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The Amazon Echo Hub is an Alexa touchscreen designed mainly to control compatible smart-home devices. It puts lights, locks, thermostats, cameras, routines, and other controls on a dedicated dashboard, with touch and voice access. It is a household control panel—not a general-purpose tablet or an entertainment-first Echo Show.
What can you control with the Echo Hub?
The Echo Hub can control compatible devices connected to your Alexa account. Depending on the product and its Alexa integration, that can include lights and switches, plugs, thermostats, locks, blinds, cameras, doorbells, security systems, speakers, and selected appliances or sensors. Amazon has described compatibility with more than 140,000 connected devices; that is Amazon’s broad compatibility claim, not a guarantee that every device or feature will work through the Hub. Amazon’s announcement · Alexa-supported Matter categories
A device generally needs a supported connection to Alexa, such as Matter, Zigbee, Bluetooth Mesh, a manufacturer’s Alexa skill, or another supported integration. A “smart” label by itself does not mean the device will appear or expose all its functions. Amazon Smart Home Dashboard support · Works with Alexa requirements
What does its dashboard do?
The dashboard is the reason to choose the Echo Hub over a voice-only speaker: it keeps frequently used controls visible in one place, so household members can tap a light, group, camera, or routine without opening the Alexa app or remembering a command. Amazon says the Home Dashboard is automatically created from devices and routines associated with the Alexa account, and can then be rearranged and configured. Amazon dashboard customization support
#1 Best Overall
- Echo Hub — An easy-to-use smart home control panel redesigned for your home. Arrange controls on your dashboard to quickly adjust devices, view cameras, start routines, and more.
- Customize your dashboard — Arrange devices into sections and resize them to focus on what matters most. Create a personalized layout that matches how your family uses their connected devices.
- Reimagined for your home - With an Alexa+ and compatible Ring subscription (sold separately), get Ring camera event summaries to stay in the know. Search your Ring footage using simple voice commands. Create routines by voice, activate modes to manage multiple devices at once, and chat with Alexa to easily control your smart home.
- Home security for the whole family — Use Echo Hub to easily arm and disarm your compatible security system, making it easy for everyone in your family to manage home security. Use the Alexa app and compatible cameras, locks, alarms, and sensors to check in while you're out.
- Works with thousands of Alexa compatible devices — WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Sidewalk, and Thread devices sync seamlessly with the built-in smart home hub.
Amazon’s support documentation lists widgets for cameras, smart-home groups, and favorites. The camera widget can show up to six camera tiles. A practical layout might put the front-door camera, lock, porch light, and garage control together near an entryway, or gather bedroom lights, blinds, and thermostat controls in one view.
Routines as one-tap scenes
You can start Alexa Routines from the dashboard or by voice. A routine is a saved sequence of actions—for example, switching off selected lights, locking doors, adjusting the thermostat, and arming a compatible security system. You create and edit routines in Alexa; the Echo Hub provides a convenient way to trigger them. What a routine can do depends on the actions each connected device makes available to Alexa. Amazon Echo Hub overview
Rank #2
- Like-New Amazon Echo Hub | 8” smart home control panel with Alexa | Compatible with thousands of devices is refurbished, tested, and certified to look and work like new and comes with the same limited warranty as a new device. Certified Refurbished Amazon devices may be packaged in generic Amazon-branded boxes.
- Echo Hub — An easy-to-use Alexa-enabled control panel for your smart home devices—just ask Alexa or tap the display to control lights, smart plugs, camera feeds, and more.
- Streamline your smart home — Customize the controls and widgets, displayed on your dashboard to quickly adjust devices, view cameras, start routines, and more.
- Works with thousands of Alexa compatible devices — Compatible with thousands of connected locks, thermostats, speakers, and more. WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Sidewalk and Thread devices sync seamlessly with the built-in smart home hub.
- Home security at your fingertips — Use the Echo Hub to arm and disarm your compatible security system. Use the Alexa app and compatible cameras, locks, alarms, and sensors to check in while you're out.
