Echo Auto vs Echo Input: What’s the Difference

Amazon seems to be taking over with their intelligent gadgets that keep getting bigger and better.

If you’re wanting to be in on the hype and to get your hands on one of their newest gadgets, you may want to look into their Echo Auto or Echo Input, which can both add Amazon’s Alexa to your favourite gadgets.

The original gadget that began this trend was the Echo Dot, a smart speaker with Amazon’s Alexa built-in. Nowadays, you can install the Echo Auto into your car, for Alexa on the go, or the Echo input into your speakers, for Alexa all around the home.

But which one should you spend your hard-earned cash on? It’s not always easy to tell, but that’s why we’re here.

Get ready for a rundown of the Auto and the Input differences and a definitive answer to the age-old question: which one should I buy?

What do both of these devices do?

Although quite different in terms of what they’re used for, both the Echo Auto and the Echo Input have a range of similarities that nod to the designers and general functions of an Amazon Echo product.

Dimensions

The Echo Auto comes in at 1.6oz, making it incredibly lightweight and perfect for all vehicles. On top of that, its dimensions come in at 3.3” x 1.9” x 0.5”, meaning that it’s small enough to fit anywhere in your car without being too bothered.

On the other hand, you’ll find the Echo Input weighing 2.75oz, making it the slightly heavier option of the two, yet still amazingly lightweight. Its dimensions are 3.1” x 0.5”, and with its round shape, rather than the rectangular angles of the Auto, you’ll find the Input slightly smaller yet just as easy to hideaway.

Functions

Both gadgets have many of the same functions, meaning that they give many of the same fantastic Amazon features that you would get from the Echo Dot and other interactive Amazon products.

For example, both can give you the news, weather report and music, and the function to shop online. Furthermore, both take hands-free calls, have the option set alarms and timers, and can help you create lists, all at the touch of a button and using your voice.

Ok, so what are the real differences then?

To make it as easy as possible, we’ve split each gadget up and given it its miniature run down because, quite frankly, they’re completely different devices with their pros and cons.

Echo Auto: the rundown

Let’s begin with the Echo Auto and what it can and can’t do.
The Echo Auto is a speaker for your car. It means that Alexa is always a passenger on your journeys. This is great if you need to access navigation and map functions and see the change in weather or catch up on the latest sports scores on your journey.

It has the whole range of functions as any Echo product, but with the added location and navigation service for on the move. Plus, it’s designed for the road, and with its eight microphones and far-field technology, this gadget can hear your commands over road noise, A/C noise and music.

Whilst this is a fantastic range of functions, you should also be aware that the Echo Auto doesn’t support Google Maps, which could be a pitfall if this is the programme you like to run when navigating.

Echo Input: the rundown

Let’s move on to the Echo input and see what it offers.
Whilst the Auto has a built-in speaker, the Echo Input is a device that brings Alexa to your Bluetooth or wired speaker. This means it can be connected via the included 3.5mm cable or any compatible Bluetooth speakers.

Once you’re wired up or connected, you have the power of Amazon’s Alexa in your hands and your home and can freely use all of its abilities. The Echo Input is a glorified version of the original Echo Dot.

That’s not to say that it’s no good. You’ll still find yourself with a vast range of functions; here, the bonus is the ability to hear and transmit messages to your device and hear them over a greater distance.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, these are two completely different gadgets, and whilst they have several similar features, they’re used in quite different scenarios.

If you’re looking for the Echo product that can do the most or give you the most satisfaction, we would suggest the Echo Auto based on a few reasons.

Firstly, the Echo Auto has a built-in speaker, so you needn’t connect it to your car’s speakers manually. Instead, you use the Echo Auto as its separate entity in your vehicle.

Furthermore, the Echo Auto is location-aware, which gives it that added oomph. If you were to link the Echo Input into your car, for example, you would not be able to navigate in the same way, meaning it’s not as useful to have in the car. The Echo Auto can navigate freely.

Finally, you are able to connect to the Echo Auto via Bluetooth, which means it can be connected to your cell phone easily and without the need to use your data, or Wi-Fi, which is a function that the Echo Input simply doesn’t have.

Overall, the Echo Auto takes the crown this time.