Amazon Echo Plus (2018): Always Smarter

Amazon has recently updated its Alexa offering with a plethora of new Echo devices. Echo Dot, Echo and Echo Plus have all been upgraded for 2018. We have audited the new Amazon Echo Plus (2018) to determine what was new and if it was wise that users older people are upgrading.

The new Amazon Echo Plus certainly had a design upgrade and like most new speakers coming out these days, this one also promotes the fabric we received the white version for review and a few hours later, in the polluted air of Delhi, it was clear that it was not a good idea. Even in a relatively clean room, we could see that the dust accumulated there. In addition, if there are children around you, you will need to protect the Echo against stains.

But the design, although it remains cylindrical, is clearly better and more functional. It is shorter and thicker than the previous version and the top panel gives the volume, power and mute buttons. The longer LED ring tells you Alexa status and turns blue when you have a question. In addition, despite the threat of being tainted by Indian living conditions, Echo looks beautiful in your living room.

A smart speaker largely depends on two things: its speaker or audio output and its microphone or audio inputs. My seven-year-old, the only real smart speaker user in the house, prefers to order Alexa wherever he is. And with the new Echo Plus, his wish is to order Alexa, wherever he is, because the microphones seem to have a listening ear.

Despite all the sophistication, most people still use smart speakers to listen to a lot of music, perhaps with voice commands. The audio output is therefore an important factor in the experience of the smart speaker. The echo now offers a better sound, but it's still a bit too serious for my taste. The music ends up being a little too rounded. I therefore understood that there were equalizer settings in the Alexa application and that I lowered the bbad. The sound has improved, but I doubt that impresses the audiophiles.

Amazon has not yet released any software updates for Echo devices. It does pretty much what it did before, but new skills are added daily. I strongly recommend setting up a routine that leads Alexa to do a series of things one after the other. I say "Alexa starts my day" and it started with the weather, goes into The Indian Express news and ends with a playlist of my choice.

You can then use it for all kinds of queries, asking for a joke to check the time before going out. My son even uses it to cheat on homework and ask for everything from spelling to additions and subtractions.

The latest version of Amazon Echo Plus may not be a good upgrade for those who were already in the previous version, but a much better option for those who are considering it as an option gift this season of festivals. It is also a decent Bluetooth speaker at 11 999

Estimated Retail Price: 11,999 Rs