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New Amazon Echo Plus initial review: New design, better speakers

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The Echo Plus is a better Echo all-round than the standard version, but we have to say we preferred last year’s design that distinguished it from the
The Echo Plus has been given a redesign. When it launched last year it was somewhat confusing that it used the old standard Echo design and now that has been rectified.
We loved the previous Plus; with so many people using these devices for music it’s an obvious step up from the standard Echo and Echo Dot. You can pre-order the Echo Plus now for £140 / $150, although it won’t be delivered until 11 October. New Amazon Echo Plus vs old Echo Plus: What’s the difference? Design 148 x 99 x 99mm, 780g New design like the standard Echo Slightly larger in diameter than the Echo
The Echo Plus now looks like the standard Echo with its fabric covering, but we can’t help but feel it needs to be different in some way – if only to convey that it’s the more expensive model. Maybe it should be taller? It’s actually not the same enclosure as the standard model; it’s bigger in diameter to accommodate the more-powerful audio.
We did like the old design, especially using the volume ring at the top of the device to change the volume. That’s also gone with this new model which has the familiar Echo four-button arrangement on top. The light ring remains, of course. Pocket-lint
The new model is 148 x 99 x 99mm and clocks in around 200g lighter than its predecessor – 780g.
Like the Echo Dot it has three different finishes, charcoal, heather grey and sandstone although there isn’t a massive amount to choose between them. Pocket-lint Specs and sound 0.8-inch tweeter, 3-inch woofer Dolby-enhanced sound Tweak equaliser settings in the Alexa app
The audio has been given a further improvement over last year’s model thanks to help from Dolby and you can now adjust equaliser settings within the Alexa app (is there anything the Alexa app can’t do?). Amazon says the speakers in this device are new this year with a 3-inch woofer and 0.8-inch tweeter. The sound is certainly punchy, but we’ll have to wait until we have one at home to compare with last year’s model. Pocket-lint
On the underside there’s the usual connection for power and you can have line in or line out depending on what you want. Pocket-lint
Again the Echo Plus acts as a Zigbee hub for easy setup of compatible smart home devices – you don’t need a separate hub. In reality, though, we haven’t found ourselves doing this a great deal with our Echo Plus at home and we’re not sure how often buyers will use it either.
Verdict
We love the Echo Plus we have right now and we’re expecting that the improved speakers in this version to improve the experience. They certainly sound punchy and if you love music then this is an obvious purchase.
It doesn’t offer enough to upgrade if you already have a standard Echo or last year’s Echo Plus but if you’re buying your first Echo it really is worth the extra money over the standard device.
Price when reviewed: £139.99
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