This is the BEST* Amazon Smart Home Dashboard! Echo Hub Review

I tested the new Echo Hub in my smart home! Here's the good, bad, and who it's designed for.
Echo Hub: amzn.to/3IcIkfX
(affiliate links)
My smart home favorites: www.amazon.com/shop/smarthome...
FOLLOW ME
Subscribe to Smart Home Solver: bit.ly/3joO1dZ
Subscribe to Reed's Smart Home: bit.ly/3EulO02
Twitter: / smarthomesolver
Instagram: / smarthomesolver
TikTok: / smarthomesolver
0:00 Intro
0:30 Design
1:47 Smart Home Controls
4:34 UI Design
6:14 What’s missing
8:04 Who is this for?
9:06 Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right Start Select
---------
MUSIC
Doctor Momentum by Slynk
All of the music throughout is by Nihilore.
Spotify playlist: open.spotify.com/playlist/7LV...
Ending song is The End by EVA.
open.spotify.com/artist/6UIs5...
alias: Dashboard cheat code
description: ""
trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.up_button
condition: []
action:
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.up_button
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.down_button
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.down_button
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.left_button
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.right_button
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.left_button
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.right_button
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.start_button
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.select_button
- service: input_boolean.turn_on
target:
entity_id: input_boolean.secret_unlocked
data: {}
enabled: true
- delay:
hours: 0
minutes: 0
seconds: 10
milliseconds: 0
enabled: true
- service: input_boolean.turn_off
target:
entity_id: input_boolean.secret_unlocked
data: {}
enabled: true
mode: single

[@SmartHomeSolver]

The Echo Hub is available to buy starting today: amzn.to/3IcIkfX (affiliate link) By the way the cheat code at the end is a real automation. The YAML code in the description.

[@topperdude2007]

The screen responsiveness reminds me a bit of early generation tablets - quite slow. Especially when there aren't as many UI elements. Not sure if they used low end processors but does it make it feel like a first gen / "prototype-y" /rushed to market product (maybe to compete/catch up with Apple and Google?). Great video as always! 👍

[@fowlfables]

That ending! *Chef's kiss*

[@Waterbottle365]

The end actually made me lol. Great job!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I'm glad you liked it! That was one of my favorite automations to make.

[@lmorgan1509]

I done made 3 cheat codes already. This is super fun to play around with and show my friends and family the fun parts of home automation using home assistant.

[@simonsayshomeassistant]

Great video! Interesting to see how Amazon is improving their smart home offering!

[@lasongablackwell6535]

I just ordered mines It's coming Friday excited It will be nice to have everything in one spot

[@MrGrizfromDidsbury]

Thanks for the review. Just ordered mine here in the UK got the Email saying it is now available today! Plan to have a couple of these around the house one upstairs and one downstairs wall mounted. Looking to use the PoE functionality. I already have a Ring alarm system with about 25 sensors and 12 cameras (all PoE). My heating system also fully ties in with Alexa. Just hope they improve the UI over time.

[@hcochran23]

Thank you for the video. Was on the fence about getting one since I'm mostly using Amazon Echo products.

[@kbaleesh]

Great review* as usual thank you. With asterisk of course 😉

[@SoCalVipers]

It wouldn't take much effort to make this great. But as it is, it's just ok. I just got mine last night so I have not had much time to play with it. I have 50 Insteon switches in the house. Trying to scroll through all 50 switches to get to what I want makes it a bit useless. I'll try to create groups like you demonstrated. I'm in the process of building a new house, so I need to decide now if this is worth the wall space. My goal is a simple interface to quickly do a few things: -buttons for a few common lighting scenes -buttons to play my top three XM stations on the Sonos in the room -quick access to the thermostats - that already seems to work :) For now, this seems like the best solution for a person like me who doesn't have the time or patience to set up home assistant on a nice, reliable, wall mounted touch screen.

[@Micko.1]

Mine arrived today. I L O V E IT

[@marcberm]

This is kind of what I've been waiting for, but not sure how compelled I feel to switch from what I'm currently using: A cheap Fire tablet with charging cradle, configured to keep the screen on and never sleep (developer settings). It's generally displaying the smart home favorites/dashboard most of the time. As a bonus it also serves as an extra/guest tablet for various uses, recipe lookups, etc.

