Astro
2 independent reviewsRead the findings →Amazon's Alexa robot on wheels, with a pop-up camera for checking on home. It suits Alexa households that want a camera that roams. It's invitation-only in the US and still short on genuinely useful jobs.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Amazon’s range
- AstroThis model
- Amazon Astro for BusinessSecurity-patrol version for small businesses, since discontinued
- Amazon Echo Show 10Similar screen and speakers, but it only swivels in place
Feedback
What reviewers found
PCMag bought an Astro and rated it 4 out of 5, calling it a useful and fun addition if you can get one. CNET lived with one for over two weeks and decided it isn't worth the money yet, because it has no compelling everyday job. Both praise its navigation and remote camera. They split on setup: PCMag's mapped the home first time, while CNET's failed until windows and a staircase were covered. CNET's staged break-in also showed gaps in its guard duties.
PCMag, hands-on, Jan 2023 (Bought by PCMag through the invitation list) · CNET, hands-on, Over 2 weeks, Sept 2022
What it really does
Mixed resultsIts navigation and remote camera do what Amazon promises: PCMag and CNET both found it gets around well and makes checking on home easy. But it missed CNET's staged break-in twice until it was set to patrol, and it still lacks a clear everyday job.
Staying engaging
Mixed resultsPCMag enjoyed it following her around and hanging out while she watched TV. CNET's young sons loved it at first but lost interest within days, partly because it often missed its wake word.
Who it suits
Mixed resultsIt suits people who want a roaming camera: PCMag used it to check on her dog while out. It's less of a children's companion than it looks, as CNET's four and six-year-old soon got bored of it. It isn't recommended with children under three or small pets the specifications.
App, subscription and running costs
Mixed resultsPCMag found the app well organised and the core monitoring free, with Ring Protect Pro optional for patrols and video history. CNET spent an hour pairing it with Ring and found lining up the Alexa, Astro and Ring apps a tangle.
Privacy
Mixed resultsBoth found real safeguards, such as on-device processing and a camera-off button. But PCMag warns the first home map is built in Amazon's cloud, and CNET stayed uneasy about adding another roaming camera to a family home.
Build quality and battery life
Not enough evidenceOnly PCMag tested the battery: about three hours of activity and under an hour to recharge, though it once ran flat mid-room. No other review we use judged its build or battery.
Support and longevity
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use judged Amazon's support or how long Astro will be kept working. It's still invitation-only and US-only.
Value
Mixed resultsPCMag called it expensive and a bit gimmicky but still a fun addition, noting that separate security cameras cost less if monitoring is all you want. CNET decided it isn't worth the money yet because it lacks a compelling use.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
It gets around remarkably well
Navigation is what Astro does best. CNET called it seriously impressive: it rerouted around shoes and closed doors, found a colleague in a large house and got better over two weeks. PCMag found it faster and more agile than any robot vacuum she'd tested, and careful not to bump into people. Both hit limits. PCMag's struggled near mirrors, in tight spaces and on cluttered floors, and CNET's drove over anything under about an inch, including toy blocks and fake dog mess. Pick up small items first.
Setup can be smooth or stubborn
PCMag had setup done in about an hour, and Astro mapped her home accurately on its first try. CNET had a harder time. Astro failed to map the test house, possibly because of shiny floors, bright windows near the dock or an open staircase with a railing. Covering them with cardboard fixed it, and navigation was fine after that. According to PCMag, Amazon itself warns that mirrors, glass walls and low windows can confuse mapping, and includes decals to cover them.
A great remote camera, a patchy guard
Both testers loved driving it around from their phones. PCMag used the rising periscope camera to check on her dog and whether she'd left the curling iron on, and liked it more than robot vacuums with cameras. CNET was won over too, but found its guard duties patchy. In a staged break-in, Astro ignored the intruder twice before an active patrol finally caught him, and pairing it with Ring took an hour of troubleshooting. Amazon says it has since fixed that pairing problem.
