Smart homes are the future, and Amazon is doing everything in its power to be at the forefront of the trend. They started their smart homes devices journey when they released the original Echo in 2014.
What they have to offer has come a long way, and the Echo Dot (3rd Generation) is their latest development. Echo Dot is Amazon’s gateway to the smart home arena, and it definitely competes with Google Home Mini’s and similar products.
The 3rd Generation Echo Dot is an excellent low-cost smart speaker that uses Alexa. Also, it has matured nicely when compared to the 2nd Gen Echo Dot, but the price did not increase. The Echo Dot (3rd Gen) retails at $49.99. You get a powerful device at an affordable price.
Echo Dot (3rd Gen) – Review
Amazon’s Echo Dot is a smart speaker that comes packed with Alexa. It’s a small device that can fit everywhere with its low-key profile. The design has also seen an overhaul with fabric sides and a softer rounded aesthetic, which provides a modern and classy outlook. Its dimensions are 43mm in height and 99mm in diameter.
The device is powered through a circular power socket positioned at the back. It is a step-up considering that the last gen Echo Dot utilized micro USB socket. It also comes with a 3.5mm analog socket which can be used to connect to stereo devices. The Echo Dot supports Bluetooth connectivity, enabling you to connect your phone quickly and transform your smart speaker to a Bluetooth speaker.
Apart from a great design, it is useful in making your home more functional through smart control. Alexa makes it possible to control different smart devices. Moreover, you can use Alexa to ask the weather, traffic, time, and anything else that can help you work efficiently!
Quick Pros & Cons of Amazon Echo
There is no doubt that Amazon Echo, due to its combination with Alexa, is a wonderful piece of gear to have in your home. It can easily transform your house to a smart house, without any construction work.
But, the product is not without its downsides and some users might be especially affected by them. In some cases having an AI assistant that is always on is not the best idea in the world.
– Seamless Alexa Integration
– Good and Reaching Sound
– Hands-free calls
– Doesn’t Differentiate Voices
– Low On-Site Security
– Robots Don’t Understand Sarcasm
You can easily buy the Echo Dot from Amazon and receive additional perks on your Alexa by doing so, such as ad-free songs. You will just need to consider who else will have access to operating your new smart home.
Amazon Echo Dot Setup
It is easy to get started with the Echo Dot. First, go to the Amazon Alexa App (if you don’t have the app, you need to download it). From there, tap on the plus icon and your new smart speakers will be added to your list of smart devices.
It is easy to work with multiple smart devices thanks to how Amazon set up the system, but you might find there are some features you aren’t able to access.
Big on Sound
The sound capabilities of Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) got a major overhaul from its previous version. The fabric plays a crucial role in improving the sound quality. The sound comes out from all sides, projecting in all directions. The last gen lacked the all-around projection, which resulted in comparatively low sound quality.
Not only is the sound quality strong on the Echo Dot, but it can also be very loud. It can become distorted if the volume is set too loud, but for the most part, the quality will suit most users’ needs.
For music lovers, it lacks a bit of bass and comes with a harsh high end. It’s not ideal if your only intention is to blast music for parties, but if you’re just listening to music around an otherwise quiet home, it’s going to meet your needs.
Alexa – Empowering the Dot
Alexa is the voice assistant that comes with Echo Dot. It empowers the Dot and compliments it in every possible way. Alexa is known as the most powerful voice assistant available, and without it, the Dot would not be the same.
Alexa is excellent in what it does and provides great performance out of the box. It utilizes a four-microphone array to listen to your commands which works perfectly fine even in moderately noisy places. Alexa’s sound is clear and distinct, providing you a pleasant listening and interacting experience.
Alexa can help you with basic information like learning about the weather, traffic, or the news and can provide all of the information a search engine can give you when queried. If you prefer Google Assistant to Alexa, the Echo Dot might take some getting used to, but as long as you aren’t a Google enthusiast, chances are you’ll adjust fine after a few uses.
You can also find a lot of third-party apps for Alexa. This allows you to get the best out of your smart device. The apps can help you do more with your device and can make your everyday tasks easier and more convenient. For instance, you can install a news app, meditation apps, cooking apps, and more, all of which make your Echo Dot a more comprehensive device.
Overall Performance
When compared with its last generation, the Amazon Echo Dot(3rd Generation) performs well. It has a revamped audio system, a clear setup, and a better design.
However, it does come with some disadvantages. As a user, you might find yourself struggling when connecting your smart devices. Some users have complained that the set-up process for the Echo Dot is more complicated than the Google Home Mini.
Overall, for the price, we found the performance of the Echo Dot to be excellent. At $50, it provides a great feature-set, and as long as you aren’t a die-hard Google loyalist, you can use Dot to its full potential.
One last feature to note – the calling feature.
You can use the Echo Dot to place and answer calls. You place or answer the call through voice command, so you don’t need to stop what you’re doing to reach out to loved ones. This can be a convenient option when you are doing things around the home and want to place a call.
Final Verdict
Echo Dot(3rd Gen) is a great smart device that meets all of the requirements to be in a smart home. If you are looking for a cheap yet powerful smart speaker, the Echo Dot is for you. It is also one of the best versions of Echo Dot considering you get more for the same price as previous versions.
We consider it a great entryway into building a smart home or an option for anyone who is not happy with their current smart home speaker and looking for an upgrade.
