FeaturedAmazon Echo (4th Gen)
By Ethan Halfhide · Updated
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is a spherical Alexa smart speaker with a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, a Thread border router, and a Matter bridge, priced at $99.99. It connects directly to Zigbee accessories without a separate hub, but it does not support Apple HomeKit or Google Home. It suits Alexa-based households that want one device to both play audio and control smart home gear.
Alexa's best-sounding speaker doubles as a full smart home hub.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)Specs and price last verified September 27, 2026
As an Amazon Associate HomeGearLab earns from qualifying purchases.
Specifications
- Price
- $99.99
- Device type
- Smart Speaker
- Ecosystems
- Alexa, Matter
- Rooms
- Living Room, Kitchen, Bedroom
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, Matter
- Hub required
- No
- Rental friendly
- Yes
- Matter certified
- Yes
- Installation
- Plug and play
- Energy Star
- No
- Local control
- No
- Voice control
- Yes
About
The 4th-gen Echo's spherical design allows a 3-inch woofer and dual front-firing tweeters to project room-filling stereo sound in all directions. Dolby Processing and adaptive audio tuning adjust EQ to your room's acoustics automatically, and the result beats most dedicated Bluetooth speakers at this price point.
What separates this Echo from cheaper options is the built-in smart home hub. It includes Zigbee, Matter, and Thread radios, you can connect Zigbee bulbs, locks, and sensors directly without a separate hub, and it acts as a Thread border router to strengthen your mesh. It's the only Echo that eliminates the hub purchase for most setups.
Ask Alexa to control any connected devices, set routines by time or trigger, stream music from Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music, make calls, and manage shopping lists. The 4th gen also supports Alexa Guard for passive home monitoring. If you're starting an Alexa ecosystem from scratch, this is the one to buy.
Setup and compatibility notes
Setup is done through the Amazon Alexa app over 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi; no additional hub is needed since Zigbee and Thread radios are built in. Some features, like glass-break and smoke alarm detection, require an Alexa subscription. It only integrates with Alexa-based automations, so it is not a fit for HomeKit or Google Home households.
Pros
- +Built-in Zigbee, Matter, and Thread hub, eliminates a separate hub purchase
- +Dolby-tuned 3-inch woofer with adaptive room acoustic EQ
- +Alexa Guard passive home monitoring included at no extra cost
- +Frequently discounted, often the best value in smart home speakers
Cons
- −Deep Alexa ecosystem lock-in, limited cross-platform device control
- −Always-on microphone array is a privacy concern for some households
How it compares
| Device | Price | Ecosystems | Matter | Hub required | Local control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Echo (4th Gen) | $99.99 | Alexa, Matter | Yes | No | No |
| Google Home Speaker | $99.99 | Google Home, Matter | Yes | No | No |
| Amazon Echo Dot Max | $99.99 | Alexa, Matter | Yes | No | No |
| Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) | $299 | HomeKit, Matter | Yes | No | Yes |
FAQ
- Does the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) work with Apple Home?
- No, it does not support Apple HomeKit integration.
- Does it need a separate smart home hub?
- No, it has a built-in Zigbee hub, Thread border router, and Matter bridge, so it can control compatible devices on its own.
- Does it need a subscription?
- Basic voice control and Zigbee/Matter device control are free; alert features like glass-breaking and smoke/CO detection require an Alexa subscription.
- Does it work with Google Home?
- No, native Google Home/Google Assistant integration is not supported.
You might also like
Google Home Speaker
Google's first ground-up Gemini smart speaker, with a built-in Thread border router.
Amazon Echo Dot Max
The compact Echo grown up, Zigbee, Thread and Matter in a small speaker.
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Apple's full-size smart speaker doubles as a Thread border router and Matter hub.
About the author
Ethan Halfhide: Ethan Halfhide is a smart home enthusiast and AI technologist who follows the connected home market closely, from smart locks and security cameras to robot vacuums, lighting, sensors and hubs. He curates HomeGearLab's device directory, comparing products on published specs, compatibility, setup requirements and price so readers can pick gear that fits their home and works together.