The Amazon Echo Dot is one of the most popular smart speakers on the market, and for good reason. It offers a lot of functionality and convenience for a relatively low price. But how does the latest version, the Echo Dot 5th Generation, compare to its predecessors and competitors? Is it worth upgrading or buying for the first time? In this review, we will answer these questions and more, by looking at the design, features, sound quality, and value of the Echo Dot 5th Generation.

Design

The Echo Dot 5th Generation looks almost identical to the previous model, the Echo Dot 4th Generation. It is a slightly flattened sphere that measures 3.9 inches in diameter and 3.5 inches in height. It weighs 12 ounces and comes in three colors: charcoal, glacier white, and twilight blue. The top half of the sphere is covered in fabric, while the bottom half is made of matte plastic. The fabric gives the speaker a cozy and elegant look, while the plastic provides stability and durability.

The top of the speaker has four buttons: an action button, a microphone mute button, and two volume buttons. The action button can be used to wake up Alexa, stop alarms, or reset the device. The microphone mute button can be used to turn off the microphone when you don’t want Alexa to listen to you. The volume buttons can be used to adjust the sound level manually.

The bottom of the speaker has a light ring that glows different colors depending on the status of the device. For example, it glows blue when Alexa is listening or speaking, orange when it is connecting to Wi-Fi, red when the microphone is muted, and yellow when you have notifications.

The back of the speaker has two ports: a power port and a 3.5mm audio output port. The power port is used to connect the speaker to a power outlet using the included adapter and cable. The audio output port can be used to connect the speaker to an external speaker or headphones using an auxiliary cable (not included).

One of the new features of the Echo Dot 5th Generation is the tap gestures. You can tap the top of the speaker to pause music or snooze alarms. This is a convenient way to interact with the speaker without using your voice or reaching for your phone.

Another new feature of the Echo Dot 5th Generation is the temperature sensor. The speaker can detect the ambient temperature of your room and display it on your Alexa app or tell you when you ask. This can be useful for setting up routines or controlling smart thermostats.

Features

The Echo Dot 5th Generation has all the features that you would expect from an Alexa-enabled smart speaker. You can use it to play music, podcasts, audiobooks, radio stations, and more from various streaming services such as Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Audible, TuneIn, and others. You can also use it to control your smart home devices such as lights, plugs, cameras, thermostats, locks, and more from brands such as Philips Hue, Ring, Nest, Schlage, and others. You can also use it to make voice calls or send messages to other Alexa devices or contacts in your phone book.

The Echo Dot 5th Generation also supports multi-room audio, which means you can group it with other Echo devices in your home and play music in sync across them. You can also create stereo pairs with two Echo Dot speakers for a wider soundstage.

One of the advantages of the Echo Dot 5th Generation over other smart speakers is the vast number of skills that Alexa has. Skills are like apps that add more functionality and fun to your speaker. You can use skills to play games, learn new things, get news and weather updates, order food or services, book travel or tickets, and more. There are thousands of skills available on the Alexa app or website that you can enable and use with your speaker.

Another advantage of the Echo Dot 5th Generation is that it can serve as an Eero mesh network node if you have an Eero router or extender in your home. This means that it can extend your Wi-Fi coverage and improve your internet speed and reliability. This feature is currently only available in the US.

Sound Quality

The Echo Dot 5th Generation has a 1.6-inch front-firing speaker that delivers clear and balanced sound for its size. It has a frequency range of 100Hz to 20kHz, which means it can produce both low and high notes well enough for casual listening. It also has a passive bass radiator that enhances the bass response without distorting the sound.

The Echo Dot 5th Generation sounds noticeably better than its predecessor, the Echo Dot 4th Generation, which had a smaller 1.2-inch speaker and a narrower frequency range of 300Hz to 20kHz. The Echo Dot 5th Generation can fill a small to medium-sized room with sound, while the Echo Dot 4th Generation struggled to do so.

The Echo Dot 5th Generation also sounds better than some of its competitors, such as the Google Nest Mini and the Apple HomePod Mini, which have similar or smaller speakers and frequency ranges. The Echo Dot 5th Generation has a more natural and balanced sound, while the Google Nest Mini has a more muffled and bass-heavy sound, and the Apple HomePod Mini has a more bright and treble-heavy sound.

However, the Echo Dot 5th Generation is not a high-fidelity speaker, and it cannot compete with larger and more expensive speakers in terms of sound quality. If you are an audiophile or a music enthusiast, you might want to look for a speaker with a bigger driver, a wider frequency range, and a higher output power. You can also connect the Echo Dot 5th Generation to a better speaker using the audio output port or Bluetooth.

Value

The Echo Dot 5th Generation costs $49.99, which is the same price as the previous model and most of its competitors. Considering the design, features, and sound quality that it offers, we think that it is a great value for money. It is one of the best smart speakers you can buy for under $50.

However, if you are willing to spend $10 more, you might want to consider the Echo Dot with Clock 5th Generation, which has an LED display that can show the time, temperature, timers, alarms, and notifications. The display adds more convenience and functionality to the speaker, and it can also serve as a smart alarm clock. The Echo Dot with Clock 5th Generation has all the same features and sound quality as the Echo Dot 5th Generation, except for the tap gestures.

If you already own an Echo Dot 4th Generation or an older model, you might not find enough reasons to upgrade to the Echo Dot 5th Generation. The main differences are the tap gestures, the temperature sensor, and the slightly better sound quality. Unless you really need or want these features, you might be better off sticking with your current speaker.

Conclusion

The Echo Dot 5th Generation is a small but mighty smart speaker that offers a lot of functionality and convenience for a relatively low price. It has a sleek and elegant design, a wide range of features, and a decent sound quality for its size. It also has some new features that make it stand out from its predecessors and competitors, such as the tap gestures and the temperature sensor. It is one of the best smart speakers you can buy for under $50.

However, if you want a smart speaker with a display, you might want to consider the Echo Dot with Clock 5th Generation, which costs $10 more. If you want a smart speaker with a better sound quality, you might want to consider a larger and more expensive speaker or connect the Echo Dot 5th Generation to an external speaker. And if you already own an older model of the Echo Dot, you might not find enough reasons to upgrade to the Echo Dot 5th Generation.

We hope this review helped you decide whether to buy or upgrade to the Echo Dot 5th Generation. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave them in the comments below. Thank you for reading!