Amazon Echo Speakers
Last updated: Jan 25, 2023
Amazon Echo 4th Generation was released in October 2020. The Echo Dot 4th gen is available in three variants; the standard model is priced at USD 49.99; the LED clock version is priced at USD 55.99 and the kid’s edition with Tiger or panda design is priced at USD 59.99. The new 4th Gen Echo Dot got the spherical speaker design from the larger siblings just on a smaller size. The 4th Gen Echo Dot works as an affordable smart speaker considering its full price. The Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen has excellent audio quality. The mic for picking up commands has been improved. It can do all functions which Alexa can do in other models of Echo. Besides, the pricing is pretty cheap and affordable considering it is a quality SMART speaker. The most visible update for Echo Dot is its new shape. It is shaped like a ball with depleted air.
The standard new Dot is in three colors dark gray, light gray, and light blue. All the colors come with a white cord for the power line. It can also run-on 3rd generation model power adapters. The New Dot 4th Gen comes with a 3.5 mm connection so that it can be connected to a larger speaker or home theater. The body design is half plastic and half fabric. There are physical buttons for volume increase or decrease, Alexa activation and turning the microphone off. The device is perfect for Alexa purposes. It can answer questions, control other smartphone devices, podcast listening, talk with family members, and get homework support. If the customers are looking for an upgrade from the Echo dot 2nd or Amazon Tap, the Echo Dot 4th Gen is the perfect setting. The affordability, 3.5 mm jack and attractive design is the perfect option.
Echo Dot 3rd Gen
The Echo Dot 3rd Generation is priced at USD 49 and launched in September 2018 and comes with a fabric covering. The Echo Dot 3rd Generation has a sound that is much better than the previous models. It is considered the cheapest Alexa Speaker. The model has a 3.5 mm jack connectivity for powering the speakers with external sets. Alexa remains the best voice ecosystem for a smart home setup. The speaker has a colored ring around it making the Echo Dot 3rd Gen more attractive. There are four dedicated buttons on the body. Two volume buttons, a mic mute and another action button are responsive and feel great to use. The speaker dimension is 3.9 inches and 1.7 inches high. It is lightweight which is around 10.6 ounces. It is portable and easy to move from one room to another. However, it needs to be plugged into power for usage. The Echo Dot has wi-fi connectivity. The 3rd Gen Echo Dot has extended the wi-fi range as it can work on a 5GHZ network.
The sound quality is what makes Echo Dot 3rd Generation stand apart from the competitors. The new Echo Dot 3 model comes with good bass, and two echo dots can be connected in stereo output. The 3rd Generation Echo Dot has better output than Google Mini. Dot has racked up the performance to be good enough for the users. Music playing Echo Dot 3rd Gen is 7 decibels louder than its predecessors. It is loud enough to be heard at the 30-foot range in a silent room. However, it won’t be too loud that human voices cannot be heard. Alexa is ahead of Google Assistant in terms of smart home control. If Echo Dot 3rd Generation will be the default speaker in the room, it is a good purchase.
Amazon Tap
Amazon Tap stands out from its group of Alexa speakers. The device is priced at USD 130 as the standard price. The Tap does not keep listening like other Alexa speakers. Users need to tap a button to give it a command. The Amazon Tap was released in early 2016 as an affordable alternative to its costly flagship model Amazon Echo. Tap is more like an Alexa-supported Bluetooth speaker which offers additional Amazon services. Setting up Tap is easy as Amazon Alexa App can be downloaded and used to connect TAP with a home wi-fi network. The same applies to iOS mobile devices. There is a Bluetooth pairing button on the back of the device, which comes with a power button, audio port and Micro-USB port. Users can pay USD 20 extra to get a carrying case known as the Amazon Tap Sling. It can be hooked to the backpack and it can be carried to any place.