[@latinhorse75]

How would you set that up please?

[@marcberm]

@@latinhorse75 It's just a fire tablet with the built-in smart home dashboard on the screen and lit up all the time. To keep the screen from turning off/going to sleep, you go to Settings > Device Options, then scroll down to the serial number and tap it seven (7) times and Developer Options appears below it. That new menu has a "stay awake" toggle to keep the screen from sleeping as long as the tablet is connected to a charger. I have it in an Amazon charging case/cradle.

[@marcberm]

@@latinhorse75 It's just the Fire Tablet's built in smart home dashboard. To keep the screen on all the time, in the settings go to Device Options. Scroll down and tap on the serial number seven times and the new option appears below it. Under Developer Options you'll see a toggle for "stay awake."

[@marcberm]

@@latinhorse75 It varies. Just search how to keep a fire tablet screen from going to sleep. It involves enabling the developer options menu but is pretty easy to do.

[@peterdavis3934]

Maybe use a iPad mini with Home assistant?

[@dankelley9361]

Reed, great coverage on this new Echo Hub! Love that it has a built in thread & matter control. How do you know, offhand, which matter devices this supports, since they all seem to be somewhat inclusive? Thanks

[@mariebarger8631]

Got an email to say it was available perfect timing. Ty

[@joetutie5727]

Glad you addressed Amazon adding stuff to the home content on the echo shows. Also, no one seems to ever address the SPONSORED ADS added to the echo shows as well which is the real enemy bc you CANNOT REMOVE THEM! Still no option to buy the ads away either on those.

[@ronm6585]

Thank you.

[@edndomotique9556]

Nice video . Can we used widgets or automations IFTTT or Flic button ? Thanks

[@asnweb]

Excelente notícia! Essa evolução faltava pro segmento amazon!

[@jamesmonahan7872]

Thank you for a great review. Although I have many amazon devices i use i do not see this beneficial for me at this time. The time I spent setting up HA to get where I want could be a good reason for someone who wants an easier path to controlling their smart home. The other reason I would avoid is that I am not happy how Amazon is inserting more and more ads in the devices. And although the Hub may not have it now, the way Amazon is going it will be added eventually.

[@CoisasSmart]

Same as my wife, HomeAssistant is difficult 🤣Its good for use with HA or Smartthings... Simple design. Thanks for the video 😀

[@jiggaboohatenman]

I’m thinking about switch brands. Amazon is just constant ads now. That thing probably gives you them constantly

[@generalbystander1631]

What’s the best device to control the home which doesn’t require a subscription or even a connection to a commercial or external server? Ty

[@robertlefler9864]

Thanks!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thank you so much for the super thanks!!!!

[@JSGXXX]

Hi Have you managed to setup an automation with the Aqara doorbell to turn on lights only between sunset and sunrise using HomeKit? I’ve managed to do in Aqara app but have to adjust sunset and sunrise times throughout the year. Cheers Jag

[@TechWithBrett]

Congrats on 600k! Did you happen to test your HA dashboard in the Silk browser? I'm curious how that performs.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Brett! I tried it out and it works but I don't think I can leave the browser window always up.

[@progression_decibel]

I might get behind it if there was an option for battery power. In lieu of this hub I am considering one of those Brilliant in-wall hubs, the kind you can get in 1,2,3, and 4-gang styles. Very pricey but they have a lot of neat features beyond the Amazon stuff such as controlling Sonos, Yale locks, Liftmaster, etc.

[@Luciano-id3fm]

What is your opinion on the GoveeLife Human Presence Sensor?

