With the latest-generation Echo Dot, the brand-new Echo Time, and the Echo Studio with built-in camera, Amazon is expanding its lineup of smart home hubs. All new models released in 2026—including the Kids versions—feature an integrated Thread Border Router.
This means these Echo models can serve as Matter controllers for more than just Wi-Fi devices. They can also connect to sensors, actuators, smart plugs, and smart locks that use the Thread protocol. Thread enables a self-healing, energy-efficient mesh network that helps conserve the batteries of devices that run on battery power. For more on how to build such a network, see the article “As You Router, So You Mesh“.
Which Echo Models Are Suitable? An Overview
Products such as the Echo Dot have been on the market for many years. They are now in their sixth generation and are still sold under the same name. With Amazon’s extensive product lineup, it can be easy to lose track of the different models. The following table lists current generations and earlier models, making it easy to see at a glance which devices include a Thread Border Router (TBR) and which do not.
| Model | Generation | Year | TBR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echo | Gen 3 and earlier | 2014–2019 | No |
| Echo | Gen 4 | 2020 | Via update |
| Echo | Gen 5 | 2022 | Via update |
| Echo Dot | Gen 5 and earlier | 2016–2022 | No |
| Echo Dot | Gen 6 | 2026 | Yes |
| Echo Dot Kids | Gen 5 and earlier | 2018–2022 | No |
| Echo Dot Kids | Gen 6 | 2026 | Yes |
| Echo Dot Max | Gen 1 | 2025 | Yes |
| Echo Hub | Gen 1 | 2023 | Yes |
| Echo Studio | Gen 1 | 2019 | No |
| Echo Studio | Gen 2 | 2025 | Yes |
| Echo Studio with Camera | Gen 1 | 2026 | Yes |
| Echo Time | Gen 1 | 2026 | Yes |
| Echo Time Kids | Gen 1 | 2026 | Yes |
| Echo Show 8 | Gen 3 and earlier | 2017–2023 | No |
| Echo Show 8 | Gen 4 | 2025 | Yes |
| Echo Show 11 | Gen 1 | 2025 | Yes |
| Echo Show 15 | Gen 1 and 2 | 2024 | No |
| Echo Show 21 | Gen 1 | 2024 | No |
All information is based on manufacturer specifications, and I have independently verified most of it. However, I cannot guarantee that every detail is 100% accurate, given the growing number of models.
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