I've tested all of Amazon's latest Echo speakers, and these are the best models to shop this Black Friday

3 weeks ago 5
Text reading 'TechRadar Black Friday deals' next to three Amazon Echo devices; the Show 15, Show 8 and Spot.
(Image credit: Amazon)

Every year, during Black Friday deals season, Amazon devices are among the best discounts you can find, with prices slashed by up to 50% on almost every available device, including those more recently released, like the Echo Show 8 and 11.

Shop Amazon's full Black Friday sale

However, not all deals are made equal, and particularly on some of those new devices, I think it's worth holding out for the next deals event when the prices might drop lower. Right now, the new Echo Show 8 is $159.99 (was $179.99) at Amazon US or £159.99 (was £179.99) at Amazon UK, for example; a respectable $20 / £20 discount, yes, but future sales could see this saving double, and I'll be explaining below why I think it's well worth the wait on several fronts.

Today's best Amazon Echo Black Friday deals in the US

Today's best Amazon Echo Black Friday deals in the UK

What the decision boils down to for me is Alexa+. Whether you're in the US, where it's currently rolling out, or in the UK waiting for launch, Alexa+ readiness is the main reason to upgrade from older speakers. While a majority of Amazon's Echo devices from recent years will be compatible with the service, newer chips are more capable of handling the demanding AI workloads, plus newer models help to expedite the process of signing up to the service in the US, where it's already launched.

The Echo Show 8 and 11 are undoubtedly a worthy investment if you're design-conscious; the floating display with a beautifully thin screen and more modern look overall is lovely, and a marked improvement to my old wedge-shaped Amazon Echo Shows, but they'll be on the market as the latest and greatest for 3-5 years if past release cycles are anything to go by.

Over that time, these models will almost certainly see bigger discounts, so jumping the gun to buy one now only really makes sense if you hate the older designs, want Alexa+, and/or just have to have the best of the best. If that's the case, make sure to check out the trade-in offers if you're in the UK.

More Black Friday deals in the US

More Black Friday deals in the UK

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Josephine Watson is TechRadar's Managing Editor - Lifestyle. Josephine is an award-winning journalist (PPA 30 under 30 2024), having previously written on a variety of topics, from pop culture to gaming and even the energy industry, joining TechRadar to support general site management. She is a smart home nerd, champion of TechRadar's sustainability efforts as well and an advocate for internet safety and education. She has used her position to fight for progressive approaches towards diversity and inclusion, mental health, and neurodiversity in corporate settings. Generally, you'll find her fiddling with her smart home setup, watching Disney movies, playing on her Switch, or rewatching the extended edition of Lord of the Rings... again.

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