Wired's picks: The best Alexa and Amazon Echo speakers for 2026
Wired has published its updated guide to the best Amazon Alexa devices, naming the Echo Show 11 its top smart display pick while noting Amazon recently raised prices across its Echo lineup.
Tech outlet Wired has released an updated roundup of the best Amazon Alexa smart speakers and displays for 2026, based on its own hands-on testing.
Best smart display
The Echo Show 11 was named the best Alexa smart display, outperforming both the older Echo Show 10 and the newer fourth-generation Echo Show 8 in testing. The device features a bright, crisp 11-inch screen, a 13-megapixel camera, spatial audio, and a built-in Zigbee smart home hub supporting Matter and Thread. Downsides include on-screen ads and preset content that must be manually disabled. Its price recently rose to $250, though it remains available at a discount.
Best affordable option
The third-generation Echo Show 8 from 2023 was named the best budget pick, having held the top spot in its category for three generations running. It offers an 8-inch screen, a 13-megapixel camera with auto-framing, and better sound quality than the newer fourth-generation model, whose price has since increased.
Other recommendations
The second-generation Echo Studio was praised as the best-sounding Alexa speaker, delivering powerful, deep audio. For bedside use, the second-generation Echo Spot was recommended for its half-circle display without a camera or ads, while the Echo Dot Kids was highlighted as the best option for children thanks to its parental controls.
Price increases
Wired notes that Amazon raised prices last month across several product lines, including Echo devices, Kindle e-readers, Fire TV streaming sticks, and Eero routers. The company attributed the change to rising storage and memory costs. Echo device prices increased by amounts ranging from $20 to $100, with the largest hikes affecting the bigger Echo Show models.