Playing a local radio station on Amazon Tap has a battery lasting for 10 hours and 8 minutes. Tap also can play music directly from Amazon Prime Music. Setting Up Tap is easy and its app is the same as other Echo devices. Tap can do all basic Alexa capabilities like any other Echo device. Alexa can help to identify any nearby restaurants. It can also set alarms, play music, and news reports or order any product from Amazon. Amazon Tap got updated in February 2017 where it received all hands-free functionality so there is a need to press the microphone button for using Alexa. Since Tap is a Bluetooth speaker, the sound is improved compared to Echo Dot. The key feature of Tap is that it is portable and thanks to hands-free voice activation, it is an attractive alternative in comparison to Echo devices.
Echo Dot 2nd Gen
The Second generation of the Amazon Echo Dot was launched in the market on October 20, 2016. The device was introduced for USD 49.9. It has connectivity through Bluetooth and wired speakers. The device is the best option to access Alexa hands-free access from any room. The device can work on its own and it can be connected to any speaker if the user wants to pump up the sound to the next level. The echo Dot 2nd Generation can be identified as a gateway to the Amazon Alexa system. The Echo Dot Second generation is a 3.3-inch cylinder with a height of 1.3 inches and weighs 5.7 ounces. Setting up the Second Generation is just like setting up any Echo device. The user can download the Echo app on an Android or iOS phone and connect the dot to the wi-fi. Dot can work independently or users can use their smartphones to review any queries, change the settings, or go through a range of possible Alexa skills.
The dot can identify and recognise words which are far ahead of the predecessors while playing music. The 2nd Gen Dot can recognize voice commands for a 50-foot range in a quiet room. The outline of the Echo Dot 2nd Gen includes a small, subtle design, and Steller voice identification, and it comes with a line-out facility which is effective for connecting it to a speaker system. The Dot packs a lot of features and capable technology in a tiny size. The pricing of the product is perfect as Amazon provides additional discounts where they can get the product at a much cheaper price. Besides Alexa as an AI is evolving through the years, and users will find the speaker getting more adaptive with continuous use.
Echo Dot 1st Gen
The Echo Dot 1st Generation March 2016 was the first Amazon Echo Dot. The device is shaped like a hockey puck which can connect with the external speakers due to the small onboard output. The price of the Echo Dot 1st Gen is available in the market for USD 49.99. The top half of the device is kept free for the volume ring which is placed on the upper part. The ring can be twisted or turned for volume control or it can be controlled by voice. Users can purchase an optional microphone-equipped remote which comes at USD 29.99. In a noisy environment, the remote can provide users with the scope of using the microphone at top of the remote to give instructions to the Echo Dot. Users will not need to shout at Alexa to give any voice commands. The remote has control of the volume and playback of music when listening using an Echo companion app which has physical buttons.
The Echo Dot setup process is clearly shown in Amazon documentation. The best part is that there is no need for a mobile or computer for Echo connection with the cloud after the basic setup is done. As the Echo dot is connected to wi-fi it is free to work independently. Echo Dot Alexa is as good as it gets ahead. It has no issue sharing the local weather and responds well to common commands like Repeat, Stops, Cancel etc. The application also features additional suggestions of commands where several new features have been added to the system since its launch. The Echo Dot Gen 1 has excellent voice recognition and works excellently with third-party devices and additional services. Alexa is constantly undergoing development where it is getting new features that expand its functionality.
Amazon Echo
The first generation of Amazon Echo was released on June 23, 2015. The introductory price of the device was USD 179.99. The Echo is intended to be voice-driven for the unit but there is a microphone-enabled remote control available for purchase. The design of the speaker is tall and cylindrical with a seven-piece microphone set. Echo was meant to become a voice-controlled speaker rather than a smart hub. However, Amazon Echo has decent control of smart home devices. The system has a 2.5-inch woofer and a 0.6-inch tweeter. The system has a dual speaker with decent sound. In addition, the Echo comes with a 3.5 mm line-out which enables the Echo to be attached to another speaker system for louder and more enriched sound. The small structure of Amazon Echo cannot be expected to have a booming bass. But for its size, it has a decent size where low-end and high-end are pretty well.
