Are Alexa Devices Actually Worth Using? An Expert‘s Perspective
Voice assistants have rapidly grown in popularity over the past decade, with Amazon‘s Alexa leading the pack. First released in 2014, Alexa is now integrated into a wide range of smart home devices that go far beyond the original Echo speaker. From smart lights to thermostats to TVs and more, Alexa aims to make it more convenient than ever to control your home with just your voice.
But with so many Alexa-compatible devices on the market, which ones are actually worth using? As someone who has tested dozens of Alexa gadgets over the years, I‘m here to share my top recommendations, as well as what to know before you invest in an Alexa-powered smart home. Let‘s dive in!
Best Overall Alexa Device: Amazon Echo Dot
If you‘re new to the world of Alexa, the Echo Dot is the ideal place to start. This compact smart speaker provides access to all of Alexa‘s key features at a very reasonable price point. With the Dot, you can use your voice to play music, control smart home devices, set timers and alarms, check the weather, and much more.
The latest 5th generation model released in 2022 is the best-sounding Dot yet. It also includes an LED display that can show the time, weather, or song titles. While the Dot is small in size, it still manages to pack in a lot of functionality. And it frequently goes on sale for even less than its standard $50 price. The kid-friendly version with a fun animal design is perfect for children‘s bedrooms.
If you want to go beyond the basics, you can use the Dot as a smart home hub to control a wide range of other Alexa-enabled products with your voice. It‘s the most affordable way to make Alexa the center of your smart home. The only real downside is that the LED clock display can be too bright for some when used on a bedside table.
Best Smart Lights: Philips Hue
Smart light bulbs are one of the most enjoyable ways to use Alexa on a daily basis. And when it comes to smart lighting, Philips Hue is the gold standard. The Hue lineup includes a wide variety of bulbs, light strips, lamps, and fixtures that produce up to 16 million colors.
With Alexa integration, you can use voice commands to turn lights on or off, adjust brightness, change colors, and more. You can also create custom lighting scenes and schedules. For example, you could have your lights automatically turn on and glow warm in the morning, then transition to a relaxing dim setting at night. Or use different colors to set a festive mood for a dinner party.
The Hue ecosystem does require a bridge that connects to your router. A starter kit with the bridge and a few bulbs will cost you around $200. While not cheap, Hue‘s lights produce bright, vibrant colors and are extremely reliable. I have Hue bulbs throughout my home and find voice-controlling them with Alexa to be magical every time. My only complaint is that once you get started, you‘ll want Hue lights everywhere which can get pricey.
Best Smart Display: Amazon Echo Show
While most Alexa devices focus solely on voice controls, the Echo Show adds a touchscreen for a more visual experience. Available in 5, 8, 10, and 15-inch sizes, the Show can display relevant info based on your voice queries, such as weather forecasts, recipes, calendars, and news video clips.
The Echo Show really shines for video calling. Just say "Alexa, call Mom" to instantly start a call with any of your contacts who have the Alexa app or their own Echo Show. The 10-inch model can even automatically pan and zoom its camera to keep you in the frame as you move around. You can also use the Show to view live feeds from compatible video doorbells and security cameras with a simple voice command.
All of the usual Alexa features are supported on the Echo Show too. And the screen makes it easier to see what music is playing, control your smart home devices, and get step-by-step recipe instructions. The Show is more expensive than an audio-only Echo, and its capabilities will feel redundant if you already have an Amazon Fire tablet. But for an all-in-one Alexa device with a display, the Show is your best bet.
Best Smart Thermostat: Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
A smart thermostat is an eco-friendly way to save money on your energy bill while making your home more comfortable. And the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium leads the pack for Alexa integration. Once linked with your Amazon account, you can use voice commands to set your desired temperature, enable heating or cooling, switch between Home and Away modes, and more.
Ecobee claims its smart scheduling features can reduce your annual energy costs by up to 26%. The thermostat also includes a built-in air quality monitor and offers helpful tips to keep your home‘s air fresh. With a sleek touchscreen display, the Ecobee looks great on your wall too.
At around $250, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium costs significantly more than a basic programmable model. And installation may require some basic electrical wiring know-how. But if you want the smartest thermostat and the convenience of Alexa voice controls, the Ecobee is well worth the price.
Best Smart TV: LG C2 OLED
If you‘re in the market for a new TV, opting for a model with Alexa built-in will let you control your viewing experience hands-free. The LG C2 OLED is our top pick for a high-end smart TV. Available in sizes up to 83-inches, the C2 produces stunning picture quality thanks to its self-lit pixels which generate perfect black levels and incredible contrast.
The LG C2 has Alexa ready to go out of the box. Just press the Alexa button on the remote to ask Alexa to launch apps, search for content, control playback, switch inputs, and more. You can also integrate the TV into your smart home routines. For example, saying "Alexa, I‘m home" could turn on the TV and adjust the lights and temperature to your desired setting.
The cutting-edge OLED panel technology makes the C2 an expensive investment compared to standard LED TVs. But it‘s also an excellent choice for gamers, with support for the latest features of PlayStation, Xbox, and PC gaming. If you want the best image quality and Alexa voice control in one sleek package, the LG C2 OLED delivers.
