The newest Echo Dot is a compact Alexa speaker that plays music, sets timers and controls smart-home devices, with motion and temperature sensors and eero Built-in. Great as a first smart speaker; bass is limited and features depend on Amazon’s ecosystem.
Description
The newest Amazon Echo Dot is a small spherical Alexa speaker for a nightstand, kitchen counter or desk. It handles music, timers, alarms, quick questions and smart-home control by voice, and it is often the first smart device people buy for a room.
Breaking down the Echo Dot
It streams Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others, or plays from a phone over Bluetooth. Built-in motion and indoor temperature sensors can trigger routines, a tap on top snoozes alarms, and it can group with other Echo devices for multi-room audio or pair with Fire TV. eero Built-in can extend an existing eero mesh by up to 1,000 sq ft. A microphone-off button is included.
Putting the Echo Dot to work
Typical uses: kitchen timers while cooking, a bedside alarm, background music at a desk, or turning on lights when someone walks in. Two units can be paired in the Alexa app for stereo.
Most features rely on an Amazon account and the Alexa app, and the Wi-Fi extension only works with eero networks.
Before you buy: limited bass
Echo devices are frequently discounted during big sale events, so timing can matter. Decide on colour, and consider whether a larger Echo suits music-heavy rooms better.
Competitors to the Echo Dot
Google’s Nest Mini covers similar basics for Google ecosystem users, while the full-size Echo is better for music.
Good and bad of the Echo Dot
What the Echo Dot gets right
- Compact
- Motion and temperature sensors
- Works with major music services
The Echo Dot catch: limited bass
- Limited bass
- Tied to Amazon account
Who the Echo Dot suits
Who the Echo Dot is for
- First-time smart-home users
- Renters
- Gift buyers
People wanting deep bass for music should pass
- People wanting deep bass for music
- Privacy-conscious users avoiding always-listening devices
The bottom line on the Echo Dot
An easy, inexpensive entry point to voice control for any room.
