The Amazon Echo Gen 4 is a spherically shaped, mid-tier smart speaker that was first released in 2020. The speaker supports both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, and since it is an Amazon product, it also features built-in support for Amazon Alexa as a voice assistant. It is one of the best speakers in its range for a strong bass output, and it also has an LED ring along its bottom edge that lights up to register a command through Alexa. On its top, there’s also a volume up and down button, as well as an Action and Mic off button. Like most highly rated Bluetooth speakers, the Echo Gen 4 can also be controlled through a companion app (the Alexa app) and configured to work as a speakerphone.
4
out of
109
Speakers
Amazon Echo Gen 4 Review
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Updated Jan 25, 2024 6:26 PM
Published
True Score
True Score is an AI-powered algorithm of product tests and customer reviews.
85
Absolutely Fresh
85
15
Experts
94
147.6k
Consumers
Expert Rankings
(
15
)
The Amazon Echo Gen 4 pleased testers with its spherical design and easy-to-use companion app. They were satisfied with its sound quality and deep bass levels but felt its missing battery made it much less portable. They also felt its max volume was low and wasn’t ideal for outdoor use.
$99.99
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Product Snapshot
Overview
The Amazon Echo Gen 4 is a spherically shaped, mid-tier smart speaker that was first released in 2020. The speaker supports both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, and since it is an Amazon product, it also features built-in support for Amazon Alexa as a voice assistant. It is one of the best speakers in its range for a strong bass output, and it also has an LED ring along its bottom edge that lights up to register a command through Alexa. On its top, there’s also a volume up and down button, as well as an Action and Mic off button. Like most highly rated Bluetooth speakers, the Echo Gen 4 can also be controlled through a companion app (the Alexa app) and configured to work as a speakerphone.
Consensus
our Verdict
Top-tier product testers lauded the Amazon Echo Gen 4 for its spherical design and user-friendly Amazon Alexa app. During their experiments, experts from Rtings could easily make both bass and treble adjustments and noted that it was possible to pair two Echo Gen 4 speakers for stereo output. They also stated that the Gen 4 looked quite similar to the Echo Dot Gen 4 and felt that its sound quality was satisfying for music and videos. Testers from PC Mag were also delighted with its bass levels. Check out our Amazon Echo Studio review if you’d be interested in a speaker that supports Audio and other sound formats.
However, testers complained that its lack of a battery made its portability a bit difficult since it had to be plugged in at all times. They also complained that it doesn’t get very loud and isn’t suitable for outdoor use.
ReasonS to Buy
- Supports Bluetooth and WiFi
- Deep bass levels
- Supports Alexa voice assistant
- Controlled through the Alexa app
- Has a subwoofer
Reason to Avoid
- No battery included
- Poor portability
- Low max volume
Amazon Echo Gen 4 Specs
 | Battery Life | 5 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | Yes |
 | Charge Time | 1 hrs 45 min |
 | Size | 5.30" (h) x 5.69" (w) |
 | Smart App | Ring |
 | Speaker Pairing | n/a |
 | Water Resistant | n/a |
 | Wattage | 15W |
 | Wireless Range | 1000 sq ft |
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Speakers based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
| Battery Life (Hours) | 0 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 0 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 63.496 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 6,834.38 |
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Product Comparison
 Amazon Echo Gen 4 Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 85 | 82 | NR | NR |
Ranking | # 4 / 109 | # 35 / 109 | # / | # / |
Market Context |
The Amazon Echo Gen 4 is a spherically shaped, mid-tier smart speaker that was first released in 2020. The speaker supports both Bluetooth and WiFi… |
The Amazon Echo Gen 4 features an AUX input while the JBL Flip 5 does not, and it also supports a WiFi connection while the… The Amazon Echo Gen 4 features an AUX input while the JBL Flip 5 does not, and it also supports a WiFi connection while the Flip 5 does not. On the flip side, the Flip 5 supports a remote smartphone connection while the Echo 4th Gen does not, and it can also be used wirelessly while the Amazon Echo cannot. |
The Amazon Echo Gen 4 is the fourth iteration of Amazon’s Echo line of Bluetooth Speakers, and it has a spherical design compared to the… The Amazon Echo Gen 4 is the fourth iteration of Amazon’s Echo line of Bluetooth Speakers, and it has a spherical design compared to the Amazon Echo Plus 2, which has a cylindrical shape. The Gen 4 also has a mute function that the Echo Plus 2 does not. |
The Amazon Echo Gen 4 also has three drivers while the Amazon Echo Gen 3 has only 2, but the Gen 3 has a subwoofer… The Amazon Echo Gen 4 also has three drivers while the Amazon Echo Gen 3 has only 2, but the Gen 3 has a subwoofer while the Gen 4 does not. However, the Gen 4 has a detachable cable while the Gen 3 does not, and it also features an AUX input that is missing on the Gen 3. |
Battery Life | 5 hrs | 12 hrs | – | – |
Built In Microphone | Yes | No | – | – |
Charge Time | 1 hrs 45 min | 2.5 hrs | – | – |
Size | 5.30" (h) x 5.69" (w) | – | – | – |
Smart App | Ring | JBL Portable | – | – |
Speaker Pairing | n/a | Yes | – | – |
Water Resistant | n/a | Yes | – | – |
Wattage | 15W | 20W | – | – |
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Score Card
E
Expert Score
85
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
94
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
85
Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh
Expert Scores
Publications with higher Trust Ratings are given more weight.
100.6Category Trust Rating
66The Amazon Echo is passable for music. Out-of-the-box, its sound profile is a bit boomy,… Read MoreBy:
Alistair Charlton
81.17Category Trust Rating
78The Amazon Echo (4th gen.) is a great smart speaker for the price as long… Read MoreBy:
David Nield
97Category Trust Rating
68Amazon’s fourth generation Echo delivers a fairly good audio performance considering its size, with decent… Read MoreBy:
David Murphy
43.6Category Trust Rating
90The fourth-generation Amazon Echo speaker takes the sound quality and smart home hub capabilities of… Read MoreBy:
Erika Rawes
65.58Category Trust Rating
90The Amazon Echo is the most well-rounded smart speaker, and I’m not just talking about… Read MoreBy:
Parker Hall
45.5Category Trust Rating
100Although the same price as the old version, the Amazon Echo (4th Generation) gives you… Read MoreBy:
Adam Molina
Customer Scores
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