The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
The holiday’s are almost here, but if you’re looking to do some super last-second shopping, there’s still some great tech in stock.
Right now, you can save $ 20 on the second generation Amazon Echo, and, crucially, get it in time for the holidays.
If you know someone about to start a smart home, this is an excellent foundation, especially if it’s paired with a couple of additional accessories.
Besides being smaller and better-looking than the first generation, this new model addresses the biggest problem Echo owners had: poor audio quality. The new speaker isn’t audiophile-quality, but if you’ve used the Echo as a Bluetooth speaker before, you’ll notice an improvement.
The new design is nice, but of course it’s what’s on the inside that counts, which is what makes the Echo such a good gift. It can work with smart home accessories to make people’s lives easier, and the skills you can have it “learn” can summon an Uber or even order pizza.
If you’re looking for a last-minute tech gift that won’t seem like it came together at the last minute, the second generation Echo is it. Just be sure to order one now, before you completely miss the shipping deadline (Prime members in some cities can even get same-day delivery), or it sells out.
Amazon Echo, $ 79.99 (originally $ 99.99), available at Amazon [You save $ 20]
