Amazon Echo Plus (1st Gen)

Yes, the Echo Plus (1st Generation) includes a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, allowing it to connect directly to compatible Zigbee devices like Philips Hue bulbs and smart locks without requiring a separate hub or bridge. This was a key differentiator from the standard Echo and Echo Dot at the time of its release.

Yes, because the Echo Plus has an integrated Zigbee radio, it can directly pair with Philips Hue bulbs that support Zigbee connectivity, eliminating the need for the separate Hue Bridge. However, some advanced Hue features like multi-room scenes and away-from-home control may require the dedicated Hue Bridge.

The Echo Plus (1st Generation) was released by Amazon in October 2017, positioned as a premium smart speaker with improved audio quality over the original Echo. It featured Dolby-tuned speakers and the integrated Zigbee hub to differentiate it from the lower-priced Echo models in Amazon's lineup.

Amazon continues to provide Alexa software updates and cloud functionality for the Echo Plus 1st Gen, though the device has been discontinued and superseded by newer Echo models. Newer Echo devices now include built-in smart home hubs as standard, along with support for additional protocols like Matter and Thread.