Amazon Echo Studio (2025) Packs Smarter Alexa in Smaller Design

Amazon’s second-generation Echo Studio, first unveiled during the company’s hardware event in September last year and launched in India in May 2026, introduces a more compact design while expanding its smart features. The new model is 40% smaller than its predecessor and is powered by Amazon’s AZ3 Pro chip, delivering enhanced Alexa capabilities alongside Dolby Atmos support, Alexa Home Theater and Alexa Plus in supported regions.

The redesigned Echo Studio replaces the earlier cylindrical body with a spherical shape featuring a textured knit fabric exterior and an illuminated light ring that displays Alexa activity, pairing status and volume levels. Amazon has also added a touch-sensitive control on the top surface, allowing users to pause or resume music with a tap or customize its function through the Alexa app. While the controls generally perform well, occasional missed touch inputs and a fingerprint-prone matte finish remain minor drawbacks.

The speaker supports Wi-Fi 6E for streaming, multi-room audio, Alexa Home Theater and smart home standards including Zigbee, Matter and Thread, along with Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless playback. Unlike the 2019 model, however, the new Echo Studio no longer includes a wired 3.5mm audio input, preventing direct connection to traditional audio systems.

Amazon has also revised the speaker configuration. The 2025 Echo Studio uses three 2.5-inch full-range drivers and a 3.75-inch woofer, replacing the previous five-driver system that included a larger 5.25-inch woofer, a forward-facing tweeter and three dedicated midrange drivers. The updated hardware produces room-filling sound with clear vocals, strong instrument separation and immersive Dolby Atmos playback. Bass remains powerful but lacks some of the depth and detail found in the original Echo Studio.

Alexa performance has improved, with the new speaker responding more quickly and reliably to voice commands. Through the Alexa app, users can manage Bluetooth connections, adjust the equalizer, enable Do Not Disturb, use Drop In and create routines based on temperature or presence detection through Omnisense. However, the built-in temperature sensor currently cannot provide room temperature through voice queries, and some speaker management tasks still require the app instead of voice commands.

Features such as Alexa Plus and Alexa Home Theater could not be fully tested in India because Alexa Plus has not yet launched there and compatible Amazon devices are required for the home theater setup. Amazon says users can pair up to five second-generation Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max speakers with supported Fire TV Stick 4K or Fire TV Stick 4K Max devices to create a surround sound experience.

Overall, the Echo Studio (2025) delivers a smarter Alexa experience, attractive design and impressive audio for its compact size. While the reviewer still prefers the richer sound produced by the first-generation model, the new version offers improved intelligence, expanded smart home functionality and solid performance for $220 or INR 23,999. It is currently available in Graphite and Glacier White.