Amazon · Mainstream cloud hubs
Echo (4th Gen)
Matter · Thread · Zigbee 3.0 · Bluetooth LE · no local API · about $100
cloud requiredcloud required
Protocols
MatterThreadZigbee 3.0Bluetooth LEWi-Fi
2.5 W
Idle power
$100
List price
~100000
Devices (est.)
Specifications
| Category | Mainstream cloud hubs |
|---|---|
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee 3.0, Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi |
| Cloud dependency | cloud required |
| Local API | no local API |
| Voice assistants | Alexa |
| Open source | closed-source |
| Directly supported devices (est.) | ~100000 |
| Idle power draw | ~2.5 W |
| Update outlook | actively maintained |
| List price (Amazon.com, Q2/2026) | about $100 |
Best for: Family / casualBest for: Budget under $80Best for: Matter / future-proof
Setup & gotchas
📡 The Thread radio was activated by a later software update, so early boxes may not advertise it even though the silicon is present.
🔒 Sidewalk shares a slice of your bandwidth by default - turn it off in the Alexa app if privacy matters.
Editorial take
Our hands-on read — the specs above are the sourced facts.
Strengths
- + Built-in Zigbee, Matter and Thread hub in a cheap, often-discounted speaker
- + Enormous Alexa works-with device catalog
- + Premium sound that adapts to the room
Trade-offs
- − Cloud-required with no local control or API
- − Amazon Sidewalk is enabled by default
- − Automations stop working if the internet drops
Related hubs
Frequently asked questions
Does the Echo (4th Gen) require the cloud?
Yes. The Echo (4th Gen) is cloud-required — a vendor account and an internet connection are needed, and routines run through the vendor cloud (no local API).
Which protocols and voice assistants does the Echo (4th Gen) support?
Protocols: Matter, Thread, Zigbee 3.0, Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi. Voice: Alexa. It directly supports an estimated 100000 devices/brands.
How much does the Echo (4th Gen) cost and how much power does it use?
List price is about $100 (Amazon.com market observation, Q2/2026 — actual prices fluctuate). Idle power draw is roughly 2.5 W. The hardware and firmware are closed-source.
Source & last checked
- Amazon Echo (4th Gen) product page: amazon.com/dp/B07XKF5RM3 ↗
- Sources last checked: 2026-07-20 · Prices: Amazon.com market observation, Q2/2026
- Idle-power and device-count figures are vendor-claimed or community-measured estimates. Prices fluctuate. Details without warranty — check the current manufacturer spec sheet before buying.