Price and availability
Pricing has been kept the same as with the original, so that means UK customers pay £139.99 while those in the US will be charged $149.99.
Design and build
This approach has been adopted across the Echo range for 2018 and makes the aesthetic much closer to that favoured by the Google Home Max and Apple HomePod.
Four buttons adorn the lid of the Echo Plus (2nd Gen), giving the user instant control over volume, muting the microphones, and activating Alexa. Those familiar with the original model will note that the volume buttons replace the volume dial, but you can still use voice commands to tell Alexa whether it should be quieter or louder. The new model is more compact than its taller predecessor, but this means it’s gained a more rotund shape. No doubt this will be down to the upgraded 3in speaker that replaces the 2.5in one found in the original Echo Plus. Dimensions:
Echo Plus (1st Gen) – 235 x 84 x 84mmEcho Plus (2nd Gen) – 148 x 99 x 99 mm
At the base of either unit you’ll find a couple of ports, one for charging and a 3.5mm jack that allows additional speakers to be attached.
Features and Specs
Of course there’s the ability to pose questions, find out the weather, football scores, be briefed on the days headlines, or check the current state of the traffic for any routes you might be taking. Alexa also allows for vocal commands to control your compatible Smart Home products, thanks to the Zigbee Smart Home hub built into the Plus version of the Echo. These capabilities are given a boost in the Echo Plus (2nd Gen) as the inclusion of a temperature sensor means the device can monitor your home and adjust temperatures automatically to match your favoured settings.
The other main upgrade is to the speaker, with the new model’s 3in woofer accompanied by a 0.8in tweeter to give a better overall audio balance and improved definition. This can be extended further by pairing another Echo Plus (2nd Gen) to create a stereo setup, and then there’s the option to also add the new Echo Sub into the mix for much better bass. Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.
