Best Echo Black Friday deals: The Echo Dot is already discounted but there's more to come
The dinky Echo Dot is top choice when it comes to buying an Alexa speaker and prices are cheapest on Black Friday - with discounts on all Echo models
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The Echo Dot is a popular choice if you're looking to add Alexa to your home, or if you just want a great smart speaker. The compact spherical design - and the great affordability - makes the Dot the perfect choice for those who want to see what all the Alexa fuss is about, or to expand those voice-controlled skills into a new room.
As the Echo is an Amazon device, it's guaranteed to be discounted on Black Friday, traditionally the days when Echo speakers hit their lowest prices.
Best Echo deal right now
If you can't wait until Black Friday, Amazon has already slashed prices on some of its popular speakers, including the Echo Dot and the Echo Spot, in a limited discount until 16 October:
What Echo devices will be discounted on Black Friday?
That's an easy question to answer, because it's likely to be all the Echo devices. Amazon is a big participant in Black Friday and it discounts its own tech heavily - not just Echo, but Fire TV Sticks, Kindle and Ring doorbells too.
Echo devices reliably get discounted and could be at their lowest price on Black Friday. Although Prime Big Deal Days has already seen deals on many Echo devices, Black Friday will see the discounts return. Whether they will offer lower prices is open to debate.
Best Black Friday Echo deals
Although the Black Friday sales haven't yet started, we're keeping track of the prices of all the Echo speakers. Often prices are matched across other retailers. As you can see below.
Best Black Friday Echo Show deals
We're keeping track of the Echo Show prices as we approach Black Friday, with some deals in place from the Prime Big Deal Days, after which prices are expected to go up. They'll likely drop as soon as Amazon starts the push in November - and we'll be updating so you always find the best price.
Which is the best Echo to buy on Black Friday?
There are Echo devices for all situations, but one of the most popular is the Echo Dot. That's because it's small and inexpensive, so it's an ideal starting point for someone who wants to get into the world of Echo and Alexa.
The best Echo, in reality, if you're talking about the speaker performance is the Echo Studio. This it the biggest of the Echo speakers, supporting spatial audio and giving real room-filling sound. It's also the speaker least likely to be discounted: it's lowest price was in 2022 and it hasn't been back to that low price of £139 since!
The new Echo Spot makes an ideal bedside device, while the Echo Dot with Clock is also perfect on your bedside table. Unfortunately, the Echo Dot with Clock has been retired, with the new Echo Spot replacing it. As well as Amazon and it's Echo Show devices, Debenhams has cut the price of the Leaper 80-inch tablet to £53.99, a budget choice if you're looking for an inexpensive model.
What is the Echo Show?
The Echo Show is a family of devices that have a display, meaning you get some visual feedback from Alexa. These devices have the advantage of being able to play video clips and give you touch control too. That means you can control music by touch rather than voice, or your can tap on smart home controls to adjust the heating or dim the lights.
There are four different Echo Show models, the name related to their size: Show 5, Show 8, Show 10 and Show 15. The Echo Show 5 is ideal for small tables or the bedroom, while the Show 10 has a rotating screen and robust speakers, so it's ideal for a larger space.
The Echo Show models all feature a video camera (with a privacy shutter) so you can use them for video calling, with clever tech to keep you centred in the picture.
The Alexa experience across all the Echo devices is the same, offering things like music or news, smart home control and shopping by voice.
The latest and best Echo Show model is the Echo Show 8. This features great sound, has a good sized screen and offers the best all-round experience.
What is Amazon Alexa?
Alexa is the name of Amazon's voice assistant. Launched in 2014, Alexa is one of the best-known voice assistants, alongside Google Assistant and Apple's Siri. These days you're more likely to hear about Alexa as an AI (artificial intelligence) as Alexa can access a wide range of information on request.
However, Alexa is also compatible with a wide range of other devices and services, so has been fundamental in making a connected smart home a reality. Using the Alexa app on your phone, you can not only control your Echo devices, but you can also link to other services - like Hue lights or Arlo cameras. That means that Alexa can act as a universal voice control for many connected devices.
Alexa is available through all the Echo devices, as well as on the Alexa app, on Fire TV devices and Fire tablets. Currently there's no cost for Alexa, but rumours suggest that there could be a charge for a more intelligent next-gen Alexa in the future.
Do you have to buy an Echo from Amazon?
No - the Echo devices are widely available, so you can pick one up wherever you prefer to show. That includes the likes of John Lewis, Argos or Currys and these retailers often match the prices that Amazon is offering. So it could be that you collect one from a local store rather than ordering online.
You will need to sign into an Echo device with your Amazon account, however, something to bear in mind.