Amazon has released a 4th-generation version of its Echo speaker, and it’s got a brand-new look. It’s also a completely different smart speaker under the hood. So what’s new and different about the Echo? How does it perform? I put the latest generation to the test to find out.

Over the years, as Amazon released newer generations of the Echo speaker, the brand began to move away from the long cylinder shape in favor of a shorter, wider Echo. With the new Echo 4th Gen, Amazon has ditched the cylinder shape altogether, with the all-new Echo taking on a sphere shape. The circular device is made from eco-friendly materials, earning it a “Climate Pledge Friendly” label on Amazon, and it comes in three different colors: charcoal, glacier white, or twilight blue. I tested the glacier white model.

The Echo (4th Gen) is 5.2 inches tall and 5.7 inches wide. In addition to the spherical shape, the new Echo also has fabric covering the top of the speaker, so it lacks a hard plastic top panel for the buttons. A fabric grille covers most of the Echo, and the four primary buttons are located directly on the top of the speaker.

Amazon designed the Echo to work in all kinds of light, with slightly raised buttons so you can tell which is which in the dark. The microphone mute button is in the center for easy access, and the light ring is now on the bottom of the speaker, so it will illuminate whatever surface it’s placed on when the Echo is in dark or low light.