5 min learnNew DelhiJan 31, 2026 04:29 PM IST
Amazon’s Alexa units have captured our creativeness over the previous decade or so, amusing younger and outdated alike. The Echo Present vary of those units, which provide extra than simply audio consumption or interplay, has been round for some time, providing a wider vary of use circumstances. I’ve tried many of those units through the years and located them to be good leisure units, giving you quick access to your favorite music, permitting you to faucet into Alexa abilities, and even providing some passive video consumption. The brand new Echo Present 11 is an enchancment on all these capabilities.
The brand new Echo Present 11 seems to be so much like the sooner iterations and has a outstanding 11-inch Full HD display with a digicam on prime and quantity controls on the aspect. There isn’t a bodily slider to dam the digicam like in earlier variations, however you possibly can block it from the settings. Setup is straightforward utilizing the Alexa app. As soon as up and working, you can even obtain apps straight from the gadget. Controls and apps are simply accessible with a swipe down on the display, and apps are bucketed into classes like video and music so that you just don’t battle to seek out them. And swiping to the proper provides you entry to widgets like climate and fast video games. It’s also possible to arrange the gadget to indicate you widgets when you find yourself close to it.
The Echo Present 11’s house display surfaces just lately performed music, good house shortcuts and widgets, reinforcing its function as a passive, always-on family companion. (Picture: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Categorical)
The 11-inch show is clearly a spotlight of the brand new gadget. It’s clear and vivid sufficient so that you can watch exhibits on Amazon Prime or Netflix, although for me, this display measurement shouldn’t be sufficiently big for any critical video consumption. However I’m certain my teenage son can be very happy to look at his favorite exhibits by his bedside on this display.
For lots of customers, this display could be nice for passive viewing, like when you find yourself doing one thing else, like cooking or family chores. It’s also choice to play movies of bhajans or calming scenes in the lounge. I liked how you’ve got the choice to add your private photographs or to play artwork or pure scenes from Amazon straight, utilizing the Echo Present 11 as a digital picture body, an idea that has in any other case all however light away.
The audio high quality is sweet and loud, although it might have been a bit sharper. Listening to Papaoutai, the 2013 music that has change into a viral Reels sensation, I might really feel the Echo Present fill the room with Afro Soul. Nonetheless, it lacked the sting within the highs, which you get on most Bluetooth audio system. However then most customers is not going to really feel something amiss.
Powered by the custom-designed AZ3 Professional silicon, this model is basically clean and doesn’t get caught when you find yourself switching between apps or screens. Even watching movies for lengthy hours doesn’t sluggish it down in any method.
A swipe-down management panel on the Echo Present 11 affords fast entry to brightness, digicam controls, routines and good house settings, making on-device navigation easy and responsive. (Picture: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Categorical)
One characteristic that works very well with the Echo Present merchandise is Reside View, the place you possibly can remotely use the 13-MP digicam on the gadget to see what is going on in your home. Although it triggers privateness points, the identical can be utilized successfully to watch children and the aged. Whenever you change on the Reside view digicam, the Echo Present 11 shows an alert message on display. There may be additionally the drop-in characteristic, which you should utilize like an intercom to speak with somebody within the room.
With regards to abilities, I couldn’t discover quite a lot of new stuff that was not there earlier than. Nonetheless, the brand new Omnisense know-how brings within the potential to set off routines primarily based on sensors on the gadget. Wish to play Hanuman Chalisa with first mild or calming music for 10 minutes once you change off the lights. My spouse liked the Sudoku app, which she will activate for a sport whereas strolling by. In case you are investing in an Echo Present 11, it will make sense to get extra related units like bulbs and plugs, which you’ll management utilizing voice or the display. That will probably be making good use of the Echo.
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At Rs 26,999, I like to recommend the Echo Present 11 for households with children who should be entertained or engaged in addition to elders who should be communicated with simply. Don’t purchase this if you’re solely going to ask Alexa for the climate or to play Child Shark. It is a rather more succesful gadget.
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