The newer Echo Dot with Clock is a bit more sophisticated and less hollow-sounding, which seems like a great feat for something shaped like a ball. So, you can easily have your Echo Dot turn on the smart switch connected to your box fan whenever your room gets too warm in the summer (or whatever other setups you want to create). Specific to the Dot with Clock, you can adjust its display brightness manually or have the device do it based on however bright the room is that it's in. Enjoy enhanced audio for vibrant sound anywhere in your home, stay on track with help from Alexa, and control compatible smart home devices.

Both these would be ideal to add to my smart Home system to enable routines for heating and lighting etc so was eager to test these out. Wake word technology, streaming indicators, Microphone Off button, the ability to view and delete your voice recordings and more. I realise this technology wouldn’t be the best as any noise in the room, such as TV , people speaking etc would diminish the accuracy of the sensor . Still, the difference is irrelevant compared to the audio quality you get from a full-sized, fourth-generation Echo — the latest that was available at the time of our review.

Keep your home comfortable Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Designed to protect your privacy Built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including a mic off button. During testing, I had three Eero Pro 6E routers running in a 2,300-square-foot brick home, so my network didn’t really need this. It still requires a somewhat hefty tap, but you can tap mostly anywhere on the speaker to get the response you want. Silent Shout” is a particularly punishing sub-bass-heavy song, though, and the Echo Dot sounds significantly better with other music.

Powered by Alexa, the Dot can do most everything its bigger siblings can, including stream music, set timers, run Alexa Routines, control smart home devices, play games, tell jokes, and work as a home intercom and telephone. Some mention that it has exceptional functionality, is very responsive, and useful, while others say that it constantly fails and doesn't work properly.

doesn’t sound much different from the previous version, but new motion sensors now let you interact with the speaker with a tap. it’s a minor niggle not a deal breaker )The additional tech that grabbed my attention was the inclusion of a temperature and motion sensor.

When she’s not filming tech videos, you can find her taking up a new sport, mastering the NYT Crossword or channeling her inner celebrity chef. VOICE-CONTROLLED SMART HOME – Control compatible lights, locks, fans, and more with just your voice or create routines triggered by motion sensors. Although, being able to mount it to a wall, which neither of the other speakers can do without clumsy accessories, adds a little more dimension to the otherwise tinny sound. Alexa is ready to help throughout the day with weather forecasts, news updates, hands-free timers, reminders, answers to your questions and can even tell you jokes.Now that it's made out of a grid of LED dots, the Echo Dot can scroll text horizontally across its front, which looks much better than the less-dynamic, fourth-generation Dot.