Amazon's Alexa is one of the world's leading virtual assistants and smart home automation systems. The voice assistant is an integral part of millions of households, handling tasks such as locking doors, dimming lights, playing music, and even calling for help. The tech is poised to get even better with the general rollout of Alexa+, an AI-upgraded version of the assistant that is now available through an early access program.Alexa is integrated into various smart home devices, including smart hubs, Amazon Echo speakers, smart thermostats, smart light bulbs, and home security cameras. If you're in the market for a new Alexa device, we've tested the best products to help you make the best purchase.Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers.

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What is the best Alexa device right now?Our choice for the best Alexa device is the third-generation Amazon Echo Show 8. The third-generation Amazon Echo Show 8 is a smart display with a spatial audio speaker that delivers rich sound quality and a full Alexa experience. Also: I used Amazon's Echo Show 21 as my smart home hub, and it's almost perfect Maria Diaz/ZDNET Why we like it: The Echo Show 8 has a spatial audio speaker on the back that delivers rich, crisp, room-filling sound. The Adaptive Content feature displays simplified content when viewed from a distance. As you approach, the content becomes more detailed. Who it's for: The Echo Show 8 is a fantastic tool for busy households. After using it daily for months, the Echo Show 8 has become my go-to device for creating shopping lists, serving as an entertainment center while cooking, and an assistant for controlling smart devices around my home. I use it to ask Alexa for the weather while I'm setting up the kids' backpacks on school nights and to run my smart home routines to activate the backyard lights. Review: The Echo Show 8Who should look elsewhere: If you're looking for a larger screen to add to your kitchen or another room that can double as a TV, consider the or . These devices have Fire TV built in and can be wall-mounted, so they function as both a mini-TV and a smart display. Echo Show 8 features: 8-inch touchscreen display | 1080p resolution | 13MP camera | Spatial audio | Zigbee, Matter, Thread | Price: $100