Pros
- +Improved Alexa responses
- +Enhanced sound quality
- +Solid build
Cons
- -Replaced by newer 5th generation model
All truth goes through three stages, as the 19th-century aphorism says. It is first mocked. It is opposing, second. Lastly, it is acknowledged. A few years back, Amazon dropped their puck-shaped Echo Dot in favour of a spherical form, and comment threads on various sites burst into laughing.
Of course, Amazon is hardly the first company to think of spherical audio. Others, like Bowers & Wilkins' Nautilus or Vivid Audio's Giya, have also boldly championed the merits of gastropod forms for sonic delivery. Cabasse's Pearl and Devialet's Phantom series adopted the design many moons ago. Now, it goes without saying that Apple has also gone round with its superb HomePod Mini.
This fourth-gen model has since been replaced by the also-spherical Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) now, but as the newest model attests, the hockey ball design is clearly here to stay. The question is: is it right for you, especially now that the newer iteration could see the 4th gen experience available on a big discount?
When compared side by side, the Echo Dot and HomePod Mini are virtually comparable in size and appearance. Even though the power cable on our charcoal Echo Dot is detachable rather than permanent, and is flanked by a 3.5mm audio line out for wired listening, it has a colour that is comparable to the black Mini.
The Dot's spherical form is lopped off at the bottom to give a base, much like the bigger Echo (4th Generation), and it's here that you'll find the distinctive blue ring of light seen on all Amazon Echo devices. The pulsing presence of Alexa is considerably more subdued than it was on the top edge of the previous Dot and it now makes for a lovely reflection on glass tables or kitchen worktops.
Details of the fourth-generation Amazon Echo
Fourth-generation Amazon Echo Dot ( image Amazon credit)
Yes, wi-fi, Vehicle 4 cm, produce 3.5mm, 10 x 10 x 8.9 cm are the dimensions (hwd), Size 328g
You shouldn't anticipate the same omnidirectional sound presentation as in the previous version due to the elliptical ring of plastic that rises to its highest around the unit's back power port in the new design. It's a small concern as the gadget needs to be plugged in and, as a result, would often sit close to a wall anyhow, as we stated in our evaluation of the bigger Echo (4th Gen), which bears the same design characteristic.
You might be excused for supposing that the additional height provided by a spherical design required an additional driver. The brand-new Echo Dot, on the other hand, has a single, front-firing 4 cm driver as well as a four-mic array for speech pickup.
There is a new chip inside that should speed up Alexa's reaction times by up to twice. The newest Dot does respond more quickly in our tests. In order to conserve energy, the fourth-generation Echo Dot now switches to a new low power mode while not in use.
Anyone who has used an Amazon Echo device before is aware that setup involves downloading the Alexa app to your smartphone, connecting in the Dot, and then following the on-screen instructions. There have been beneficial developments that encourage the adoption of several Echo devices. Saying “Alexa, play David Bowie in the living room” will cause any Echo devices in that group to comply since you may name and group all of your Echo products in your home.
One Dot cannot be in two groups at once, but you may command Alexa to play David Bowie across your home by saying “Alexa, play David Bowie everywhere.” Stereo pairing is also possible, but only when two identical model Dots are used.
On the Alexa app, you may explore “skills” to activate on your Dot under the Home tab and create an announcement (like “I'm home”) to be broadcast to your speakers under the Communicate tab. These include playing a round of the television game programme Pointless, relaxing to spa music after a long day, playing Simon Says with the kids, and many more.
Of course, you can link your Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music Unlimited subscriptions (but not Tidal or Qobuz). Given how nicely the Echo Dot and streaming service work together, Deezer appears to have been a sensible buy in this case.
Although the Echo Dot supports skills for Apple Music, Beats 1 Radio, and Apple Podcasts, entering the Apple ecosystem with an Amazon Alexa device isn't as easy as it would be with the HomePod Mini, which is designed exclusively for Apple products. While it usually works, sometimes it might seem a little awkward.
According to our testing, the newest Echo Dot has somewhat better hearing than the older one, but Alexa's vocalisation has seen the most significant change. There are a variety of voices available, but regardless of which one you choose, Alexa has a better, crisper diction and sounds less muffled than in previous generations, which is a significant plus if you frequently ask your Echo Dot questions or like getting flash briefings. Although the new Dot's faster response times might feel
Even while the new Dot's accelerated reaction times might seem inconsequential, the increased clarity of its replies is indisputable.
When you combine this with functions like Alexa's assistance with common questions, Alexa's ‘dropping in' on anyone seated near a Dot for a two-way conversation, and Amazon Routines (to dim lights in your smart home, for example), this affordable smart speaker offers an astounding number of clever extras for the price.