Camera and doorbell views
The Hub can display compatible camera or doorbell feeds. What you can do after opening a feed depends on the camera and its Alexa integration: a live view does not necessarily include recording-history browsing, advanced detection settings, notifications, or every two-way-audio feature. Amazon’s camera-streaming documentation describes one-way video and one-way or two-way audio depending on the connected device and integration. Amazon Alexa camera streaming documentation
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It can also be useful with compatible Ring security equipment, but the Hub itself does not mean every Ring function or subscription feature is included. Check the requirements for the specific Ring device and feature you want to use. Amazon Echo Hub overview
Rank #3
- MEET ECHO SHOW 15 - A stunning 15.6" Full-HD (1080p) smart display that's perfect for your kitchen and ready to show you more. Use customizable widgets to keep your day on track, watch your favorite shows with Fire TV and powerful vibrant sound, and enjoy natural video calling, with 3.3x zoom and wide field of view.
- FAMILY ORGANIZATION HUB - See your top widgets at a glance, like your family’s calendars and to-do lists, local weather, smart home, and more.
- ALL YOUR FAVORITES, ALL RIGHT HERE - Built-in Fire TV unlocks endless entertainment, so you can enjoy your favorite content from thousands of apps like Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV, and more (subscription may be required). Fire TV remote included. Plus, now you can quickly add a device to play music with Active Media - start playing a song in the kitchen, then add the living room and bedroom on the fly.
- SMART HOME CENTRAL - Control smart devices with your voice or a few taps using the smart home dashboard. Easily turn on all your living room lights at once or check live camera feeds to see what's happening around your home.
- YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES ON DISPLAY - Brighten your space (and your day) by turning your home screen into a photo slideshow that displays your favorite memories. Auto curate your images and show off your favorite family memories.
Which smart-home connections are built in?
Amazon lists Zigbee, Matter, Thread, Bluetooth, and Sidewalk support for the Echo Hub. These capabilities can help connect supported devices, but they do not make it a universal controller: the device category, protocol, region, account, and features exposed to Alexa all matter. Amazon’s announcement
- Zigbee: Compatible Zigbee devices can often be discovered directly, without a separate Zigbee bridge. Amazon documents the voice command “Alexa, discover my devices.” Zigbee products are not guaranteed to work simply because they use Zigbee; device support and features still matter. Amazon Zigbee documentation
- Matter: Supported Matter devices can connect to Alexa, including over Wi-Fi or Thread where supported. Matter does not guarantee support for every device category, command, or manufacturer-specific feature. Amazon Matter documentation · Supported Matter categories
- Thread: The Hub includes Thread Border Router functionality to help connect compatible Thread devices, generally through Matter. A Thread radio alone does not make every Thread product usable through Alexa. Amazon Thread documentation
- Bluetooth and Sidewalk: Amazon lists these as connectivity capabilities. That is not a promise that any Bluetooth or Sidewalk device can be added as a standard smart-home control. Amazon’s announcement
Local connections through protocols such as Zigbee or Matter do not make the entire Alexa experience independent of the internet. Account setup, remote access, cloud-based integrations, and some Alexa services may still need internet access.
Rank #4
- Bundle Includes: Echo Hub & Made for Amazon Stand
- INTRODUCING ECHO HUB — An easy-to-use control panel for your smart home devices—just ask Alexa or tap the display to control lights, smart plugs, camera feeds, and more—for a custom smart home at a smart value.
- STREAMLINE YOUR SMART HOME — Customize the controls, widgets, and cameras displayed on your dashboard to quickly adjust lights, arm security systems, play music, start routines, and more.
- WORKS WITH THOUSANDS OF DEVICES — Compatible with over 140,000 connected cameras, lights, locks, plugs, thermostats, speakers, and more. WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Sidewalk and Thread devices sync seamlessly with the built-in smart home hub.
- HOME SECURITY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS — Use the Echo Hub to arm and disarm your Ring security system. Use the Alexa app and compatible cameras, locks, alarms, and sensors to check in while you're out.
How is the Echo Hub different from an Echo Show?