Best Smart Soundbar: Sonos Arc
To upgrade your TV‘s audio while adding Alexa capabilities, the Sonos Arc is hard to beat. This premium soundbar supports Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound technology for immersive audio that fills your room. It includes 11 high-performance drivers, including upward firing speakers for height effects.
With Alexa built-in, you can use voice commands to adjust volume, switch inputs, and control music playback. The Arc works especially well when paired with an Amazon Fire TV streaming device. Then you can say things like "Alexa, find action movies" to search across all your streaming apps.
At $800, the Arc is more expensive than many other Alexa smart speakers. And you‘ll need a fairly large space directly in front of or below your TV to place the soundbar. But the Sonos app makes setup simple and automatically optimizes audio for your room‘s acoustics. If you want theater-quality sound with convenient Alexa controls, the Arc is a great choice.
Best Smart Lock: August Wi-Fi
Tired of fumbling for your keys? A smart lock will let you go keyless while providing useful voice controls via Alexa. The August Wi-Fi fits over your existing deadbolt and is simple to install in about 10 minutes with just a screwdriver.
Once set up, you can lock and unlock your door from anywhere using the August app or an Alexa voice command. You can also grant keyless access to guests during set time windows, so no more hiding a physical key outside. For added security, the August lock automatically locks behind you and lets you double-check the status with your voice.
At $230, the August Wi-Fi isn‘t cheap. And you‘ll still want to carry a physical key in case the batteries die or your internet goes down. But as a DIY home security solution you can monitor and control with Alexa, the August is very convenient.
What to Consider Before Buying Alexa Devices
With such a wide range of Alexa-compatible devices available, it‘s important to evaluate your needs before investing in a voice-controlled smart home. If you‘re just getting started, the Echo Dot is the most affordable way to try out Alexa‘s capabilities. You can always add more Alexa gadgets over time.
Pay close attention to the specific voice commands each device supports to ensure it does what you need. And keep in mind there may be some limitations. Voice control technology is constantly improving but still not perfect. Alexa may occasionally misinterpret your commands or get confused.
It‘s also worth considering the privacy implications of having always-listening microphones in your home. While Amazon says it takes privacy seriously, Alexa devices do upload your voice recordings to Amazon‘s servers by default. You can delete your recordings and change privacy settings, but some may prefer to avoid voice assistants altogether.
Finally, keep in mind that Alexa isn‘t the only voice assistant around. Google Assistant and Apple‘s Siri offer similar capabilities in their own ecosystems of products. And the underlying voice technology from each company is broadly comparable. In my experience, Alexa tends to support the widest range of third-party smart home integrations, but the gap is narrowing over time.
The Future of Alexa
Amazon has big ambitions for Alexa that go beyond basic voice controls for smart speakers and TVs. The company envisions Alexa as an ambient computing platform that‘s available everywhere you go to make your environment smarter and more automated.
We‘re already seeing this with newer Alexa abilities like Routines, which let you trigger multiple actions with a single voice command. For example, saying "Alexa, start my day" could gradually turn on your lights, start the coffee maker, read your calendar appointments, and give a news briefing.
Over time, Alexa will likely become more proactive and personalized as the system learns your preferences. Instead of having to say "Alexa" before every command, Alexa may be able to analyze context and body language to respond more intuitively. We could also see Alexa integrated more deeply into cars, wearables, appliances, and public spaces.
With that said, progress in voice technology doesn‘t necessarily mean everyone will want an all-encompassing Alexa experience. Voice control is incredibly convenient in some cases but inefficient or socially awkward in others. Not everything needs to be voice enabled.
Personally, I‘ve found Alexa to be a helpful addition to my home for controlling smart devices, quickly getting information, and adding a bit of fun and personality to interacting with technology. I access it mostly through an Echo Dot and built-in Alexa controls on other devices like my TV and thermostat. But I still use plenty of apps and physical controls when it‘s faster or easier than voice.
Like any technology, Alexa is a tool. And the key is finding the right balance of when and how to use that tool to improve your life. Fortunately, with so many Alexa devices and features available today, it‘s easy to experiment and discover what works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best Alexa device for someone just getting started?
A: The Echo Dot is an ideal entry point. It provides access to all of Alexa‘s key features in a compact, affordable package. You can always expand to other Alexa devices later.
Q: Do I need an Amazon Prime subscription to use Alexa?
A: No, a Prime subscription isn‘t required for any Alexa features. However, Prime members can access a wider library of music, books, and videos to stream via Alexa.
Q: Can I use Alexa to control devices from different brands?
A: Yes, Alexa has by far the widest third-party integration of any voice assistant. Alexa can control popular smart home gadgets from brands like Philips, Ecobee, August, and many more.
Q: How does Alexa compare to other voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant?
A: All three platforms offer similar core capabilities like voice controls for smart home devices, music playback, web searches, scheduling, etc. In my experience, Alexa tends to support more third-party integrations while Google Assistant is better at answering factual queries. But the overall functionality is quite comparable.
Q: Are Alexa devices always listening and recording what I say?
A: By default, Alexa devices only record and upload audio to Amazon‘s cloud when you say the wake word "Alexa". However, there have been some instances of Alexa accidentally activating. You can mute the microphone or delete recordings in the Alexa app if you have privacy concerns. Amazon also lets you opt out of human review of your Alexa conversations.
