ZDNET’s Key Takeaways
- Amazon sells the Echo Hub for $180.
- The Echo Hub gives Alexa the place it has earned in the smart home market: A control panel to easily access smart devices, no ads, and no unnecessary fluff.
- The smart display can be slow and buggy, especially while loading multiple camera views.
More Buying Choices
The Amazon Echo Hub is now on sale at 28% off, available for only $130, during the Amazon Big Spring Sale.
Also: The 155+ Best Amazon Spring Sale Tech Deals Live Now
Many smart home enthusiasts, myself included, are tired of juggling dozens of apps on their phones to control the smart devices in their homes. While the release of Matter alleviates this hassle, the new smart home connectivity standard has yet to get enough support to eliminate the challenge.
Smart Home Control Centers
These devices always have their drawbacks. Amazon’s Echo Hub is designed to fill a gap in the smart home controller market by being what these devices are not: a smart home controller and only that.
No Frills, Just a Smart Home Hub
There are no frills with the Echo Hub. There’s no spatial audio speaker attached to its base, no ultra-high definition for streaming, and no ads to display while in standby mode. It doesn’t serve any purpose besides being a smart home hub and controller.
Testing the Echo Hub
Testing the Echo Hub for the past few months has been a refreshing experience. Its navigation is sorted into categories and widgets. At a glance, the Echo Hub displays your widgets on about two-thirds of the screen, with your routines and rooms on the left side and device categories at the bottom. You can customize the widgets and download more from the widgets store.
The Echo Hub: A Smart Home Control Panel
The Echo Hub can get a bit laggy when you pull up your security camera feeds.
Conclusion
The Echo Hub is a smart home control panel with the Alexa voice assistant. It also works to connect Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Thread, and Sidewalk smart devices. As its name indicates, the Echo Hub is a smart home control panel with the Alexa voice assistant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Echo Hub?
A: The Echo Hub is a smart home control panel with the Alexa voice assistant.
Q: What devices can the Echo Hub connect?
A: The Echo Hub can connect Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Thread, and Sidewalk smart devices.
Q: Is the Echo Hub a smart speaker?
A: No, the Echo Hub is not a smart speaker. It’s a smart home control panel that can control smart devices.
Q: Can I customize the Echo Hub?
A: Yes, you can customize the Echo Hub by downloading more widgets from the widgets store.
Q: Is the Echo Hub available for purchase?
A: Yes, the Echo Hub is available for purchase on Amazon for $180, or 28% off at $130 during the Amazon Big Spring Sale.
