Turn any car into a smart car.
Is your car “less than new” or do you drive a classic like, for instance, a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am? Now you can turn your ’82 Trans Am into KITT from Knight Rider, with the easy addition of an Alexa-enabled Echo Auto device.
Amazon’s Alexa, the unofficial female-version of KITT, is now your hands-free assistant on the road, too. With 10,000+ skills and counting, Alexa has your back so you can concentrate on the road. The only thing she can’t do is put your make-up on or shave the 5 o’clock shadow while you wait in traffic. (I don’t think the original K.I.T.T. could do that either, so no loss on that front.)
With Amazon recently releasing its own Alexa-enabled Echo Auto, we thought it would be good to compare it to the #1 Alexa-enabled 3rd-party auto device already on the market. With the Amazon Echo Auto having one main downfall, this article should help you choose the right one for you.
Amazon vs Anchor
Amazon Echo Auto
Full Review: Amazon Echo Auto
PROS:
- Full Alexa Features: Alexa Drop-In & 10,000+ other “Skills” (navigation, music, news, and more)
- Network Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wifi hotspot, car Wifi
- Audio Connectivity: Phone Bluetooth, car Bluetooth, auxiliary port
- Power Connectivity: MicroUSB to car charger (detachable)
- 8 Microphones
- Small minimalist design
CONS:
- Incompatible with iOS Carplay and Android Auto
- 1 wire too many
- Vent Mount is trash
Conclusion
Proceeded by some nice third-party auto devices with Alexa built-in, the Echo Auto is the first auto-device designed by Amazon themselves. Measuring 3.3″ x 1.9″ x 0.5″ (85mm x 47mm x 13.28mm), the Echo Auto is tiny enough to fit any setup. The big issue we have with the Echo Auto, besides the Vent Mount, is that there’s no way to avoid using wires.
At the very least, it requires a wired connection to your car charger socket, but some people may not be comfortable with running wires. For those people, the Anker Vivo may work better for you, but we’ll go over that next. For those of you who like the Echo Auto, here are a few essential accessories that’ll make installation and everyday use a breeze:
Anker Roav Viva Pro
Full Review: Anker Roav Viva Pro
If you don’t have time for an afternoon project, the Anker Roav Viva Pro is the perfect plug-and-play device. It offers every Alexa feature (skill) accept Alexa Drop In, so you’re not giving up much for the convenience. Plus, you’re getting better car-stereo-compatibility and smarter design than the Amazon Echo.
PROS:
- Most Alexa Features: 10,000+ Skills (navigation, music, news, and more)
- Network Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wifi hotspot, car Wifi
- Audio Connectivity: Phone Bluetooth, car Bluetooth, auxiliary port, iOS Carplay, Android Auto, FM Transmission
- Power Connectivity: Mounts directly in your car charger socket
- 2 Microphones
- All-In-One design
- 2 Built-in USB charge ports
CONS:
- NOT Alexa Drop In enabled
Conclusion
Anker has always been my personal favorite when it comes to power adapters and portable power solutions. Specifically, their portable chargers are best-in-class (see our article: Best Portable Chargers of 2019). The dual USB ports and built-in Alexa, make the Roav Viva our all-around favorite car charger and Alexa addition to your ride.
The Viva is compatible with most car stereos with audio Bluetooth connection, but one of our favorite features is the built-in FM Transmitter. With so many ways to connect wirelessly, you’ll never have to worry about extra wires to organize and Alexa’s 10,000+ skills keep your eyes on the road.
In the end, this is our favorite Alexa-enabled auto device because you’re still getting all of the features of the Echo Auto. The only thing it doesn’t have is Alexa Drop-In, and that can be cured with a simple software update.