Amazon Echo Input on sale for $20; device puts the smart into your speaker

Amazon was the first to create the smart speaker category with its widespread launch of the Echo in 2015. Since then, the smart speaker market has taken off with the number of units inside households surging 78% last year to 118.5 million. The device is essentially a speaker that gets its smarts from a virtual personal assistant like Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri or Cortana. But suppose you already have a speaker setup you like. Is there a way to add the "smarts" to your speaker?

Indeed there is. The Amazon Echo Input can sync to your speakers via Bluetooth or a cable. And it includes a microphone and Alexa so you can turn your speaker into a smart speaker that will hear you bark out orders from across the room. And Amazon currently has a nice deal on the device (via Android Police). Normally priced at $34.99, the Echo Input can be yours for $19.99, a $15 or 43% savings.

Amazon also has some bundles featuring the Echo Input. For example, with the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1 portable speaker and the Input, you can have a portable smart speaker. And instead of paying $283.99, the pair is on sale for $249. That is a discount of $34.99 or 12%.

With the Echo Input and your favorite speaker, you'll be able to do most of the things that a regular Echo unit can do. That includes streaming your favorite tunes, getting the latest news/sports/weather, setting alarms and timers and much more. The only things not supported are phone calls and the Drop In feature. The latter lets you connect instantly with the other Echo smart speakers in your home.