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The Echo and Echo Dot are two of the most popular smart speakers available. Amazon came out with updated versions of both Alexa-powered speakers: The Echo (3rd gen) and Echo Dot (3rd gen) with clock.
Should you go with the Echo or its little brother, the Dot? Which device is better? Both the Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot have built-in omni-directional microphones designed to pick up your voice from anywhere in the room, but there are notable and important differences between the two speakers. Depending on your budget or love of music, one may be more suitable for you than the other. We’ll go through it all in our showdown between Amazon Echo and Dot.
First, let’s talk about Alexa.
Amazon Echo and Echo Dot come with Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa. You can ask Alexa to read the news, solve math problems, report the weather, play music, turn on the lights, and much more. The assistant can tell you which movies are on tonight, create and recommend routines for your smart devices, and get you up to speed on sports. You can even create your own skills on any device using Alexa Blueprints. Alexa can hear danger sounds with Alexa Guard. If you have a Ring smart doorbell, Alexa will be able to talk to your guests with a newer feature called “doorbell concierge.”
Just use the wake word, which is “Alexa” by default, to access what the device has to offer. You can change the trigger word if you want to address the wizard with a different name. With 360-degree omni-directional microphones, both the Echo and Dot are designed to hear you and always hear you from anywhere in the room. However, while the Echo has a more advanced seven-microphone array, the Dot has a simpler four-microphone array. Do you have music Without worries. Whether you have the Echo or the Dot, Alexa will still hear it over the sound of you attacking Post Malone. Well, as long as you enunciate.
There are plenty of smart tech options on the market these days that are compatible with the Echo and Echo Dot. From Honeywell thermostats to Philips Hue lighting systems, you can control your smart home systems directly from your Echo devices or with the Alexa app. Alexa is compatible with more than 85,000 smart home products.
Size, lookand portability
Rich Shibley / Digital Trends
The Echo and the Dot have notable differences in size.
The third-generation Echo is 3.9 inches in diameter. The latest Echo Dot is 3.9 inches in diameter just like the Echo; however, the Dot is only 1.7 inches tall. Echo is much taller and heavier than the Dot, standing 5.8 inches tall and weighing just over 1.7 pounds.
The Echo Dot is lighter, weighing in at 10.6 ounces. It looks a bit like a thick hockey puck. Compared to its older sister, the Echo Dot wins out in terms of portability. You can store it in your bag to take to parties or find space in your home, even if there isn’t much shelf space for smart home devices.
Sound quality
Jennifer McGrath / Digital Trends
While both devices have a built-in speaker, the Echo features a larger, higher-quality 360-degree speaker. The 3rd Gen Echo has even better sound quality than its predecessors, with a 0.8-inch tweeter, 3-inch woofer, and higher volume. The newer model Echo speakers also come with Dolby processing for clear vocals and dynamic bass response for even better sound quality.
The third-gen Echo Dot has improved its sound quality over older Dots, adding a larger driver, and it sounds significantly louder than previous models. But it still doesn’t compare to the Echo.
Both devices have a 3.5mm output jack, so you can connect them to an external speaker using an audio cable to improve sound quality. When comparing the Echo and the Dot, there is no question that the Echo has a better sound.
Esthetic
Wondering which one will best fit the existing furniture and technology in your home?
The third-generation Dot comes in charcoal, heather gray, plum, or sandstone. You can also go for a third-generation Echo Dot with a clock, which has an LED display that can show the time, temperature, or a timer. The LED screen also adjusts automatically in response to the lighting conditions in the room, so you can always see the screen clearly.
The third-generation Echo comes in four different color combinations: charcoal, heather gray, sandstone, or twilight blue. With a wide range of styles to choose from, you probably won’t have a problem finding one to suit your home décor.
cost
When deciding which Amazon Alexa device to buy, cost is one of the key factors that many people consider. If budget is a concern, know that the Dot costs about half the price of the Echo and offers the same functionality.
The third-generation Dot costs $ 50 retail, but you can sometimes find it available for sale for around $ 30. If you opt for a third-generation Echo Dot with a watch, it will cost you $ 60 (retail). The third-generation Echo retails for $ 100.
conclusion
Basically the only difference between the two devices, aside from size and cost, is the sound. If you’re just looking to get introduced to Alexa, you’ll be fine with the Echo Dot. It has all the intelligence of Alexa in a small speaker. When preparing your shopping list, keep in mind that you can connect any speaker to any device for richer sound.
If you’re looking to pick an Echo to create an Alexa-enabled multi-room experience, the Echo Dot is again a great option. It even comes in a kid’s version if you want to put it in your child’s room. All in all, the Echo Dot is an ideal choice for most people. Now, whether you want to go with Echo Dot or Dot with Clock, that’s completely up to you.
Amazon Echo Dot with clock
While the two devices are fundamentally the same when it comes to accessing Alexa, music fans will want to side with the Amazon Echo. This is because it offers superior audio performance between the two and is better able to cover larger rooms. While the Echo Dot sounds underpowered in larger spaces at home or office, the Echo’s more robust audio hardware is better suited to provide the audio experience needed to cover those areas. Yes, you’re paying more for the third-gen Echo, but audiophiles who pride themselves on audio quality won’t mind spending the money on it.
Amazon Echo
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