Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot: which Alexa speaker is right for you?

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• Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot: which Alexa speaker is right for you?

When considering buying a smart speaker, choosing the right model can be very tricky; Even if you've chosen one brand, the best smart speaker brands often offer several different models for every occasion. If you've downsized from the Apple HomePod and don't like the speakers in the Google Home line, you might want to buy an Amazon Echo speaker, but how do you choose between an Amazon Echo and its little brother? , the Echo Dot? Both offer the intelligence of Amazon's Alexa and the company's now-iconic design. You can even use the two speakers to make phone calls to phone numbers in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the UK, assigning your cell phone number to your Amazon account and giving you access to your contact book. But which is the most expensive? Which model is best for students and which offers better audio quality? We took an in-depth look at both smart speakers so you can make an informed decision. [Update: Amazon has revealed that it's holding a hardware launch event this coming Thursday, September 24, which means we could be in for some upgraded Echo speakers, updates to Alexa, Prime Video, and Amazon Music, and new Echo devices. It doesn't look as though the event will be live streamed to the general public, but it's scheduled to start at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (that's 3am, September 25 if you're in Australia) – and we'll be here to cover all the announcements from Amazon HQ. There haven't been any material leaks so far, but the invite sent to media mentions "Devices and Services", so it looks as though we might hear some Alexa news as well as being treated to some new gadgets.]

What about Amazon Prime Day 2020?
Amazon Prime Day is coming soon, and although the official date has yet to be announced, it is expected to fall in mid-October. The sell-out event will be a great place to find discounts on Amazon Echo speakers, as well as many other technologies, so if you're thinking of buying an Echo, you should wait until then. Not ready to commit? Black Friday 2020 follows shortly after November 27, giving you another chance to save big on your next tech purchase.

Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot: Overview

Smart speakers may be ubiquitous these days, but that wasn't always the case. When Amazon launched the Amazon Echo Dot in 2014, the craze for connected devices and voice assistants really took off. Now in its second generation, the Amazon Echo remains one of the best smart speakers on the market. By combining Amazon's Alexa smart voice assistant with home audio, the Echo took the smart home market by storm, before branching out into a number of different smart speakers and displays. , including Echo Show, Echo Plus, and Echo Dot. The Echo Dot may be the smallest Echo speaker, but it's also Amazon's best-seller, thanks to its compact size and modest price. Designed to fit into any room in your home, the Echo Dot is now available in its third iteration.

Amazon Echo Dot (Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot: price and availability

The Amazon Echo Dot is the cheaper of the two smart speakers, but you can currently get both the Echo and the Echo Dot at a discounted price at various retailers around the world, which makes both prices more acceptable than ever. At launch, the Amazon Echo was $180 / £150 / around AU$230, while the Echo Dot was £49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79. However, both speakers have been heavily discounted ever since, and currently you can get your hands on the Amazon Echo for as little as £83 / £69.99 / AU$149 and the Echo Dot for £30/£30. £/AU$48. In Australia, the Echo Dot still sells for AU$79 on Amazon, but with Amazon Prime Day just around the corner, it might be worth waiting until then to pick up your new Echo speaker. . Today's best Amazon Echo (2017) and Amazon Echo Dot deals Echo Dot (XNUMXrd Gen) - Smart... Echo Dot (XNUMXrd Gen) - Smart... Echo (2nd Gen) - Smart... Amazon Echo, 2nd Gen

The Amazon Echo (Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot: design

With a wraparound fabric grille in stylish 'Charcoal', 'Heather' and 'Sandstone' hues, the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot sport a fresh, minimalist design that will fit into most homes. On top of both speakers, you'll find volume buttons, a button to turn off the built-in microphones, and a button to call Alexa when she doesn't feel like calling the voice assistant. The most obvious difference between the Echo and the Echo Dot is the size. The Amazon Echo cylindrical measures 5.8 x 88 x 88mm and weighs 821g. The hockey puck-shaped Echo Dot measures just 99 x 99 x 43mm and weighs less than half the weight of the Echo at 300g, meaning the Echo Dot is ideal for tucking into small spaces like a nightstand. , and could be ideal for those who are short on space, like students living in a shared house, for example.

Amazon Echo Dot (Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot: smart features

Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot share many of the same features; These are two Alexa-enabled web-connected speakers that can play music and control your smart home. By saying the speaker's wake word, ``Alexa,'' you'll both be ready to respond in no time, thanks to built-in microphones that constantly listen for your commands. The kind of tasks your Echo or Echo Dot is capable of doing largely depends on which Alexa "skills" you've enabled; Alexa skills are like tricks your smart speaker can perform for you. There are abilities to control your smart home devices, listen to music and the radio, give you step-by-step recipes, and even order pizza from Dominoes. These features are available on all Amazon speakers, so in terms of smart features, the Echo and Echo Dot are the same.

The Amazon Echo (Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot: sound performance

In terms of audio quality, there's a clear winner; Amazon Echo's 65mm woofer, 15mm tweeters, and Dolby processing allow it to deliver more expansive sound than its little brother. That's not to say the Echo Dot sounds terrible; Its sound output means it's perfect for playing background music while pottery in the kitchen, but you won't get audiophile-grade sound. What the Echo Dot is great for is adding Alexa intelligence to otherwise 'dumb' speakers. With audiophile brands like Sonos, Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Pioneer, Yamaha, and many more offering Alexa-enabled products, you can tell your Echo Dot to play your music on a much more powerful hands-free speaker. Why not do this with the Amazon Echo? It all comes down to price; If you'll be using your Echo speaker to control other audio devices, you can also purchase the cheaper version. After all, the Amazon Echo sounds better than the Echo Dot, but not much more.

The Amazon Echo Dot (Image credit: ClassyPictures / Shutterstock.com) (Image credit: ClassyPictures / Shutterstock.com)

Amazon Echo vs Amazon Echo Dot: on the go

Whether you need to buy an Amazon Echo or an Amazon Echo Dot largely depends on how you want to use it. Do you want a voice-activated speaker that does your music justice? Go for the Amazon Echo. Looking for something to control your other login devices? The Echo Dot is probably your best option. Size and cost aside, the only real difference between the two speakers is the sound quality on offer; after all, the Echo and Echo Dot support the same intelligence from Alexa. So if you plan to use your Echo speaker for casual background listening or as a device to drive your more powerful audiophile speakers, you should save money and buy the cheaper option, the 'Echo Dot. The size of the speakers is also worth considering; maybe you already have an Echo in your living room and want to bring Alexa to your nightstand; in this case too, it's probably better to go with an Echo Dot. If you have a big room that needs to be filled with sound, go for the Amazon Echo, or even its big brother, the Echo Plus.