[@liambowers666]

Hey Reed, can you do a short with how the hub works with eufy doorbell/cameras. No subscription there! Intrigued if you can get the hub to show the live feed when motion is detected. Thanks

[@tanialimacosta]

Hi. Do you think this could substitute the Homey Pro in terms of connectivity? Thank you

[@gamergirl101010]

Will this go black when not in use? I want to put one in the bedroom but can’t stand light in the room at night

[@scottgruber589]

Howdy Question .I have a few Wyze outdoor cameras (old ones) that are connected to Alexa for audio alerts for when someone is on the driveway or front door. The issue is the delay for that alert . Every time it comes too late . Any ideas how to have the announcement sooner? thank you

[@bjybhs8]

I have my kids old Fire HD. I want to repurpose them to be a dashboard of some sort. Any suggestions or guides?

[@coolnewpants]

Can you add a photo of the light to the screen? Would be quicker than reading each label before turning it on or off

[@PrintCave]

Can the Aqara Doorbell also be displayed as a camera?

[@Brickleyandmore]

I already have an echo dot and I want this but I’m just wondering can I use on my echo dot for audio and audio input but use that as a screen so I can control my bedroom. Sorry this comment doesn’t make any sense.

[@darknessblades]

Any update video coming for "zigbee" remotes/buttons? Looking for something with enough buttons similar to a "FUT089Z" but then without the sliders [OFF THE SHELF] [the DIY model is something I might get as a last resort if nothing else works] I need a remote with at least 16+ buttons [mostly for use with curtains/blinds] [3 master, 3x 3btn open/close/stop, and 1 childlock] I might also be able to use a IR blaster in reverse [so I can use a generic remote instead of a zigbee one]

[@user-ys4wk1ek8j]

What are you using for blind control?

[@hcochran23]

Like the ending. Lol.

[@TheCaptain773]

So the Echo hub automatically syncs with the “smart” lights and audio that are already connected to your Wifi network?

[@miguelprada5465]

Is it worth it to get one of these with 2 echo shows 8 at home?

[@jothain]

I'd like to have something like this to control Home Assistant. Would like to get non battery style tablet device with sensor to wake screen when near it.

[@divyansh345]

Hi Reed I have a question not related to this video. Can we connect over email on how to do do custom programming for Alexa thanks

[@mvol5973]

I discovered if I have a video or music playing on my kitchen echo show 15 and I use the echo hub in the living room for anything or if you even walk by it and trip the motion sensor, it causes the echo show to stop playing whatever I have going

[@Okabe009]

Any calendar viewing functionality?

[@powerfullsrt8]

I’m using aqara temperature sensor but i can see them on alexa app on my phone but nothing on the echo hub dashboard except if i ask Alexa for the temperature of the room. Any idea ?

[@iansanchez1470]

Reed, is kind of the smaller version of the Echo show 15 with different UI and design, so i would keep my Echo show 15

[@stefangrote802]

Wait what.... did you just used the Konami Code for Candy? Love it!

[@badpoop8308]

Did they fix arm/disarm Ring alarms?

[@Wetbandits34]

Can I use this to view google cameras ?

[@rodneycrosslin4405]

That cheat code is epic!!!!!!

[@BrettJ_Online]

I know it's their business, but I get so frustrated with my Echo Show and all the advertisement and suggestions they show on the screen. I just want the items I choose (weather, calendar, pictures, etc.). I dislkie Amazon putting game suggestions and other recommendations they feel I need to know about. Just let me set my preferences and let it be. I'm not big into home automation yet, but for what I do have, I'm migrtating away from Amazon and Google and migrating to Apple Home. I just bought my first HomePod Mini and my Phillips Hue bulbs work with it. And I've bought some Kasa smart plugs that I can assign as additional 'lights' to work with HomeKit. I just wish Apple had an 'Away' mode like Amazon does to turn on and off my lights randomly while away.

[@laurasara7132]

You can choose what your Home Screen content is in the home content setting. Vids all over KZbin about it

[@BrettJ_Online]

I knew that and I’ve had my home content set ever since I’ve had it. Nonetheless, they keep putting advertisements and suggestions that I simply do not want to see. And I occasionally check what additional content they’ve slipped in and turned on by default. He even says that in this video.

[@sammy8768594]

does it show nest cameras? I have everything else amazon except the nest cameras becasue they are much better than ring

[@jaystarr6571]

I need a black bezel, battery, and a proper dark mode.

