Amazon Echo Hub
MSRP $180.00
“If Alexa came with a universal remote, it would be the Echo Hub. Unfortunately, the device remains a work in progress for now.”
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Bright, colorful display
- Familiar interface
- No ads
Cons
- Lacks configuration flexibility
- Slow to respond
- Missing Map View
Modern smart homes are built on the promise of never having to lift a finger: Doors unlock automatically, lights flick on from timers, Alexa tells you how many cups are in a quart.
But those of us who own enough smart home gadgets (I now count more than 30 in my home) know better. Sometimes you need to fine-tune settings, control whole groups, or you just can’t remember the phrase you set up for dinner music.
And who hasn’t just wanted to punch a button to turn on a light after Alexa mishears you for the third time?
Until now, there haven’t been a lot of easy, DIY-friendly ways to do this. With the Echo Hub, Amazon finally gives Alexa the digital control panel it has always needed, though perhaps not with the polish we wanted.
How is it different from an Echo Show?
Amazon announced the Echo Hub alongside the Echo Show 8, and even when we previewed it, we couldn’t help but wonder why they’re two different devices. From the front, the new Echo Show 8, and Echo Hub are almost indistinguishable: fat bezels, rounded corners, a bright, colorful 8-inch screen. So what’s the difference?
