Matter hubs and bridges for Alexa

Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 (2025) are Alexa hubs with screens: each is a Matter controller with a Thread 1.3 border router and a Zigbee hub inside, so choose between them on whether the screen belongs on a wall or a kitchen counter. eero 6+ carries the same radios in a mesh router, but eero's bridge mode switches Thread off. The SONOFF and SwitchBot bridges pass the Zigbee or SwitchBot devices they already manage to an Echo, which remains the controller, and they add no Thread border router. Among the speakers, the new Echo Dot, Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio carry the same Thread and Zigbee radios and are reviewed in that category.