Its audio quality isn't as good as Google Home's, but the Echo's Skills are what really sets it apart. In addition to being found on a wide range of products, Alexa's ability to work with a plethora of services and devices makes it more versatile for more users. ...

If you’re more smart-home savvy, invested in Amazon’s video and music streaming ecosystem or turned-off by the look of the Google Home, this might well be the smart speaker for you.

If you want to dip your toe into the world of Alexa, the Echo might seem like the obvious choice. However, with the Plus better for music and the Show and Spot better for visuals, Amazon's principal speaker seems squeezed by its surrounding Echo product family.

If you’re asking us whether the Echo is a device you need, the answer is a firm no. But as geeks and early adopters of technology, we do like what it stands for. It’s a mere party trick at times.