Echo Dot (5th generation, 2022 release) | Big vibrant sound Wi-Fi and Bluetooth smart speaker with Alexa | Charcoal

Product Information

It’s supposed to be the central hub for all families, and looks like a 15in picture frame intended to be placed on the wall (that does it all). While it looks and sounds exactly the same as the Echo Dot, it’s a hefty upgrade when compared to the previous version. If you're an Alexa user, you should consider adding a few to your home, and it's especially worth ponying up for the clock version for the bedside.

Compared to the 5th-generation Echo Dot, the Echo Pop features a smaller, more compact size, making it a perfect speaker for a small space. It’s the same powerful little speaker with a digital clock on the front, which also displays key information like the volume and ambient temperature on demand. My other preferred bedside table smart speaker is the second-gen Google Nest Hub (the one without a camera).I have all appointments in view, can listen to them at any time, I can play the children in the morning while brushing their teeth a toothbrushing song, which is very very positively accepted by my three kids. Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team. If you appreciate good sound and want your music to sound as crisp and sublime as possible, the Studio has you covered, with support for Dolby Atmos. Prompt response: Beamforming technology, noise-cancelation, and seven microphones will enable the Echo to hear you from your nearby location.

The only thing that bothers me personally often, my son's name is similar so the often reacts at Aless. I toggled it on and initially got a warning that the Dot was too close to an Eero and would not extend anything. With the rise of AI and ChatGPT, nothing seems too unthinkable and futuristic in the world of tech anymore. I could also speak to Alexa while listening to my Q Acoustics reference system at a reasonable level. Plus all that good audio is paired with Alexa smarts, so it can deliver all your weather reports, turn your smart lights on and off with Zigbee support, and handle all those inane questions.

In the meantime, if you want the fun and somewhat helpful features of the LED display, the fifth-gen Echo Dot with Clock is the Alexa smart speaker to get.

At the back is a circular power socket, replacing the microUSB socket of the old Dot, and a standard 3. It’s great for smart home functionality (“Alexa, turn off the lights” still has a sci-fi charm for me) but less good for generic questions. Hard to navigate, excruciatingly slow, not enough organization options, and just generally unpleasant to use as a smart home controller, the Alexa app is ripe for a makeover. The huge selection of how-to videos is super handy though if you can plug it in close by, especially in the kitchen. The most intriguing new feature is that the new Dots can act as Wi-Fi extenders for an Eero mesh system.inch front-firing speaker (versus a woofer and tweeters), and "Eero mesh network support so the Echo Dot can serve as a node for your Eero network if you use one," according to our sister site, PCMag. The 2021 Echo Show 5 is now made entirely of post-consumer recycled fabric and comes in charcoal, glacier white, and a new deep sea blue color.

Being able to check the temperature can help you keep your home at a more reasonable level -- especially in the midst of a heat wave. Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, charging kit and smartphones. Availability of Apps is not included within the terms of the manufacturer’s warranty, or the John Lewis 2-year Guarantee for audio visual products, or the 5-year Guarantee for TVs. While the 3D audio can be hit and miss, we found that the Echo Studio offered fantastic value for money with powerful sound and a wealth of features.

You can also use Bluetooth to stream from the Dot to other speakers or from your phone or other device to the Dot to use it as Bluetooth speaker. Plus, you'll be missing out on the improved display and audio quality of the more recent Show 8 as well. When the track fully kicks in, the bassline, drums, guitar strums, and vocals all share attention fairly evenly. Also, with its upgraded temperature and movement sensors, the Dot seems to be leading the smart home game.