Amazon · Updated June 2026
Amazon Echo (4th Gen): price, specs & release date
Amazon Echo (4th Gen), released 2020-10. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: soundguys.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
- Best for Distinctive spherical/orb design with classy build and finish; Excellent Alexa smart-home hub with built-in Zigbee and broad device compatibility.
- Skip if Recessed or undercooked treble/highs is a dealbreaker.
Is the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) a good buy?
At $99, the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is #4 cheapest of the 12 smart speakers we track, where the median is $160.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 1
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 2
- Outlets on record1 tested · 3 mention-only
- 4
One independent lab measured this product across 2 physical metrics — weight and bass emphasis region. These numbers rest on a single hands-on source so far; 3 other outlets have it on record by mention only.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the 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.
Based on 4 reviews · 1 lab-tested · 2021-11-15–2025-08-12
Tested by What Hi-Fi, SoundGuys, Tom's Guide, Reviewed
Consistently praised
- Distinctive spherical/orb design with classy build and finish · 4 sources
- Excellent Alexa smart-home hub with built-in Zigbee and broad device compatibility · 4 sources
- Stronger, punchier bass and improved sound versus previous Echo generations · 3 sources
- Strong value for a sub-$100 smart speaker · 3 sources
Commonly flagged
- Recessed or undercooked treble/highs · 2 sources
- Mids/vocals sound compressed or less clear than rivals · 2 sources
- Audio quality clearly bettered by pricier rivals (Sonos One, Bose) · 2 sources
- Distorts and isn't very loud at top volume
Where reviewers disagree Testers split on bass and loudness: What Hi-Fi, SoundGuys and Tom's Guide praised the low-end as weighty/punchy, while Reviewed found the bass 'seriously lacking for my preferences' and said the Echo 'is not all that loud and begins to crackle and distort' at top volume.
The sources (4)
delivering a weighty sound and full command of your smart home
one of our gripes with the older Echos was an occasionally soft and ill-defined bass, and it feels as though Amazon has addressed this
it is a mark against the new Echo that the treble is a little undercooked
Weight: 986 g · Bass emphasis region (frequency response chart): 40-100 Hz
Thanks to its larger drivers, the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) sounds significantly better than previous generations of Echo speakers.
The large size of the woofer means that the lows here pack a punch.
There’s a significant drop-off in the middle frequencies that makes vocals sound less clear than on something like the Google Nest Audio.
Overall, the Echo sounded very good, with deep resonant bass and a general warmth to the songs.
when I played the same tracks on a Sonos One, the Sonos' higher quality was immediately apparent
it remains our top-ranking model on our best smart speakers guide
At top volume, the Echo is not all that loud and begins to crackle and distort.
I found the bass to be seriously lacking for my preferences
Specifications
| Price (US) | $99 US MSRP at launch (October 22, 2020) per Amazon and multiple reviews. Frequently discounted; as of June 2026 regular street price ~$64–$99. |
|---|---|
| Brand | Amazon |
| Released | 2020-10 |
| Assistant | Alexa |
| Drivers | 1x 3-inch (76mm) neodymium woofer, 2x 0.8-inch (20mm) tweeters |
| Smart home hub | Zigbee, Amazon Sidewalk |
| Audio calibration | No |
| Aux or line out | 3.5mm audio in/out |
| Dimensions (in) | 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 |
| Multiroom | Yes |
Source: soundguys.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by digitaltrends.com. Dimensions (5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 in / 144 x 144 x 133 mm), weight 986 g, drivers (76mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters), Bluetooth 5.0, Zigbee hub, Amazon Sidewalk, 3.5mm jack confirmed from SoundGuys review. WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac dual-band and $99 MSRP confirmed from Digital Trends review and web search citing Amazon spec sheet. Release date October 22, 2020. Dolby Audio processing confirmed. No automatic room calibration — audio_calibration=false.
Is the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) worth it vs cheaper smart speakers?
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) against its closest cheaper and pricier smart speakers on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 12 ranked
| Product | Price | Assistant | Drivers | Smart home hub | Audio calibration | Aux or line out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Echo (4th Gen) this | $99 | Alexa | 1x 3-inch (76mm) neodymium woofer, 2x 0.8-inch (20mm) tweeters | Zigbee, Amazon Sidewalk | No | 3.5mm audio in/out |
| Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) | $49.99 | Alexa | 1x 1.73-inch (44mm) front-firing full-range driver | Amazon Sidewalk, eero Wi-Fi extender built-in | No | — |
| Google Nest Audio | $99.99 | Google Assistant | 1x 3-inch (75mm) mid-woofer, 1x 0.75-inch (19mm) tweeter | Chromecast built-in | Yes | — |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the 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. 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; Strong value for a sub-$100 smart speaker. 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); Distorts and isn't very loud at top volume; Not fully omnidirectional sound output. (From 4 tester reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
How much does the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) cost?
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) has a US price of $99 (US MSRP at launch (October 22, 2020) per Amazon and multiple reviews. Frequently discounted; as of June 2026 regular street price ~$64–$99.), as of 2026-06-15.
How does the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) compare on price?
At $99, the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is #4 cheapest of the 12 smart speakers we track, where the median is $160.
When was the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) released?
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) was released 2020-10.
What are the Amazon Echo (4th Gen)'s key specs?
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) (Amazon): assistant Alexa, drivers 1x 3-inch (76mm) neodymium woofer, 2x 0.8-inch (20mm) tweeters, smart home hub Zigbee, Amazon Sidewalk, audio calibration No, aux or line out 3.5mm audio in/out. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $99 at soundguys.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See Amazon Echo (4th Gen) on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar smart speakers
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All smart speakers ranked · Open data & methodology · Queryable via MCP
Compare with
Head-to-head
Cheaper smart speakers
- Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) $49.99
- Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) $49
- Amazon Echo Pop $39.99
Step up
- Google Nest Audio $99.99
- Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) $219.99
- Sonos Era 100 $249
- Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) $299
- Bose Home Speaker 500 $379
- Sonos Era 300 $449
More from Amazon
- Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) $49.99
- Amazon Echo Pop $39.99
- Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) $219.99
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