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Add to SafariWhen comparing Insteon Hub Pro vs Amazon Echo, the Slant community recommends Amazon Echo for most people. In the question“What are the best smart hubs?” Amazon Echo is ranked 2nd while Insteon Hub Pro is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Amazon Echo is:
The Amazon Echo has an extensive library of 'skills', simple commands that you can use to control all sorts of different apps. Ordering a pizza from Domino's or requesting an Uber ride is just a couple of words away. Amazon constantly updates Alexa's skills and developers can easily integrate them into their apps.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro The hub is small and can be hidden easily
While it needs a wired connection to your router, this hub is fairly small and can easily be tucked away somewhere out of sight.
Pro Mesh network allows for further ranges
HomeKit connects via bluetooth inside the home (to reach out of the home they require an Apple TV), and each connected device will pass along the information to the next device. This creates a 'mesh' network, where all the points relay the message along. This helps to extend the range of the network further than what would be possible if the hub connected to each device individually.
Pro Fully supports Apple's HomeKit
HomeKit is Apple's smart home ecosystem and is tightly integrated with Siri. It provides scenes, which you can describe as groups of actions that all take effect with a single command. For example (once configured), sauing "Hey Siri, Goodnight" could turn all your connected lights off, lock your doors, turn your thermostat down a few degrees, and turn on your connected security camera.
Pro Supports over 900 skills which integrate with apps
The Amazon Echo has an extensive library of 'skills', simple commands that you can use to control all sorts of different apps. Ordering a pizza from Domino's or requesting an Uber ride is just a couple of words away. Amazon constantly updates Alexa's skills and developers can easily integrate them into their apps.
Pro Uses extensive Alexa ecosystem
The Alexa Voice Service found on the Amazon Echo is also used on the Fire TV set-top-box from Amazon, and in other products such as the portable Echo Tap and smaller Echo Dot as well. The Alexa integration in different products allows for a greater ecosystem with shared features and skills. The Alexa Remote extends to this ecosystem as well.
Pro Alexa constantly learns and improves
Alexa will work a lot better after a couple of weeks of use, because the assistant adapts to your speech patterns and personal preferences. Commands are also stored in the Cloud and are analysed by Amazon. That means Alexa - the voice-assistant service and ecosystem of Echo - essentially constantly gets smarter.
Pro Good quality omnidirectional speaker
The Amazon Echo features a 360* omnidirectional speaker. Users have reported great sound quality and speaker sounds, which make the Echo a perfect fit as a music player.
Pro Far-field voice recognition works well even in longer distances
Amazon Echo has seven microphones built-in to listen to your voice in any direction. The microphones work great and perform perfectly even with longer distances. It also works while playing music.
Pro Offers extensive support for other smart home devices
Amazon Echo works well with other smart home devices and Internet of Things products, such as Nest, Ecobee, SmartThings, Wink, Insteon, Belking WeMo, Philips Hue, Lifx, Big Ass Fans and even IFTTT. In short, Echo is very open to use for third party devices.
Pro Also streams music from Amazon Prime
Echo is an Amazon product and offers great integration with the rest of Amazon's services, especially Amazon Prime. The Echo family is currently the only virtual assistant that is compatible with Amazon Prime Music. You can also stream music via Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio and TuneIn. The ecosystem is fairly open, as developers can easily integrate Alexa's voice commands into their apps.
Pro Always listens to your voice
The Amazon Echo personal assistant will always listen to your voice and will be activated whenever you say the words "Alexa", "Echo" or "Amazon" for immediate and hands-free control.
Cons
Con Slow updates
While HomeKit has been steadily evolving and adding new features, Insteon has been very slow to add these features into it's hub. Expect to wait for any new features that Apple rolls out in the future.
Con Only iOS is supported
This hub was created specifically with HomeKit in mind, which only works with iOS devices. There is no Android, Windows, or web app support. The only way to control products connected to this hub is through an Apple device.
Con Limited to Insteon and HomeKit devices
While there are doezens of other standards available (WeMo, Nest, and SmartThings to name some of the bigger ones), the Insteon Hub Pro only works with their own devices as well as devices which are HomeKit compatible. This reduces your choice when it comes to buying new smart home products, where other hubs support multiple ecosystems allowing for the best selection of smart home gadgets.
Con Voice assistant isn't seamless and thorough
The conversations you can have with Echo aren't seamless, and most conversational voice commands (such as follow-ups to a previous question) won't work well with Alexa. The voice assistant will also answer simple answers and requests, such as facts. Sometimes, Alexa has troubles differentiating words which results in a clumsy answer.
Con Not compatible with Google Play Music or Apple Music
Amazon Echo does not provide support for two of the most popular online streaming music services: Google Play Music and Apple Music. However, they could be added in the future and you can also use Bluetooth to pair a device that does support Play Music or Apple Music.
