 5.7” x 5.7” x 5.2” (144 x 144 x 133 mm)
- Weight: 34.2 oz (970 g)
- Audio: 3.0” (76.2 mm) neodymium woofer and two 0.8” (20 mm) tweeters.
- Bluetooth connectivity: Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) and Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
- WiFi connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks
- Package contents: 1 x Echo, 1 x power adapter (15W), 1 x Quick Start Guide.
- Smart home hub: Zigbee + Sidewalk
- Others: Four far-field microphones, Alexa voice assistant, Alexa app.
Design
Amazon’s brand-new Echo comes with the biggest overhaul design and sound quality since the first Echo back in 2014. Amazon ditched the speaker’s cylindrical origins for a more whimsical spherical design measuring 5.2 inches tall and 5.7 inches wide.
This speaker is built with a hard plastic base on the bottom half and an entire fabric on the other half. It is available in Amazon’s Glacier White color, Charcoal, and Twilight Blue.
One of the major changes in the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is the repositioning of the light ring. It has been moved from the top of the speaker to the base, providing a less direct glow, but, recognizable blue lightening when you speak to Alexa.
It serves as a better and clearer indication to users that the speaker is listening before they give it a command. However, the ring turns red when the mic is disabled.
Furthermore, the top panel holds buttons for Alexa, volume up, volume down, and mic mute. The back, however, is home to the connector for the power adapter and a 3.5mm audio output.
Audio Performance
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) comes with a 3-inch woofer and dual 0.8-inch front-firing tweeters, coupled with supports for Dolby audio like the Echo Plus and (3rd gen) Echo, but with two tweeters instead of one. Hence, It provides a much more obvious stereo separation than the two tweeters in a single Echo.
In general, the Echo has a wide soundstage, deeper bass than typically found on speakers
The new Echo will use the mics built into it to listen to the room and continuously gauge its size and shape. It will then adjust its audio output accordingly.
Smart Features
Like the Echo Dot, Amazon is using its new AZ1 Neural Edge processor in the new Echo. This processor is designed to speed up voice recognition. Hence, you can ask Alexa to control smart home gadgets, set timers, give weather reports, set a reminder, and so on.
The Alexa experience offered here is just like it is on any other Echo device, which is to say you can do a lot with it. Ask about the weather, control music playback, or set up Alexa Guard to keep your home safe while you’re away
Also like the Echo Plus, the fourth-gen Echo incorporates a built-in smart home hub. It’s a Zigbee hub, plus it has support for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Amazon Sidewalk, which helps extend the range of low-bandwidth devices.
Therefore, you can connect Zigbee devices such as lightbulbs, door sensors, and more right to the Echo without the need for a secondary hub, and then manage and control them through voice commands or via the Alexa smartphone app.
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Connectivity
To connect the Echo to an external speaker, Amazon retains the 3.5mm audio jack. For wireless pairing with other devices, Bluetooth is still the medium of connectivity. Amazon Echo (4th Gen) also offers support for Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) network options.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) Price and Availability
The new Amazon Echo (4th Gen) price will start at $99.99 depending on where and when you choose to purchase it. It is available at retailers like Gearbest, Banggood, AliExpress, and Amazon.
Also See: Fire TV Stick 4K Max | Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) | Echo Show 5 2021
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) Specs
Here are a few specs of the Amazon Echo (4th Gen):
General Features
- Dimension (without stand): 5.7” x 5.7” x 5.2” (144 x 144 x 133 mm)
- Weight: 34.2 oz (970 g)
- Processor: Amazon AZ1 Neural Edge processor
- Smart home hub: – Zigbee, Sidewalk
- Voice Command: Yes, Alexa Built-in
- Generation: Echo (4th Gen)
- WiFi connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi networks.
- Bluetooth connectivity: Yes
- Audio: 3.0” (76.2 mm) neodymium woofer and two 0.8” (20 mm) tweeters.
- Alexa app: Compatible with Fire OS, Android, and iOS devices and also accessible via your web browser.
- Warranty and service: 3-year extended warranty