[@brianchandler8727]

How do you program it

[@sundager8735]

Is there a subscription for ad freed for it, if not, I bet there will be

[@MaliceVanRow]

While a decent concept for a dashboard, this thing still suffers with horrible lag and choppy UI.

[@Fourtrax01]

Reed are those Yamaha powered studio monitors?

[@seansdriveway]

Of course. This comes out the MOMENT I have finally figured out Home Assistant -.-

[@capitanshaf5751]

Hey thanks for your video. Could you cover hubitat? I use it and i wonder what tablet we could use for that. Thsnks

[@dt5348]

😅😅

[@davidalvarado6009]

Do zigbee devices work locally?

[@jamesthorne494]

Is device compatibility still an issue with smart products? What are the main issues at the moment with smart homes and the market in general?

[@pjonted]

Can this run HA dashboard? That would have been amazing!

[@user-ks3rh1te3e]

Does it work without internet connection?

[@sandrofabbro9385]

Great video please share the cheatcode automation 🙂

[@SmartHomeSolver]

It's in the description!

[@lexwelsh3511]

I'm kind of confused, what are the different use cases than an echo show?

[@johnszatkowski6898]

Where I disagree is if you use the Ring Alarm. Once you setup the proper GROUPS in the Alexa app this works really great! I use SmartThings, Wyze, Switchbot and many others that once GROUPS are set up you can access things WAY faster then the Alexa app or Echo show devices. With Ring alarm with a subscription and a group setup you can access ALL of your sensors on ONE page and see their status open/closed and now with the latest updates can set/disarm the system using the onscreen keypad on the hub which is WAY cool or use the standard voice commands as before. I was looking for a keypad replacement and the Echo Hub does that for me. Even with the latest updates I do NOT think the Echo Hub is for everyone but with the right equipment (Ring Alarm) and others this is the cats MEOW for home control at a glance for the average user without coding or using Home Assistant which requires more knowledge and time and can do most of what needs to be done for a "Smart Home" Hopefully Amazon continues to build on this platform and has ALOT of potential IMO!

[@JamesMcCarty]

This is cool but I'm not sure I would have a use for it personally. I just find it quicker to tell Mrs. A what to do. Alexa, open the shades.

[@eastman40]

I hope it can show time on its full screen like Amazon Echo Show 5

[@iNFiNiTY125]

What a concept a central location on the wall which gives you physical control over devices around your home. It’s not like you can’t control stuff using the existing light switches, thermostats, and physical buttons/interface. I’m sure this device does more than that but really seems like we went full circle with the “SmArT HoMe” stuff

[@miriam7696]

Ok🎉 Thank

[@mvmhughes]

Does it run on battery power or only electricity from an outlet?

[@SmartHomeSolver]

No battery. Outlet or PoE with an adapter.

[@dnoland77]

Reed, both of us have seen the ups and downs of the echo ecosystem over the past 5 years. If you were still automating with alexa & smartthings today would you buy this?

[@actualRocketScientist]

I find the screen to be too small and slow. I'm just going to build my own. Maybe I'll release the app as well for others

[@joshuahaney1135]

It’s all about Apple HomeKit for me. I wish Apple made a dashboard. Yes, they have an iPad. That is very expensive but I wish you could custom customize it more.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I want Apple to make one too. But I want it to be similar to the Pixel tablet where you can just dock the iPad on a wireless charger and it becomes a smart home display.

[@joshuahaney1135]

@@SmartHomeSolver yeah, that would definitely be awesome but you know how Apple is. Wanting to try dipping my toes into home assistant, but we will see

[@sunlee79]

Thank you for the review. I’m waiting for an update or two to make this completely clunky, slow and unusable like the show

[@shaggyfilms]

My only concern is that it’s already pretty slow and updates with more functionality are just going to make it slower

[@DannerBanks]

Oh Amazon. They make a bespoke device for everything (echo pop, anyone?). I'd prefer they just made this screen an option on the echo shows.

[@StefanDurach]

I have homeassistant on a raspberry, i made all my Buttons myself.

