The Amazon Echo Hub could be the standout smart home product from Amazon this year. It’s incredibly thin, packs an easy-to-use interface and looks like the ultimate accessory for those with an Alexa-heavy smart home.

Simple yet sophisticated design ; Excellent connectivity ; Easy set-up and use

UI still a bit buggy ; Not suitable for entertainment

Putting smart home control features and functionality front and center, the Amazon Echo Hub sees the tech giant take another huge slice of the smart home pie. Pairing some of the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)'s best features with a simple yet...

Easy to set up Bright, colorful display Familiar interface No ads

Lacks configuration flexibility Slow to respond Missing Map View

“If Alexa came with a universal remote, it would be the Echo Hub. Unfortunately, the device remains a work in progress for now.”

Great for smart-home control. Easy to customize onscreen widgets for content you want to see. Still a fully featured smart speaker that can play music, answer questions, and check the weather. No ads! (Yes, Echo Shows have ads now.)

More expensive than an Echo Show and fewer features. Doesn’t show the clock face often. Sound is not great, but you don’t need it to be.

Supports Wi-Fi, Matter, Zigbee, Thread, Bluetooth LE Mesh, and Sidewalk ; Easy to set up, customize, master, and use on an everyday basis ; Supports advanced options such as Power over Ethernet

No Z-Wave support ; No battery backup option

This is a fantastic smart home controller for hardcore smart home enthusiasts with lots of devices to manage and control, but it might be overkill for those just dipping their toes into the water.