4 Best Alexa Speakers (2026): Echo Dot Max, Echo Dot, Echo Show 11

LoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleBest Overall Alexa SpeakerAmazon Echo Dot MaxRead more$100 Amazon Best Affordable Alexa SpeakerAmazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)Read more$50 Amazon Best Alexa Smart DisplayAmazon Echo Show 11Read more$220 Amazon Best Affordable Alexa Smart DisplayAmazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)Read more$150 Amazon Amazon started the smart speaker game, but finding the best Alexa speaker has only gotten harder as the company launches more and more devices. Amazon has the largest range of smart speakers and displays by a long shot, which can be overwhelming to dive into. The most recent were launched late last year: the Echo Dot Max, the Echo Studio (2nd Gen), the Echo Show 11, and the Echo Show 8 (4th Gen). But Amazon has plenty of older, cheaper models available, too. If you're looking for something small and simple to control your home, either an Echo Dot ($50) or the Echo Dot Max ($100) is your best bet. The Dot Max has really impressive sound for its compact size and is my overall favorite Alexa speaker, but if you're only going to use it for voice commands rather than jam sessions, you can get away with the older, cheaper model, especially if you want to buy a few to place around your home. For anyone looking for a smart display, the Echo Show 11 ($220) is the best of Amazon's newest smart displays that come designed for the updated assistant, Alexa+. The older third-generation Echo Show 8 ($150) is still a great value if you want something cheaper. Read on to see every Alexa speaker I've tried (hint: it's all of them) and what I think after testing each one. You can also learn more about Alexa+, and we've got guides on setting up your Echo speaker, creating Alexa routines, and the best tricks an Echo Show can do. Updated June 2026: I've trimmed the picks in this guide to four and added a new Honorable Mentions section. I've also updated pricing and Alexa+ details. Comparing the Best Alexa SpeakersHonorable MentionsMore Alexa (and Alexa-Compatible) SpeakersWhat’s Alexa+?What’s the Difference Between an Echo and an Echo Show?When’s the Best Time to Buy an Echo?How and Where Should You Set Up Your Alexa?Is Alexa Always Listening?How Do You Remove Ads and Spam From an Echo Show?Best Overall Alexa SpeakerPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistAmazon Out of Amazon's latest smart speakers, one landed on top for me: the Echo Dot Max. It's still a similarly sized speaker to past Dot models (though this model is slightly taller at 4.27 inches while the older was 3.9 inches) but has much better sound than ever before, putting it on level with the Echo (4th Gen) we previously recommended. I was really impressed with the sound quality and volume for such a small speaker. It also doesn't lack in bass like smaller speakers usually do. Amazon is no longer selling the plain Echo, which was last updated in 2020, so the Echo Dot Max is really your only powerful sound option that isn't upwards of $150. While it still has the rounded design that was introduced in the 2020 Echo speakers, both the Echo Dot Max and new Echo Studio introduced a new design style with a front panel that looks like a dust cap, but instead houses the volume controls and the microphone mute button. There are also tap controls on the top to stop music, and it has a built-in smart home hub that was never before available in such a small speaker. It comes with Alexa+ right out of the box, but if you don't have a Prime membership, you'll only have a 30-day trial and then need to pay for either Prime or the Alexa+ $20 monthly fee (choose Prime). WIREDImpressive, room-filling sound, especially for its small sizeCompatible with Alexa and Alexa+, and good at hearing requests, even with loud music playingHas a built-in smart home hubTIREDExpensive for such a small speakerBest Affordable Alexa SpeakerPhotograph: Nena FarrellCourtesy of AmazonChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistAmazon The fifth-generation Echo Dot is a few years old now, but it's still a great little speaker. It's got powerful, robust sound for its size, and it works great if you want Alexa handy on a bookshelf or on a small side table. It's one I always find myself setting up somewhere in my house, whether it's in my hallway so I can ask quick questions as I move through the house, or in my bedroom as an alarm clock. It's some of the best sound you can get for this price, especially when it's on sale. WIREDImpressive sound for such a small size, with solid bass compared to previous generationsGood size for bedside tables and smaller roomsTIREDWon t fill a large room with sound like other picks in this guideBest Alexa Smart DisplayPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistAmazon I'm surprised to say that out of Amazon's two newest Echo Show devices, the new Echo Show 11 ended

4 Best Alexa Speakers (2026): Echo Dot Max, Echo Dot, Echo Show 11

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4 Best Alexa Speakers (2026): Echo Dot Max, Echo Dot, Echo Show 11

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