[@Techlifeandmore]

I'd say it sounds about on par with the Amazon echo pop or dot third generation, both the fourth and fifth generation sound a bit better. It certainly sounds better than the echo show 15.

[@THEG12EG]

All we need to know is what can you do with it with home assistant

[@DaveSomething]

I stuck my Ring doorbell in the mailbox and hooked it to a cheap solar panel about a year ago. It lets me know when "you've got mail!" and if maybe someone's ganking my stash!

[@venom5809]

Ring actually makes a mailbox sensor. LOL It's like $50.

[@DaveSomething]

@@venom5809 it was a gift, I had to constantly login, check my messages, enter a code, and it only got worse after I stopped paying... so I repurposed it.

[@msbgone]

yup, I use the sensor... it works well, just wish it was half the size...

[@DaveSomething]

@@msbgone the ring was a gift, it just didn't work like I needed/wanted... so I repurposed it.

[@msbgone]

Nice! I have so many camera's all over it is crazy... lol.

[@derekb7260]

What are the chances Amazon tries to put features behind a paywall. With recent rumors of subscriptions coming in the future there is no chance I will be spending anymore money on Alexa products. Is it me or is the screen really choppy when doing something beside pushing buttons.

[@ollie6768]

I swear this was advertised with a camera when it was announced

[@pjuk]

Looks pretty much the same as the Google hub, although i wish they were adjustable home screens like this. But then i paid around $40 for mine on a deal.

[@briankrische3364]

The UI looks pretty similar to the Google/Nest Hubs

[@ElfFun]

How the heck did you do the candy dispenser with the cheat code? That's so cool 😎

[@SmartHomeSolver]

It was a really fun automation to make! The automation is in the description and it works great.

[@ElfFun]

Thanks Reed I'm always inspired by your videos and it gives me so many ideas for my home. @@SmartHomeSolver

[@jeffrey3205]

So what's the best for home assistant?

[@isabelcalmelat18]

The Echo Hub.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Any Android tablet. A popular one is the inexpensive 8 inch Samsung tablets. I'm using the Pixel tablet since it has a wireless dock and it can double as a tablet. But then you just get the app Fully Kiosk Browser and it can turn the display on and off with the camera.

[@tyroneleak5673]

Can this run home assistant dashboard?

[@sygad1]

Samsung Tab A8, very reasonably priced and moderate performance as well. Plenty of custom 3D prints for it as well

[@ShaneTheKing]

Great job making it start select instead of select start, so hackers would be thrown off!

[@arodg025]

my first reaction was "oh cool i have to get this" but then quickly i realized why? why would i get up and go to a screen for anything? it seems like this would be a great solutionsuntil they figured out how to make voice work. they're are doing this backwards. literally everything works with voice.

[@dab42bridges80]

Prefer a 15" version for more space for buttons etc.

[@majinv954]

Solid pass. Made the switch to home assistant and HomeKit and I’m not going back

[@garybowen4974]

this hub, but integrate a thermostat into it so it can be hardwired into the wall and have a full control center to control alarm, home, and thermostat all in one!!!

[@JamesMeeker]

Looks like this won't work with Amazon's Blink cameras.... can someone confirm?

[@kendalllewis3441]

Thanks for the review! I'm definitely going to skip this hub after watching this video but I could see it working for someone else's setup.

[@pitmasterhog8726]

Z wave?

[@jim5k]

I thought it was pretty neat until the price. It will be discounted pretty quickly I predict.

[@megacap55]

the UI looks more intuitive than the Google nest home

[@DannerBanks]

I am pretty heavy in the Amazon ecosystem for my smarthome and I have no desire to buy this. I appreciate the thorough review!!

[@Darx97]

wish i went for amazon devices instead of google ones when getting into smart home stuff, google been lacking HARD in the last few years with lack of new devices and bunch of complains from people saying the devices started being worse than before

[@JoshsSmartHome]

Amazon has failed drastically with displays. Glad they finally started moving in the right direction. I'm just not sure if they can be trusted to not push their ads! Also, very disappointed in the lack of a REAL speaker for music!