Product Review · Smart Speakers · #2 Ranked
Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen, 2025)
Premium audio / Atmos · Reviewed by Drew · amazon.com live, Sept 28 2026
Why it scored a 84
Dolby Atmos and spatial audio from a sphere 40% smaller than the original, with the full smart-home hub inside — and the only Echo whose price was untouched by the August hike, which quietly improved its value. Quality and Features are the highest in the category; reviewers note vocals can get a little recessed at low volume.
What you're getting
- 3.75-inch high-excursion woofer plus three 1.5-inch full-range drivers
- Dolby Atmos and spatial audio with automatic room adaptation
- AZ3 Pro chip with Alexa+ Early Access included
- Built-in smart home hub: Zigbee, Matter and Thread border router
- Wi-Fi 6E plus Bluetooth LE 5.3; no 3.5 mm or optical input (1st Gen's was dropped)
- Omnisense sensors: ambient temperature, ambient light and ultrasound presence
- 6.1 x 5.6 x 5.8 in, 3.6 lb, ~40% smaller than the 1st Gen; screw wall mount
- Stereo pair and Fire TV surround-sound support; eero extender built in
ViperScore breakdown
At a glance
- 3.75-inch woofer + three 1.5-inch drivers; Dolby Atmos + spatial audio
- Room-adaptive sound in a sphere ~40% smaller than the 1st gen
- Zigbee, Matter and Thread hub; AZ3 Pro chip, Alexa+
- Price$179.99
- TierPremium audio / Atmos
- Category rank#2 of 10
Should you buy the Amazon Echo Studio?
The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen, 2025) is the Alexa speaker for someone who wants room-filling sound and a complete smart-home hub in one device. It has Dolby Atmos, spatial audio, Zigbee, Matter, and a Thread border router, and it was the only Echo untouched by the August 2026 price increase. At $179.99 it ties the Sonos Era 100 at the top of our smart speaker list. If you want platform freedom, buy the Sonos; if you want Alexa+ and a hub, buy this.
Where it earns its score
- Features tops the breakdown at 94. The highest Features score among smart speakers: Atmos, hub radios, Wi-Fi 6E, Omnisense sensors, and an eero extender.
- Quality of 92. A 3.75-inch woofer and three full-range drivers with automatic room adaptation.
- Full smart-home hub. Zigbee, Matter, and Thread border router mean no separate hub for most devices.
- Price held steady. While other Echos got more expensive in August, this one did not, which quietly improved its Value to 80.
What to know first
- Warranty is the weakest ViperScore factor. Amazon's standard coverage scores 55.
- No wired inputs. The 3.5 mm and optical inputs from the 1st Gen were dropped.
- Alexa only. No Google Assistant, no Siri, no AirPlay.
- Ultrasound presence sensing. Useful for Routines, but some buyers prefer a speaker that does not sense occupancy.
Our verdict
The Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) scores 84, a Good Buy, and ranks second among smart speakers, tied with the Sonos Era 100. Buy it if you are an Alexa household and want one device to be both the main speaker and the smart-home hub. The Echo Dot Max at $79.99 scores 83 if you do not need Atmos.
Sonos Era 100
Questions buyers ask
Does the Echo Studio 2nd Gen have a 3.5 mm input?
No. The 2nd Gen dropped the 3.5 mm and optical inputs that the 1st Gen had.
Is the Echo Studio 2nd Gen a smart home hub?
Yes. It has Zigbee, Matter, and a Thread border router built in.
Can two Echo Studios be paired for stereo?
Yes. They support stereo pairing and Fire TV surround-sound setups.
Ready to check it out?
Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen, 2025) · ViperScore 84 · Good Buy · $179.99
How the other 9 smart speakers scored
84Sonos Era 100
83Amazon Echo Dot Max (2025)
82Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
81Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)
81Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
80Apple HomePod mini
79Amazon Echo Pop (1st Gen)
79Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
76Google Home Speaker (2026, Gemini)
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