Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) vs Echo Studio 2025

The Amazon Echo Studio 2025 is the next generation of the Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation). While the design has been re-worked, with the original's cylindrical shape swapped out for a smoother, orb-like design, there have been steps backwards when it comes to performance. The newer version doesn't get as loud, compresses more at max volume, and can't play back stereo content without downmixing to mono. That said, the newer version does feature some next-gen tech, like Alexa+ and Alexa Home Theater compatibility that can help futureproof your setup. It also has a more balanced default sound and does a better job of picking up voice commands in noisy situations.