As a device Amazon Echo is a revolution in the technology market. In 2015 a voice-controlled speaker is a new aspect. The 1st generation Echo speaker is a solid device with decent sound output. It is an effective smart assistant and value for money. The speaker is powered by Alexa which is Amazon’s assistant. It can effectively control smart home devices, do internet searching, and do weather checking and users can also buy products from Amazon using the Amazon Echo. Echo’s voice control enables the users to control various functions or use the Alexa application on the smartphone. However, the Echo is a device that is still under development. It can have weird responses to queries at times. But with a future update and AI learning, it will become a good feature. Overall, it is a decent device that is proclaiming the onset of future smart home speakers from Amazon.
Amazon Echo Spot
The Amazon Echo Spot pulls attention towards its cute design which comes with a fun and useful display. The Echo Spot supports all the Alexa features with a 3.5 mm output. The introductory price of Amazon Echo Spot is priced at USD 129.99. The device is so well designed with a small screen, it can act as a perfect bedside smart clock or desk clock. There is a tiny 1.4-inch speaker which radiates out through a grille present at the bottom. The device also features a small camera above the screen. There is also a 3.5 mm jack for connecting with any external speaker set. The design is smooth, cute, and harmonious. It is a device that stands out when placed on a desk, bedside or living room. The device is smaller than Echo Show and Echo Show 5. The best part of Echo Spot is that it runs on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Echo Spot runs on an Amazon account and works fine when connected to Amazon services.
However, the spot is not a full-room audio speaker. The spot can play voices and midrange equipment without being harsh on the sound. The presence of an Echo Spot in the kitchen will make waking up pleasant and users will enjoy listening to the morning news. It is considered a first-class citizen of the Republic of Alexa. It will easily become an integral part of a whole-home audio system and offers various types of wake-up words. It also possesses various third-party skills. These skills include playing music from Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon. It can also read out Amazon Kindle or Kindle Books. The device has a convenient smart display that works as an alarm clock. It is small, round and can fit the nightstand and is ideal for the role. The device is a bridge between a smart speaker and small display functionality. In case the screen light bothers the user in the dark, the “Alexa turns off-screen” command can put the screen off until the room light is turned on.
Amazon Echo Plus 2nd Generation
Amazon Echo Plus is a smart speaker which has a temperature sensor in addition to the Zigbee hub. The introductory price of the product is USD 149.99. Amazon Echo Plus hit the market on 27 September 2017. The Echo shares a similarity with the first-generation Echo model. It can connect with most wireless protocols. It uses a second-generation far-field microphone and noise cancellation for convenience. The second generation came with a fabric covering. Amazon Echo Plus is a more powerful version than the standard Eco. It is larger and louder than previous generations which add more functionality. Echo Plus 2nd Generation is stout and comes with the same fabric grille on its sides. It resembles Echo Show and Echo Dot. There are black, grey, and white versions that are available in the market. The speaker top has been kept unchanged featuring the same buttons like Alexa, mic mute, and volume up and down buttons which come with the translucent light ring.
The notch in the body comes with a port that includes a power adapter, and a 3.5 mm port that works as both line-in and line-out. The wider body of Echo Plus comes with a 3-inch woofer and 0.8 tweeters. Alexa has become a considerable distance before the coming of the Echo Plus 2nd Generation. Alexa now can give general trivia, unit conversion reports on the weather, and information about sports scores. Echo Plus 2nd Generation has far better audio quality than its previous models. It will serve great for small gatherings during a house party or barbeque. Alexa’s inbuilt equalizer can easily set the treble, mid and bass tone of any song through voice command or the Alexa application. Echo Plus 2nd Generation is a great device for a smart home hub. It is perfect when the user is looking to create a start-up smart home or needs Alexa speakers with better output.
Amazon Echo Flex
Amazon Echo Flex was released as a tiny plug-in speaker released in 2019. The release price was USD 24.99. It is a small device with a speaker which could be plugged into a wall outlet. It is perfect for areas where there is no space to put a speaker. Flex comes with a USB port to charge a phone, and it can be plugged into modules to expand functionality.
Flex has always listening microphones which will enable Alexa abilities using a simple command. The best user for Amazon Echo Flex is the people who are looking for a small portable smart speaker perfect for small areas.