Amazon
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
$99Cheaper
Released 2020-10
Best Smart Speakers · head-to-head
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) vs Bose Home Speaker 500
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is cheaper at $99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Bose
Bose Home Speaker 500
$379
Released 2018-09
Which is better: the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) or Bose Home Speaker 500?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is the cheaper at $99.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Amazon Echo (4th Gen) | Bose Home Speaker 500 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $99 | $379 |
| Brand | Amazon | Bose |
| Released | 2020-10 | 2018-09 |
| Assistant | Alexa | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Drivers | 1x 3-inch (76mm) neodymium woofer, 2x 0.8-inch (20mm) tweeters | 2x 2.5-inch full-range drivers (opposing sides, stereo) |
| Smart home hub | Zigbee, Amazon Sidewalk | — |
| Audio calibration | No | No |
| Aux or line out | 3.5mm audio in/out | 3.5mm aux line-in |
| Dimensions (in) | 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 | 8.0 x 6.7 x 4.3 |
| Multiroom | Yes | Yes |
| Release | 2020-10 | 2018-09 |
Sources — Amazon Echo (4th Gen): soundguys.com (verified 2026-06-15). Bose Home Speaker 500: soundguys.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) and Bose Home Speaker 500?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Assistant: Amazon Echo (4th Gen) Alexa vs Bose Home Speaker 500 Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Drivers: Amazon Echo (4th Gen) 1x 3-inch (76mm) neodymium woofer, 2x 0.8-inch (20mm) tweeters vs Bose Home Speaker 500 2x 2.5-inch full-range drivers (opposing sides, stereo)
- Aux or line out: Amazon Echo (4th Gen) 3.5mm audio in/out vs Bose Home Speaker 500 3.5mm aux line-in
- Dimensions (in): Amazon Echo (4th Gen) 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 vs Bose Home Speaker 500 8.0 x 6.7 x 4.3
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Four whitelisted testers — What Hi-Fi, SoundGuys, Tom's Guide and Reviewed — hands-on reviewed the exact 4th-gen Echo. Consensus: a well-rounded, great-value Alexa smart-home hub with a distinctive orb design and punchy bass, but recessed treble and mids, and sound clearly bettered by pricier rivals like the Sonos One. (4 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Distinctive spherical/orb design with classy build and finish; Excellent Alexa smart-home hub with built-in Zigbee and broad device compatibility; Stronger, punchier bass and improved sound versus previous Echo generations.
Flagged: Recessed or undercooked treble/highs; Mids/vocals sound compressed or less clear than rivals; Audio quality clearly bettered by pricier rivals (Sonos One, Bose).
Bose Home Speaker 500
No sourced tester review yet.