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Portable Alexa controls now just a Tap away (pictures)

The Amazon Tap puts the power of the Echo into a battery powered, portable device.

Andrew Gebhart
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1 of 10 Chris Monroe/CNET

Ready to Tap

The $130 Amazon Tap gives you the full power of Alexa in a portable device. Alexa (Amazon's personal assistant) can play music, track your calendar or control your smart home. Its price converts roughly to £90 in the UK and AU$170 in Australia.

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Listening

Press the button on the front of it and the Tap's lights turn on to let you know it's listening.

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Multi-talented

A single charge supposedly lasts 9 hours of playback time and three weeks of standby.

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Still a Bluetooth speaker

The Amazon Tap functions as a Bluetooth speaker you can take on the go, like the JBL Charge 2+ on the left and the Bose SoundLink Color on the right.

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Amongst the competition

The Tap sounded great, though not quite up to the level of its top competition.

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The buttons on the back

Press the Bluetooth button on the bottom to sync the Tap to your phone.

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The separate carrying case

You can purchase a separate carrying case for $20 (roughly £15 and AU$25) to take it on the go.

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Echo vs. Tap

The Tap is certainly smaller and more portable than the first device to make use of Alexa, the $180 (roughly £125 or AU$255) Amazon Echo on the left.

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Dot vs. Tap

Along with the Tap, Amazon just released the $90 (roughly £65 or AU$120) Amazon Echo Dot -- which is basically the full-sized Echo with the speakers cut off and a line out port on the back.

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Portable power

The Amazon Tap rounds out the trio of Echo devices nicely, and is worth a look if you want a portable Bluetooth speaker that can multi-task.

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