
Alexa goes massive with this 21-inch good show
The Echo Present 21 takes Amazon’s good show recreation to new heights with its mahoosive 21-inch display screen, Matter controlling, Thread border routing, and spectacular Hearth TV integration. Whereas it’s not excellent – the widgets nonetheless really feel a bit clunky, and the audio lacks depth for a premium device- it excels as a household hub or kitchen companion. If you happen to’re already deep within the Alexa ecosystem and searching for a display screen that doubles as a wise residence controller and streaming system, the Amazon Echo Present 21 is a stable (albeit expensive) alternative.
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Sensible crisp display screen -
YouTube and FireTV -
Zigbee, Matter and Thread onboard -
A number of mounting choices
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Widgets may very well be higher -
Plenty of pointless bloat -
Loud however distorted -
No devoted good residence UI
Amazon Echo Present 21: Introduction
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee, Sidewalk
- Ecosystems: Alexa, Matter
Alexa is greater than ever earlier than, due to Amazon taking the covers off of a model new mannequin for the good show vary… the Echo Present 21.
Launched in late 2024 alongside a 2nd-gen Present 15, the Echo Present 21, because the title suggests, boasts a 21-inch show and is by far probably the most substantial Echo Present but, with almost double the viewing space of the Echo Present 15.
Priced at $399.99 Stateside, £399.99 within the UK, the Echo Present 21 doesn’t come low-cost however boasts improved sound high quality with richer audio, double the bass of the unique Present 15, and room-adapting expertise.
That includes built-in good residence hub capabilities, the Present 21 can act as a Matter controller, with Thread border routing abilities, and Zigbee help too – placing it on a par with the likes of Echo Hub and the newest Echo Present 8.
I’ve had the Amazon Echo Present 21 caught on my wall for the previous couple of weeks, learn on for my full evaluation.
Design and construct
- Full HD 1080p show
- Digicam with privateness shutter
- Wall mountable or desk stand
- Identical mounting bracket as Present 15
The Amazon Echo Present 21 is sort of an identical to the Echo Present 15 (each generations) from a design perspective, although it does differ by way of bodily dimensions, after all.
The Echo Present 21 measures 540 x 340 x 380mm and, taking it out of the field for the primary time, it looks like an absolute monster.
Designed to be wall-mounted, or sat upon a flat floor – in both portrait or panorama – the Present 21 has a black body, with that 21-inch display screen within the center surrounded by a white bezel.
It has a digital camera positioned within the centre on the prime when in a horizontal orientation and a privateness slider to close off the lens of the digital camera.

Alongside the highest – when in a horizontal orientation, no less than – the Echo Present 21 has a quantity up and quantity down button, and a button to show off the microphone, which is along with the bodily shutter on the digital camera.
Audio system are positioned behind the system, including a good bit of chunk to the combination. Nonetheless, it seems okay when wall mounted, and doesn’t stick out too far.

The excellent news, in case you’re upgrading from the previous Echo Present 15 to the larger mannequin, is that the mounting bracket that you simply get within the field is the very same one you’ve already used earlier than.

That makes upgrading a chunk of cake but when it’s your first wall mounted big-screen Present then don’t fear as mounting is so simple as screwing in 4 screws and popping the Present excessive utilizing the again panel.
You additionally get a useful information within the field too, so no must get out the tape measure or spirit degree.

The Echo Present 21 has a 21-inch show, with a 1920 x 1080 pixel decision. Which means the brand new Echo Present 15 has a barely higher PPI rely, however the 21’s display screen is completely high quality and that additional 80% of actual property makes an enormous distinction.
You may see the show clearly from throughout the room and the Present 21 is a perfect kitchen companion as you’ll simply be capable to observe recipes and watch movies from a couple of metres away.
Talking of watching movies and there’s an Alexa Voice Distant included within the field, designed to make the Hearth TV expertise a bit extra streamlined.

I’ve wall mounted the Present 21 however you can too purchase a countertop stand that makes the Present 21 seem like somewhat TV.
In on a regular basis use
- Zippy efficiency
- Adaptive Content material on homescreen
- Contact display screen widgets
- Hearth TV mode
The Present 21 is powered by Alexa, Amazon’s digital voice assistant and, as such, is filled with an absolute plethora of voice and automation pushed capabilities.
Whenever you first plug it in, the on-screen visuals will information you thru connecting the Present 21 and getting it synced up together with your Amazon account and the Alexa app.

