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The Best Smart Devices That Work With Amazon Alexa and Alexa Plus in 2026

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Why This Matters

The integration of Alexa Plus as a more conversational and versatile AI assistant marks a significant advancement in smart home technology, offering users enhanced convenience and broader service connectivity. However, privacy considerations remain important, as changes in voice recording policies and device controls impact user data security and control. This evolution underscores the ongoing balance between innovative features and privacy protections in the smart device industry.

Key Takeaways

Alexa Plus can now order you food -- if you have the right device. Amazon

Privacy

What exactly is Alexa listening to, and how does Amazon use your voice recordings? I have a whole guide on Alexa settings to adjust for privacy here that you should read. Amazon has removed the ability to not send voice recordings for automatic analysis since Alexa Plus, but you can still adjust when recordings of your commands are automatically deleted, among other changes.

As for Alexa eavesdropping, it's not a huge issue these days. Alexa only starts listening in when the wake word is activated, and that rarely happens by accident -- although sometimes casual conversation or certain TV sounds can make a speaker think it heard "Alexa," although that's rare in my experience.

Finally, today's Echos and Echo Shows have manual shutters and buttons to turn off mics and cameras if you're worried about anyone using them remotely.

Type of smart home device

There are literally thousands of Alexa and Alexa-compatible devices that you can buy on the market right now, from smart speakers and home security devices to smart lighting and smart thermostats. Before you make a purchase, consider how you plan to use your Alexa device so you can be sure to find the one that best suits your needs.

Alexa has some of the best compatibility on the market, but if you want to make sure, look at product specs to ensure they include Alexa or the Matter certification, which also means the device should be Alexa-friendly.

Alexa Plus does feel significantly different, but it depends on how you use voice assistants in general. Amazon

Alexa Plus

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