The third-generation Amazon Echo Dot looks and sounds great. It’s now a distinctly better smart speaker than the Google Home Mini, and it can replace the larger Echo for less picky users. As a result, it is our Editors’ Choice for entry-level smart speakers. There’s no need to upgrade if you already own an older Echo Dot and use it to power a larger, better speaker. If you use your Echo Dot as your primary speaker, however, you’ll want the new one.
Bellowing commands at, and hearing responses from, a little electronic voice in a box retains a futuristic feel, but on the surface, everything about this product is quite simple. The small, puck-shaped design has been jazzed up and improved on this third-generation Dot. The previous model’s hard exterior has been replaced with fabric, and the controls on top of the device have also been updated.
As a result, it appears noticeably smarter – we see it as a nice addition to a room rather than something to tuck away. The Echo Dot requires power, and you can connect other devices via the 3.5mm aux output for better sound, but it can go anywhere it can hear your voice. Once powered on, it’s simple to use the Amazon Alexa app to connect it to your wireless network.
The 3.5mm audio output and Bluetooth connectivity are the only features. This means that if you want a bigger, better sound than the Echo Dot can provide, you can connect to another device via a wired or wireless connection. In terms of features, it’s all about Alexa. It’s also worth noting that all of this connectivity, as well as everything Alexa can do, is compatible with the second-generation Echo Dot.
Alexa can still play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, and control compatible smart home devices ranging from televisions to home theatre amplifiers and speakers. You can also control Spotify, TuneIn, and Amazon Music. Voice calls are a recent addition, while the number of Skills – devices that work with Alexa – is constantly growing and includes a diverse range of products ranging from Sonos to Domino’s Pizza and Uber.
What’s new is a new driver and a new microphone layout. The driver is 4cm in size, as opposed to 3cm in the previous model, and Amazon claims it is 70% louder as a result. Interestingly, there are four microphones rather than seven, but design changes aim to make performance just as strong.