Nevertheless, I gained’t dive too deep on these on this evaluation; in case you’re searching for particular info as to what Alexa can provide then take a look at a few of our complete guides:
It goes with out saying although that Alexa underpins all the things about any Echo speaker, that are voice-first gadgets regardless of the presence of a display screen.
Due to this fact, you are able to do issues like calling up video feeds from good safety cameras with a voice command, reply your video doorbell, or management good lights and different good residence gadgets.
In brief, it’s a reliable Alexa system that may do something another Echo good speaker can in relation to managing your Alexa good residence system.
In reality, in relation to managing your good residence, it affords the identical choices as the newest Echo Present 8 – i.e it’s a Matter controller that may instantly join with Wi-Fi, Thread, and Zigbee gadgets.
That’s the identical radio connectivity you get with Amazon’s smart-home centered show, the Echo Hub, however you don’t get the devoted good residence UI.
I get that the Present 21 is greater than a contact panel for a wise residence however I want to have the choice to make use of the Echo Hub’s UI at instances, particularly because the good residence widgets on the Present 21 nonetheless really feel a bit clumsy.
Like different Echo Exhibits, it’s important to faucet the display screen an additional time simply to get good residence controls to show. So meaning you’ll be tapping twice to show off a lightweight, for instance.
I perceive Amazon needs to promote the Hub as a rival to high-end automation panels from the likes of Creston and Control4, however with basically the identical {hardware} and software program on board the brand new Present 21 it appears a no brainer to permit a devoted good residence display screen UI for customers to decide on.
Additional faucet woes apart although, and the Present 21 actually is a superb good residence operator, particularly for anybody already firmly in Camp Alexa eager to make that Matter leap.
I’ve paired Matter gadgets over each Thread and Wi-Fi, and likewise Zigbee bulbs on to the Present 21 and all of it works as seamlessly and as snappily as you’d need with direct, native connections.
A neat function is that the good residence display screen may even mean you can have a thumbnail stay view of a appropriate safety digital camera or doorbell from the likes of Ring or Blink.

However there’s way more to the Present 21 than as a wise residence controller. It’s extra of a centralized household hub and that’s why I believe it’s a tool that works so nicely within the kitchen.
The brand new Echo Present massive boy each ship with an Alexa Voice Distant management for Hearth TV, which you turn to from the common widget-led homescreen.
In reality, the very first thing you’re requested to do when organising the Present 21 is to configure your Hearth TV settings and get the distant paired.

I’m happy to report that the Hearth TV expertise on the brand new Present 21 is 1,000,000 miles from the buggy catastrophe that it has been because it was launched on the 1st-gen Present 15.
Due to that display screen measurement, you actually do really feel such as you’re getting an precise ‘TV’ expertise, reasonably than simply streaming uneven movies on a pill.
The apps that you simply’ll get rely upon the area you’re in however the excellent news is that YouTube is on board, so no must do the Silk-based browser workaround as you do with the likes of the Present 5 or 8.

Away from Hearth TV and the homescreen affords a reasonably nifty touchscreen expertise with customizable widgets that permit quick access to calendars, procuring lists, to-dos, good residence system favorites and extra.
There’s additionally a refreshed audio widget for managing music and podcasts, together with the power to play content material throughout a number of audio system directly.

This content material will be additional personalised you probably have Visible ID arrange by your Amazon account.
For instance it may present me my calendar schedule if it acknowledges me, or present some Alexa Youngsters content material to my daughter when she’s close by.

Nevertheless, the widget choice remains to be fairly restricted and despite the fact that have area for 9 widgets, with bigger ones taking over three areas, you possibly can solely have certainly one of these giant ones although, which appears dumb.

If you happen to simply use your Present to show photographs and nothing else, you’ll need to undergo the rigmarole of turning off the ever-growing listing of nonsense that Amazon insists on exhibiting you, by the House Content material settings.

Like different latest Present fashions, the Present 21 additionally has the House Monitoring distant view mode, which lets you test in on your property whenever you’re away from the Alexa app, basically turning your good show right into a makeshift good safety digital camera.
An alert pops up on the Present 21, so anybody within the room will know they’re on digital camera. You may’t document or retailer these movies.

