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The lovable small Alexa speaker made a comeback with a whole new look. The fourth-generation Amazon Echo Dot ditched the hockey puck shape in favor’s of an orb-like design, albeit it has since been superseded by the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen). There wasn’t much difference between it and the third-generation Echo Dot besides the design.
The quality of the new Echo Dot was a little bit better, but Alexa’s value and all of its capabilities made the Amazon Echo Dot one of the finest portable Bluetooth speakers under $50. The 5th-gen model of this speaker is the greatest Alexa speaker currently available. But in our opinion, the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock offers better value (5th Gen). The Dot with Clock is a fantastic gadget for the bedroom or desk because it has a multi-purpose LED display on its side.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) review: Design
We thought the spherical Echo and Echo Dot had a very intriguing design when Amazon first unveiled them. And knowing that the release of its own orb-like HomePod mini was coming up in less than a month, I wonder how much Apple was going crazy. We our not as smitten with the Echo Dot now that I’ve have one in my hands.
Amazon stated at its launch event that owners placing their smart speakers in more conspicuous locations was a contributing factor in the redesign of the Echo Dot and the Echo. Although I believe that is a valid justification for changing the appearance of the Echo and the Echo Dot with Clock, I’m not sure if it applies equally to the normal Echo Dot. You can buy this speaker from its official website
Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) review: Connectivity
The audio output has a little bit more detail, and instruments don’t sound as crowded as they would on earlier technology. If you enjoy hip-hop or bass-heavy trap music, the upgraded Echo Dot also sounds much better. Expect no miracles in this situation; the speaker’s higher loudness is probably to blame.
The significantly improved wireless connectivity of the fourth-generation Echo Dot caught my attention as another feature. When placed in the same location as a third-generation Echo Dot that would frequently lose its Wi-Fi connection, the more recent model performed noticeably better.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) review: Sound quality
Although “Roundabout” by Yes sounds a little bit better on the Echo Dot, the bass response is still lacking. The initial acoustic guitar pickings have some string texture but also come off as somewhat empty and tinny. When the track starts off properly, the mix sounds rather well-balanced, but any bass is overshadowed by the vocals, which are firmly in the foreground. There isn’t much in the lower frequencies to balance out the sound signature’s emphasis on the highs.
The new Echo Dot doesn’t sound bad, like the previous model, but it lacks the strength and range to truly provide a listening experience that can fill a room with well-balanced audio. The Echo Dot is made to bring Alexa’s voice assistance skills to your workplace, kitchen, bedside, or any other area of your house, but that isn’t the main goal.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) review: Features
Anyone who has used an Amazon Echo device before is aware that setup involves downloading the Alexa app to your smartphone, or tablet, plugging 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 because you may name and group all of your Echo products in your home.
One Dot cannot be in two groups at once, but you can 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 enable 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.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) review: Price and release date
It’s unexpected that the $49.99 Echo Dot smart speaker took this long to begin to resemble a dot. The fourth-generation Echo Dot has changed to a sphere in order to match the design of the new fourth-generation Echo, though it is smaller and costs less.
The new Echo Dot is still one of the finest methods to introduce Amazon’s Alexa speech assistant to every part of your house, even though not much else has changed in this regard. Having said that, if you intend to place the speaker on your desk, nightstand, or anyplace else you use clocks and timers, we believe the LED clock face on the Echo Dot With Clock is worth the extra $10.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) review: Final words
Which voice assistant you decide to instal in your house is primarily a matter of personal preference. The HomePod Mini offers Apple-focused features and an improvement in sound quality over the Echo Dot, even though it comes at a significant price premium if most members of your household use iPhones.
But Amazon has made the strongest case yet for choosing Alexa by improving its most well-liked and cost-effective Echo device. Despite the Marmite look, responses are a little bit quicker, explanations are considerably clearer, and the sonic performance is superior to ever. Since the introduction of the first and second Dots, Amazon’s entry-level smart gadget has advanced significantly in terms of sound quality. In fact, you might say that Amazon has come full circle in the smart speaker market.