Amazon Echo Studio (2025) Review

Amazon Echo Studio (2025): Introduction

Times have changed since the original Echo smart speaker was released. While that device was primarily a speaker designed to interact with Alexa, it’s safe to say that most people want a smart speaker that’s good for music first and layered with smart features on top. That’s clearly what Amazon’s new speakers are aiming for, and the Amazon Echo Studio (2025) is designed to be a high-end speaker.

Effectively a combination of the old Echo and Echo Studio, this new model is an all-around smart speaker with great audio, even if it doesn’t sound as good as the old Studio.

design and components

While the old Echo Studio seemed like a bit of technology, the new Amazon Echo Studio (2025) is designed to fit better into your home. Like a fine-tuned echo (4^th Gen)’s new smart speaker has a spherical body wrapped in material.

For this speaker, Amazon tilts the control panel forward, which makes a lot of sense and makes it easier to reach. The controls have also been tweaked. There’s no longer an action button to activate Alexa, just a volume control and a mute button that also blocks the microphone.

There is only one power input on the back. This speaker doesn’t have a line output, but that’s okay. It doesn’t make sense to buy speakers like this and output the audio to another system.

There are threads underneath that allow you to mount the speaker to the wall without getting in the way.

Features and usage

With built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Amazon Echo Studio (2025) easily connects to the Alexa app and is ready to use. Here in the UK, the speaker only works with standard Alexa, but in the US and Canada it supports Alexa+. I won’t go into details about Alexa/Alexa+ here, but suffice it to say that the experience here is similar to that of other Echo speakers, that Alexa is a mature smart assistant that’s easy to interact with, and that the system has the best overall support for smart home devices.

This smart speaker is powered by an AZ3 Pro processor with an AI accelerator designed for Alexa+. Overall, this speaker responds quickly to requests, and its wake word recognition is impressive, even recognizing people whispering quietly in a room with music playing.

Echo Studio (2025) includes a built-in Zigbee and Thread hub, is fully Matter compliant, and connects directly to compatible devices like the Tado X smart heating system for faster smart home control.

Includes tap gestures. Tap the top to silence the alarm, end a call or drop-in session, or play/pause music. I really like this kind of quick interaction, and it’s often easier and faster than using voice.

Built-in ultrasonic motion detection allows you to use Amazon Echo Studio (2025) as a presence sensor for routine use. It works very well and is more sensitive than traditional motion sensors. For example, if you use motion sensors to turn off lights when no movement is detected, you often have to wave your hand to keep the lights on. Thanks to ultrasonic sensors, you don’t have to make huge movements to keep the lights on in your office.

sound quality

Inside the Amazon Echo Studio (2025), there are multiple angled speakers (three 1.5-inch drivers and one high excursion woofer) for spatial audio. That sounds nice, but the previous Echo Studio had a 5.25-inch woofer, three 2-inch midrange speakers, and a 1-inch tweeter. It’s probably not surprising that Amazon doesn’t directly compare the two.

Considering the price, Amazon Echo Studio (2025) offers great performance. It starts with bass-heavy tracks, manages them well, and handles higher volumes better than the older Echo (4th generation). Limp Bizkit’s Out Of Style has some punch to the guitar, but the bass isn’t as strong as on the previous Echo Studio (2022).

OK Go’s This Too Shall Pass has a lot of bass, which might put off lesser speakers, but the Echo Studio (2025) handles it admirably. There’s plenty of depth to this track, even if it doesn’t completely rock the room.

Foo Fighters’ “Enough Space” begins with swirling guitar effects. Stereo separation isn’t perfect, but the speaker layout suggests left-to-right sound movement.

For more subtle tracks, the Echo Studio (2025) also performs well. The harmonies in Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” sound particularly clear, and classics like Clair De Lune’s are rendered with just the right amount of detail.

Overall, the sound remains balanced at all volume levels, with an overall sense of urgency and excitement.

At this price range, Amazon Echo Studio (2025) offers commendable audio performance. The Sonos Era 300 offers great sound quality, but it’s quite expensive. HomePod falls somewhere in the middle in terms of price and audio features.

You can also pair Amazon Echo Studio (2025) with some new Fire TV models, supporting up to five Echo Studio models and one subsystem with full Dolby Atmos audio. This feature was not available at the time of review, so we were unable to test it.

final thoughts

Here’s a summary that combines all of the above with a verdict, but more concisely. It also reiterates why it is better or worse than the alternatives.

Test method

When we publish a review, you can rest assured that it is the result of long-term testing.

Smart speakers typically exist within an ecosystem, or set of products that all work together in harmony. It is also designed to offer a variety of cleaning options. Therefore, it is impossible to use the speaker for a week to give a verdict.

We test smart home kits all day every day, so we know what’s important and how a particular smart vacuum compares to the alternatives you’re considering.

Our reviews are comprehensive, objective, and unbiased, and of course, we don’t receive direct compensation to review devices.