The digital camera is a 13-megapixel large angle digital camera with auto framing, and there may be 3.3x zoom on provide, so it’s straightforward to remain in body when video calling, even in case you’re not proper subsequent to the system.
As with all latest Present fashions, there’s additionally auto monitoring tech in-built so throughout calls, in case you’re strolling across the room, the digital camera will zoom in and attempt to sustain with you.

Efficiency
Powered by Amazon’s Octa-core SoC with Amazon AZ2 neural community engine, the Present 21 is noticeably nippy, with hardly any lag on voice or contact prompts.
The show, albeit not within the OLED league, actually pops and also you’ll simply be capable to use the Present 21 as a miniature bed room or kitchen TV.
Streaming can also be faster than ever because the Present 21, together with the brand new Present 15, are the primary Echo gadgets outfitted with Wi-Fi 6E.
The sound is first rate, however not wonderful. Amazon made a giant track and dance concerning the enhanced audio capabilities and, whereas the pair of 2-inch woofers and two 0.6-inch tweeters positively take the Present 21 away from their tinny stablemates, you’ll quickly hit some hollowness and a little bit of distortion when turned up loud.
So it’s high quality for some informal video watching or radio listening, but it surely shouldn’t be a primary music speaker in any room. In order for you an Alexa show with a speaker able to that, the Present 10 is your finest wager.

Speaking of which, you possibly can play music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify on the Present 21. If you happen to subscribe to Amazon Music, it scrolls the lyrics of the songs on the show, so can double as a enjoyable karaoke machine too.
Noise discount expertise is included, which positively helps if you find yourself on a video name and I discovered that Alexa heard my directions significantly better than it did on my 1st-gen Present 15.
Last ideas
Amazon has delivered a robust punch with the Echo Present 21, mixing the flexibleness of a wise residence hub with the usability of a Hearth TV-equipped display screen.
The massive show and seamless integration with Matter, Thread, and Zigbee make it a future-proofed possibility for good residence fanatics.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t fairly change a devoted music speaker or high-end good residence panel just like the Echo Hub.
However for these keen to speculate, the Echo Present 21 is a flexible addition to any residence, notably in communal areas like kitchens or residing rooms.
How we check
Once we publish our opinions, you possibly can relaxation assured that they’re the results of “residing with” long run checks.
Sensible speaker often stay inside, and even management, a wise residence ecosystem, or a variety of merchandise that – supposedly – all work in concord. Due to this fact, it’s inconceivable to make use of a related speaker for per week and ship a verdict.
As a result of we’re testing good residence equipment all day, on a regular basis, we all know what issues and the way a specific good speaker compares to alternate options that you may also be contemplating.
Our opinions are complete, goal and honest and, after all, we’re by no means paid on to evaluation a tool.
Learn our evaluation course of for good audio system to be taught extra.
FAQs
Sure, the Echo Present 21 helps Zigbee, Matter, and Thread, making it a strong good residence controller. It will possibly join on to appropriate gadgets with no need further hubs.
Sure, the included Alexa Voice Distant and Hearth TV integration permit the Echo Present 21 to operate like a wise TV. Nevertheless, it’s not a alternative for a full-sized tv because of its smaller display screen measurement and mid-range audio high quality.
Completely. It incorporates a 13-megapixel digital camera with auto-framing and zoom, making it best for video calls. It additionally features a privateness shutter for when the digital camera isn’t in use.
Sure, the Echo Present 21 will be mounted or positioned in each portrait and panorama orientations, relying in your desire and area.
Sure, you possibly can play YouTube on the Echo Present 21. In contrast to some earlier Echo Present fashions the place you wanted to make use of a browser workaround, the Echo Present 21 consists of native YouTube help by the Hearth TV interface. This lets you entry YouTube instantly.
Amazon Echo Present 21: Specs
Kind | Sensible speaker with a show |
UK RRP | £399.99 |
US RRP | $399.99 |
Measurement | 21.4″W x 13.2″H x 1.5″D |
Weight | 4.86kg |
Launch date | 2024 |
Ecosystems | Matter, Alexa |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee, Sidewalk |