Amazon Echo Plus adds in Zigbee support
With a Zigbee radio in addition to its Alexa voice control smarts, the Amazon Echo Plus wants to quarterback your connected home.
The Amazon Echo Plus is the online retail giant's newest Alexa speaker -- scroll through for a quick look at what's new.
Similar design
The first thing you'll notice is that, aside from the new silver color, the Echo Plus looks almost identical to the original Echo.
Three colors
The Echo Plus is also available in white or black, just like the original.
Volume ring
Another similarity to the original -- the Echo Plus kept the beloved volume ring. It's now the only Echo device currently on sale that offers it.
Aux-out jack
Unlike the original, the Echo Plus features an aux-out jack in the back.
Hook it up
You can plug a 3.5mm cable into that jack to connect the Echo Plus with your existing speaker setup. You can also pair wirelessly using Bluetooth.
Improved hardware
The Echo Plus offers a very slight improvement in sound quality over the original Echo, and also features Amazon's second-gen far-field microphone array. That means it does a little bit better at hearing the wake word from a distance.
Zigbee
The big, new feature with the Plus is that it features a built-in Zigbee radio. With Zigbee, the Echo Plus can communicate directly with Zigbee smart home gadgets, including the entire Philips Hue product line.
Updated Alexa app
You can now control all compatible smart home devices right from the Alexa app. It even features device-specific pairing instructions, making it easy to get started.
Worth it?
The Amazon Echo Plus costs $150, making it $50 more than the standard, second-gen Echo, which shares many of its strengths. So, is the Plus version worth it? Check out our full review of the Echo Plus for the final verdict.