Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
This guide has been prepared to tell you more about the different Amazon Alexa Echo voice assistant devices, the Alexa app on your phone or tablet and the Alexa website/interface. It includes an overview of the different speaker and display options, information about how to access the Alexa app (for smart phone and tablet devices) and the Alexa web console.
Should you have any difficulties please don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@tltechsmart.com.
We have also created a series of videos to help you, which you can find on our YouTube Channel.
Amazon Alexa Voice Assistants #
Amazon manufacture a range of Smart Speaker voice assistants for use in the home. These devices can come with just a speaker or increasingly popular are the devices that also include a small screen, which Amazon call Smart Displays. The Alexa voice technology can also be incorporated into other brands of devices such as Sonos speakers and smart watches like the Fitbit Versa 2 smart watch.
A voice interface can be useful for a range of activities and tasks, including:
- Entertainment
- Listening to music, books and podcasts
- Watching videos
- Viewing photos
- Playing games
- Communications
- Voice calling
- Video calling
- Messaging
- Control of smart home devices
- Turning on and off lights
- Changing the set temperature on a heating thermostat
- Viewing your video doorbell camera feed
Here is an overview of the different devices and their capability (correct at the time of writing). For the latest information and more technical details you can find out more on the Amazon website here.
Devices:
To help you choose which device is right for you here’s our comparison of the devices and their features. The table is ordered from cheapest to most expensive. Note that the prices are correct at the time of writing and you should check this on Amazon’s website at the time of purchase.
The comparison table below contains links which will take you to Amazon’s website.
These are all affiliate links to Amazon, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
| Device | Price | Dimensions | Speaker | Display | Built-in Camera | Smart Home Hub | Good For.... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Dot – 3rd Gen | £20 | 43 x 99 x 99 mm | 1.6" speaker | None | None | No | People new to Alexa, in bedrooms as there is no screen |
| Echo Dot - 4th Gen | £30-60 | 100 x 100 x 89 mm | 1.6" front-firing speaker | Standard model has none, but there is a version with an LED clock display | None | No | Using as a bedside alarm clock |
| Echo Show 5 | £65 | 148 x 86 x 73 mm | 1.7" speaker | 5.5" with 960 x 480p resolution | 1 Megapixel | No | Using in the living room to make drop-in calls |
| Echo – Smart Home Hub | £80 | 144 x 144 x 133 mm | 3.0” woofer and dual 0.8" tweeters | None | None | Yes - Zigbee | An affordable way to get a Zigbee smart home hub that is compatible with a wide range of other brands |
| Echo Show 8 | £95 | 200 x 136 x 99 mm | Two 2.0" speakers | 8.0" with 1280 x 800p resolution | 1 Megapixel | No | Using in the kitchen for help with recipes and listening to the radio |
| Echo Show 10 | £240 | 251 x 230 x 172 mm | 3.0" woofer and dual 1" tweeters | 10.1" with 1280 x 800p resolution | 13 Megapixel | Yes - Zigbee | High quality video calls and using interactive features, like an exercise workout, where you need to move around as the screen tracks your movement |
We’ve also created this handy set of graphics which you can browse through to see the features in each device. Click here to open a new window that allows you to view them in full size.
The Alexa App #
The Alexa app works on mobile phone and tablet devices. Through the app you can review and update settings, search for new Skills to add to your voice assistant devices, and control your devices. You can also speak to Alexa through the app instead of via your smart speaker. Or indeed access Alexa features even if you don’t own a smart speaker yourself. This means that you can send messages and make calls with people who have an Alexa device without having to have one yourself.
Here are some handy links to the app stores for Android and Apple:
The Alexa Website/Interface #
Similar to the Alexa app, the Alexa website allows you to review and update settings. This interface is particularly good if you want to review your data and delete any recordings or transcriptions. You can learn more about the Alexa web console in our privacy guide here.
Here is a link to the Alexa web console:
For further tips on using Amazon Alexa and helping you to get familiar with the features we’ve prepared a Quick Tips guide. We have also prepared a more detailed guide on how to place video calls via Amazon Alexa.
We hope that you’ve found this guide useful, if you would like to be kept updated periodically when new content is available you can subscribe here.
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