Both can provide screen-based smart-home controls, but their priorities differ. Choose based on what you expect the screen to do most often.
| Question | Echo Hub | Echo Show |
|---|---|---|
| Main role | Dedicated smart-home control panel | Broader smart display for smart-home controls plus other household uses |
| Dashboard | Persistent smart-home dashboard is central to its purpose | Smart-home control is one feature among others |
| Entertainment and communication | Not the main reason to buy | Better fit if you want entertainment, information, photos, or video calls; features vary by model |
| Placement | Designed for wall mounting; a separate stand accessory is available for countertop placement | Placement and mounting depend on the model and accessories |
| Best fit | Alexa households wanting a shared, always-available control screen | People who want a display for mixed uses as well as smart-home controls |
The Echo Hub has an 8-inch touchscreen. Its defining purpose is control, not running arbitrary tablet apps, browsing the web like a general-purpose tablet, or replacing a full Echo Show experience. Amazon’s product announcement describes its screen and wall-mountable design. Amazon’s announcement
Best Value
- Powerfully smart, beautifully built: The redesigned 8.7" smart display features a vibrant HD touchscreen with 15% more viewing area versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release), built-in smart home hub, AZ3 Pro chip for powerful performance, and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Content sounds incredible: Stream music or watch shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and more. All with room-filling spatial audio, crisper vocals, wider sound stage, and up to 2x bass versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release). With Alexa+, find the name of that song you love and discover new shows based on your preferences.
- Your everyday assistant: See recipes and calendars at a glance, easily find meal inspo and manage your shopping lists. With Alexa+, find recipes based on foods you love, make reservations, order groceries, and more.
- Simple Smart Home control: Pair and control thousands of devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. Easily view your camera feeds. Manage lights, thermostats, and more using the display or your voice. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature, presence, or visual ID detection.
- Crystal-clear video calls: Video calls feel natural with a centered, auto-framing camera, 3.3x zoom, and noise reduction technology. Use live view to check in on your family, pets, and more while you're away.
How do you set it up?
- Power on the Echo Hub and connect it to your Amazon account and Wi-Fi using the Alexa app. App labels and setup screens can change over time.
- Add your smart-home devices to Alexa. Use the manufacturer’s supported setup, skill, bridge, or Matter pairing flow as appropriate.
- Discover compatible Zigbee devices. Use the Alexa app or ask, “Alexa, discover my devices.” Amazon Zigbee instructions
- Pair Matter devices through the supported Alexa flow using the device’s setup code or pairing process. The available features depend on Alexa’s support for that Matter category. Amazon Matter documentation
- Arrange the Home Dashboard once it populates from devices and routines associated with your account. Add or rearrange favorites, groups, and supported widgets. Amazon dashboard customization support
- Set up groups and routines in Alexa and choose compatible cameras for the dashboard widget.
What if a device does not appear or has limited controls?
- Check that it is powered on and connected to its network, hub, or manufacturer bridge.
- Make sure it is linked to the same Amazon account as the Echo Hub.
- Enable the manufacturer’s Alexa skill if the device requires one, then ask Alexa to discover devices again.
- Confirm that the product is supported for the function you want, not merely advertised as smart or Alexa-compatible.
- Check for device firmware, regional availability, bridge, or subscription requirements in the manufacturer’s support information.
- If discovery still fails, remove and re-add the device using its supported setup method.
A device appearing in Alexa can still expose fewer controls than its manufacturer’s app. For example, a light may support basic on/off control while keeping advanced scenes or settings in its native app. Matter improves interoperability, but Amazon documents particular supported categories and features rather than universal compatibility. Amazon Smart Home Dashboard support · Supported Matter categories
Who is the Echo Hub for?
It makes sense if…
- Your household already uses Alexa and has several compatible devices.
- You want a fixed screen for shared controls, cameras, security, lighting, or routines.
- Touch access is useful for visitors or household members who do not want to rely on voice commands.
- You want to replace a compatible Zigbee or Matter controller—not necessarily every brand-specific bridge.
Look elsewhere if…
- You mainly want music, video, calls, photos, or a broad selection of screen-based entertainment; an Echo Show may suit those uses better.
- You want a full tablet, a platform-neutral controller, or advanced automation and deep customization. Home Assistant is an option for technically confident users willing to take on more setup and maintenance; SmartThings is an alternative smart-home platform. Home Assistant · SmartThings
- You have only a few smart devices and are comfortable using voice commands or the Alexa app on a phone you already own.
- You need every proprietary ecosystem feature available from one panel. The Echo Hub does not automatically eliminate manufacturer bridges or apps.
Amazon has not established in the cited product information whether Alexa+ is supported specifically on the Echo Hub, so do not assume that general Alexa+ availability means it is available on this model. Alexa+ overview
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