Charming, but the novelty fades
Alongside Alexa, Astro has a personality of its own, with animated eyes, beeps and winks. PCMag enjoyed having it follow her around and hang out while she watched TV, and set a night mode so it stays on its charger. CNET's young sons were thrilled at first but lost interest within days. It often missed its wake word as the acoustics around it changed, and it wasn't always clear whether Alexa or Astro would answer. Both testers agree its speakers sound excellent.
Privacy is the trade you make
Amazon says Astro processes most sensor data on the device, stores your face ID locally, and has one button that turns off its cameras, microphones and movement. A green light shows when video is streaming. PCMag points out that the first map of your home is processed in Amazon's cloud, so if you don't want Amazon knowing your layout, it isn't for you. CNET was impressed by the safeguards but still uneasy about bringing another roaming camera into a family home.
CNET tested in 2022, early in Astro's life. PCMag's review dates from January 2023, and the page was updated in June 2026.
Our take
Should you buy the Astro?
Best for: Alexa households in the US interested in a moving home camera. Skip it if: You need a finished robot you can buy and use now.
The older reviews show why Astro might appeal as a roaming camera for an Alexa household, but they cannot answer what a new owner can buy or use today. Confirm availability, supported services and ongoing support with Amazon first. For a simple monitoring job, compare it with a fixed camera before paying for a robot that moves around.
Astro is Amazon's home robot, an Alexa smart display on wheels with a periscope camera that rises to see over counters. It maps your home, follows you between rooms, carries small items in a rear bin and lets you look around the house from your phone while you're out. Since 2021 it has been sold in the US only, by invitation.
Both testers rated its navigation highly. CNET called it seriously impressive and PCMag found it faster and more agile than any robot vacuum she had tested, though PCMag's struggled near mirrors and CNET's drove over anything under about an inch. Both loved driving the camera around from a phone. Purpose and privacy are the gaps. In CNET's staged break-in Astro ignored the intruder twice until it was set to patrol, and CNET's young sons lost interest within days. PCMag warns the first map of your home is built in Amazon's cloud. PCMag rated it 4 out of 5 and called it fun if expensive, while CNET concluded it isn't worth the money yet.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a subscription to keep working?
PCMag describes the free features, Ring package and trial on offer when it tested Astro, and those may have changed. Ask Amazon which plan now covers patrols, alerts and saved video, how long recordings are kept and what happens when any included trial ends.
What does it record, and where does that go?
Amazon says it processes most images and sensor data on the device and keeps your face ID there, and a green light shows when video streams to the cloud. PCMag notes that the first map of your home is built in Amazon's cloud, which some buyers won't accept.
Is it suitable for young children?
According to PCMag, it isn't recommended for homes with children under three or small pets. CNET's children, aged four and six, loved asking it to dance but lost interest within days, partly because it often didn't hear them.
How long does the battery last?
In PCMag's use it lasted about three hours of activity before heading back to its charger, and went from empty to full in under an hour. Once, though, it ran flat in the middle of the living room.
Alternatives
Other companion robots to compare.
EBO X
Why consider it: A self-navigating family and pet camera with a stabilised 4K camera, two-way talk and Alexa support.
The compromise: An early review struggled with its software, though a 2026 user was happier with it.
LOVOT 3.0
Why consider it: It's built purely to be a companion that greets you and joins your routine, which is the part of Astro that wears thin.
The compromise: It's not a smart display or security camera, and ongoing costs go well beyond the purchase.
Scout
Why consider it: A small, programmable mobile camera that gives you a low-angle look around a room from afar.
The compromise: Owners report very different experiences with its docking and Wi-Fi.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the Astro?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- PCMag: Amazon Astro Review ↗4.0 / 5Hands-on · Bought by PCMag through the invitation list
- CNET: Amazon Astro Review: It's Cute, Getting More Automated and Not Worth It Yet ↗Hands-on, Over 2 weeks
Sources
- Amazon: Meet Astro, a home robot unlike any other ↗Manufacturer
- Amazon: Astro product page ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- PhoneBuff: I tested Amazon’s home robot – Astro Review ↗
- Charles Roberts-Perkins: Life With Amazon's Astro! ↗
- Search YouTube for Amazon Astro ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.