The Amazon Echo Auto Indian Variant: Worth the Investment?

In recent years, smart speakers have become increasingly popular, with the Amazon Echo being one of the most popular and widely used models. It offers a range of functionalities, such as playing music, controlling your smart home, and answering questions. An Indian version of the Echo, the Amazon Echo Auto, has been introduced, with a unique button dedicated to Bollywood songs. However, is it really worth purchasing the Indian variant over the regular Amazon Echo?

Availability and Pre-order

The Amazon Echo Auto is now available for pre-order on the Echo Auto - add Alexa to your car page. It will start shipping from January 15, 2020.

The Appeal of the Indian Variant

At first glance, the Echo Auto seems like the perfect addition to any car. It is designed with a variety of colors and comes with a dedicated button for Bollywood songs. The Indian version is made in India and has a slightly different design. However, when you consider that phones like the Redmi Note 8 Pro come with Alexa built-in, the Echo Auto loses its appeal.

Redundancy and Future Trends

With more phones being released with Alexa built-in, the Echo Auto may quickly become redundant and obsolete. Additionally, there are several compatibility issues that users should be aware of:

Non-Compatible Cars

The Amazon Echo Auto is not compatible with certain cars when using a Bluetooth connection. These cars include:

Honda Civic 2013 Honda CRV 2014 Toyota Camry 2015 Toyota Corolla 2017

For using the Echo Auto with these cars, you can connect via the included auxiliary cable.

Non-Compatible Smartphones

The following smartphones are not compatible with the Echo Auto:

Honor 4C, 7X, 7C, 8X HTC Desire 610, M8, M9 Huawei Honor 4C iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C Lenovo K6 Note, LeEco LePro 3 Micromax Bharat 4 Motorola E4 Plus Oppo A37, A83, F1s Samsung Galaxy J2, J3, J6, J7 Max Vivo Y83, Y81, V9, Y21L Xiaomi Redmi 4a

Note that OS versions prior to iOS 12 are not supported. Additionally, OnePlus phones have battery-saving customizations that can kill the Alexa app to conserve power. If you are a OnePlus user, follow these steps to prevent the Alexa app from being killed:

Ensure that battery optimization is turned off for the Alexa app. Go to your phone settings, Battery, Battery Optimization, Amazon Alexa, and uncheck the 'Optimize' option. Pin the Alexa app in memory. In 'multitasking,' tap on the lock icon for the Alexa app.

Why We Prefere the Amazon Input

We preferred the Amazon Input (1st Gen) to the Echo Auto, despite it being discontinued because the first-generation Amazon Input was available for Rs.2,999 before its discontinuation. The Amazon Input offered a more affordable and minimalistic design, which many consumers appreciated.

In conclusion, while the Amazon Echo Auto Indian variant has some unique features, it may not be worth the investment, especially given the rise of Alexa-integrated smartphones and the various compatibility issues. Always consider the compatibility of your car and smartphone before making a purchase.