The unique participant
The unique Echo Auto introduced Alexa to any driver keen to drive round with the voice assistant in tow. It covers a whole lot of the identical floor its successor does, however going this route additionally means slicing just a few corners you will wish to find out about alongside the best way.
For
- Retrofits older automobiles
- Simple to entry Alexa
- Excellent for Echo ecosystems at dwelling
- Comes with a vent mount
- Greater buttons
Towards
- Will not cost a telephone as quick
- Extra microphones do not yield higher outcomes
- Cautious together with your information plan
- Much less related should you use Android Auto
The smaller sequel
Amazon lower its second-gen Echo Auto down for dimension to take up much less house on the sprint, although its direct line to Alexa is meant to talk up while you want it. It’s going to hear higher when that point comes, and matches proper in for houses with different Echo units.
For
- Retrofits older automobiles
- Improved microphones and readability
- Simple to speak to Alexa
- Excellent for Echo ecosystems at dwelling
- Smaller physique is less complicated to mount
- Sooner telephone charging
Towards
- Vent mount prices further
- Watch out together with your information plan
- Much less related should you use Android Auto
For Amazon, the Echo Auto is a gateway to plug Alexa into automobiles, bringing its voice assistant into one of many areas individuals spend probably the most time in outdoors the house. Whereas solely a technology aside, these two bear no bodily resemblance, and their respective options and features additionally draw clear distinctions.
Amazon Echo Auto (Gen 1) vs. Echo Auto (Gen 2): How are they completely different?
Why you may belief Android Central
Our knowledgeable reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services so you may select the very best for you. Discover out extra about how we check.
At first look, the obvious distinction is of their respective designs. The first-generation mannequin offered a flatter, pad-style construct extra according to Amazon’s Echo product line on the time it got here out in 2018. 4 years later, the second-generation mannequin adopted an analogous path, given the material cowl that so strongly resembles the present Echo product lineup.
Reducing down the Gen 2 mannequin for dimension additionally opens up extra choices in the place to place it. For instance, each fashions can work with an attachment to latch onto an air vent, solely the lighter weight and smaller body of the Gen 2 makes it significantly extra secure as soon as you place it there in comparison with its predecessor. Amazon sells the vent mount individually or as a part of a bundle, so whereas there may be one within the authentic, you will not get it within the field with the newer one.
Alternatively, you may stick the included adhesive onto the sprint and connect both unit to the opposite facet. You must discover a spot that is not made of sentimental plastic, leather-based, or cloth to make it stick correctly, however there isn’t any query the adhesive coming with the Gen 2 is stickier. The cables and connections do not differ as a lot besides the Gen 2’s cable does not detach. Every of them comes with a 12V socket adapter for energy, plus a 3.5mm cable to plug into the automobile’s Aux-In port for audio playback to run by the automotive stereo.
The Echo Auto Gen 1 has an eight-microphone array whereas the Gen 2 has 5. That might point out a serious flaw within the newer mannequin, however that is really not the case as a result of the 2 seize voices properly, even with typical highway noise and home windows down. Amazon claims its personal improved algorithms fill in for the less mics within the Gen 2, nevertheless it’s laborious to know precisely how they work.
Each have the identical mute and Alexa activation buttons, so nothing adjustments there between them. Fingers-free entry additionally runs by the Bluetooth connection enabled between the machine and your Android telephone. You should run the Alexa app to set it up and make sure the integration works always.
Amazon Echo Auto (Gen 1) vs. Echo Auto (Gen 2): How do they work?
The primary goal for having both machine is to entry Alexa hands-free within the automotive. Both Echo Auto mannequin does that, letting you do a number of issues whereas driving. That might embody controlling sensible dwelling units, making calls, texting, wanting up locations of curiosity, or enjoying music on demand.
No matter which mannequin is within the automotive, you want the Alexa app in your Android telephone to not solely arrange the machine but in addition facilitate when it will possibly do. That course of is not any completely different with both one, solely efficiency and performance may change as a consequence of enhancements Amazon made.
The Echo Auto Gen 2 not solely responds sooner, it additionally gives higher name high quality when speaking with others utilizing Echo audio system at dwelling. The mics do a greater job decoding voices and accents than the earlier mannequin did, which might save a whole lot of effort and time if it will get issues proper extra typically.
There are two different distinctions between them that stand out. Whereas linked, the Alexa app has an possibility for Roadside Help, which may be useful should you’ve received automotive bother in an space you are not acquainted with. The opposite is that it comes with a quick automotive charger to plug in a telephone by way of USB-C. The 12V charger on the unique Echo Auto costs at a slower fee.
Amazon Echo Auto (Gen 1) vs. Echo Auto (Gen 2): Driving it round
The Echo Auto matches greatest with automobiles missing trendy infotainment techniques. If you happen to’re already operating Android Auto, you could not want both of these until you are closely invested within the Alexa and Echo ecosystem. Android Auto offers you Google Assistant hands-free, and it integrates with messaging apps, like WhatsApp, Sign, and Telegram, which the Alexa app does not.
You possibly can use each an Echo Auto and Android Auto collectively, although you would possibly solely try this should you actually want entry to Alexa within the automotive. If that is you, the Echo Auto Gen 2 is the higher approach to go for its effectivity and ancillary options. You do must pay further for the vent mount, nevertheless it’s well worth the cash for the flexibility in placement it offers you on a crowded dashboard.
Nonetheless speaking
It is the “OG” Echo Auto, nevertheless it’s not out of the rotation but, so should you’d reasonably experience with this over one thing newer, you definitely can. Some components will really feel dated by now, however the machine will work simply tremendous while you set it up.
Smaller, softer
With a smaller physique and cloth cowl, the Echo Auto (2nd Gen) sits idly by to let Alexa sit in shotgun for straightforward entry throughout any drive. Fewer mics, but higher outcomes, imply there’s some energy on this small package deal.
