Verdict
Almost twice the price of the original, the Amazon Echo Dot Max justifies itself with better audio than any other Echo Dot (and almost as good as the old standard Echo), plus you get Zigbee, Thread and Matter built-in, alongside the clever ultrasound presence detection sensor. If you want a good all-rounder, this Alexa+ ready smart speaker is great.
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Zigbee and Thread hub -
Sounds great for the price -
Built for Alexa+
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Doesn’t sound as good as the older (cheaper) standard Echo
Amazon Echo Dot Max: Introduction
If the Echo Studio (2025) is Amazon’s equivalent of the Homepod, the Amazon Echo Dot Max is the company’s Homepod Mini alternative only, whisper it, better.
Overall, for the quality of audio, price and range of features, the Amazon Echo Dot Max is an incredible smart speaker that will suit a range of purposes.
Design and components
The Echo Dot range of speakers started life as a cheaper, more basic way to interact with Alexa. With people generally demanding better audio quality from any speaker, with music and audio a priority, Amazon has had to up its game, so we don’t have a 6th generation to replace the 5th generation Echo Dot, but the newly named Amazon Echo Dot Max.
Like a smaller version of the Echo Studio (2025), the Echo Dot Max is a cheaper, more entry-level smart speaker, available in graphite, white and amethyst.
Size-wise, the new Echo Dot Max is very similar to HomePod mini, which makes it easy to place on a shelf and tuck out of the way.
Controls have been moved to the front of the speaker, from on top on the previous models. This makes a lot of sense, as the controls are easier to reach and easier to see.
There are volume controls, and a mute button that disables the microphone. There’s no longer an action button to activate Alexa, which you probably won’t miss, thanks to improved wake-word detection.
At the back, there’s a power input, and that’s it. And, this speaker doesn’t have the screw thread underneath for wall mounting that the Studio Max model has.
Features
Similar to the Echo Studio, the Amazon Echo Dot Max is built for Alexa+, which you can have if you’re in the US, but not here in the UK, yet, where standard Alexa is available. To improve Alexa+ responses, there’s an AZ3 processor and AI accelerator onboard.
These do help a bit with standard Alexa, too: faster responses and better wake-word detection. Even whispering quietly at the speaker has it respond.
Internally, it’s good to see that you get all the smart home goodness that the bigger Echo Studio has: Thread and Zigbee hubs (Matter compatible, of course), a temperature sensor, and the ultrasound presence detection. When this feature is enabled, the Echo Dot Max can initiate a Routine upon detecting the presence or absence of individuals. Similar to my experience with the Echo Studio (2025), this functionality operated consistently and reliably.
Tap gestures are also supported, with a gentle bash on top used to play/pause, stop an alarm or hang-up a conversation.
Sound quality
Amazon’s Echo Dot Max offers improved sound with a 0.8-inch tweeter and a 2.5-inch woofer, delivering deeper audio and more bass than previous models. Notably, the Echo (4th Gen) launched at £10 less and had dual 0.8-inch tweeters and a larger 3-inch woofer.
Better audio is definitely evident compared to the previous Dot, especially when it comes to bass. With Rage Against the Machine’s Bomb Track, the drums kick in with a thump, even if the room doesn’t shake as with expensive speakers.
Generally, audio is well balanced and clean, even if there’s not quite the power or impact that larger speakers have. You don’t get any stereo separation with a single speaker, and audio is locked to where the Echo Dot Max is placed.
With the upcoming Alexa Home Theatre, you can use an Echo Dot Max with up to five other Dot Max speakers or Echo Studio (2025) models and a Sub. This setup is compatible with select Fire TV devices.
Final thoughs
At almost double the price of the old Echo Dot, the Echo Dot Max just about justifies the price hike: audio is almost as good as on the older Echo (5th generation), and similar to (if not better than) the HomePod mini.
For most people, then, the Echo Dot Max, is the best choice for an Alex smart speaker, particularly as it has all of the extra smart home features of the Echo Studio.
How we test
When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.
Smart speakers usually live within an ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. And they are designed to offer a range of different cleaning options. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a smart speaker for a week and deliver a verdict.
Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular smart cleaning machine compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.
Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.
