DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY TERMS OF USE POLICY FOR MORE INFO.
First thing's first, why Alexa?
I chose Alexa over Google because I purchase EVERYTHING off of Amazon, and since I purchase everything off of Amazon, all of the smart devices that I order are already registered to my Amazon account. They already know what my account information is and they are already connected to my network. You can read more about Amazon's "Frustration-Free Set-up" HERE, but just know it saves so much time when setting up new devices, and since I have so many smart devices in my home, Alexa was a no-brainer.
Choosing the Right Alexa Device
There are a TON of options to choose from when it comes to Alexa devices. There are Echo Dots, Echo Shows, Echo Pop, Echo Spot, Echo Studio, and the Echo Hub.
Echo Dots have come a long way since they first came out. Originally they were a flat, hockey puck shaped speaker, then they rounded out a bit and added a better speaker, and now they're a sphere with an ever better speaker (like this!). There's also the option to purchase a Kids Echo Dot (here!), which has a fun character on it. This can be used as a normal dot, or you can enable "echo for kids" and your kids can enjoy kid-friendly Audible books, interactive games and educational Alexa skills. Dots are the most budget friendly option and can do all verbal requests you want that don't require a screen ("Alexa, what's the weather today?" "What time is it?" "Unlock the front door" etc.). We have a dot in our bedroom, living room, and guest bedroom. They're sleek looking, don't take up alot of space, and can be easily hidden if you don't want it to be a focal point on your end table.
Echo Shows have quite a few different options you can choose from. There are bulky Shows with large (this one!) or small screens (like this), flat screen Shows, or Shows that have a flat screen, but sit on a bulky speaker stand (this). We have a small screened Echo Show in our basement, I have one in my closet near my vanity, and we have a large screen Show in our kitchen. The main reason we have Shows in these areas instead of a dot is that we can bring up the security cameras if we get an alert. Other than this main reason, I enjoy the large screen in the kitchen because I can pull up recipes and watch how-to videos if I'm making something new, I enjoy the small screen in my closet so I can watch music videos when I'm getting ready, and we like the downstairs small screen so our children can watch the video's with the music we play when we're having a dance party, "Alexa, play Baby Shark"...over, and over, and over...
So, for the most part, we're a dot household because it's small, the kids aren't constantly try asking Alexa to play videos, and they are, for the most part, unnoticeable!
Still Struggling to Choose?
This post wasn't meant to give anyone an "AHA" moment, but to let you know there are soooo many options out there, and you honestly can't go wrong with any Amazon Alexa products, in my opinion. Thankfully, you can order something, test it out, and if you absolutely hate it or even if you just don't love it, you can send it back, no questions asked. Thanks, Amazon!
Need Help?
Do you have an idea that you're trying to make come to life? Let me know what you're trying to do and I'll do my best to help make it happen! Thank you for reading, check out my other posts or my YouTube Channel to learn more ways to turn your home into a smart home!
Comments