Tried & Tested
On trial: The Amazon Echo Dot
This article is part of a paid-for partnership with Amazon
Alexa, find me a smart speaker that’s small, powerful, will fulfil my every need – and costs less than £60
It’s me, hi, I’m obsessed with tech. I’m not techy, no. But I love new technology that feels shiny and fun and is, crucially, easy to use (I was obsessed with my new kettle and even more inawed by my new Kindle). And Amazon’s affordable and tiny Echo Dot is all of the above and so much more. Intrigued? It’s time to get acquainted.
What is it?
The Amazon Echo Dot is the fifth generation smart Bluetooth speaker from Amazon and comes complete with Alexa. Been living under a rock? Alexa is like Siri, but better. She actually listens to you, actually tells you the right information and actually, well, works. The Echo Dot is circular and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. I have it in black, which I love because it’s inoffensive and blends well into my living room. It’s affordable, too – at £54.99, it’s one of the cheaper smart speakers on the market, although its performance and functionality really do elevate it.
What does it do?
I have a toddler who genuinely requests Frozen songs 50+ times a day. Ask anyone who knows her and they’ll confirm it’s true. She can say about 20 words and 19 of them are related to Frozen. Gone are the days of sprinting through the flat to try and find my phone to play whatever the princess has requested before a meltdown ensues, because Alexa saves the day – repeatedly. I can ask Alexa anything; to tell me the time, to play a song (the Frozen soundtrack), whether it’s going to rain or not. I can also ask her to turn the volume up or down, to stop totally, to wake me up in the morning. If my home was smarter, I’d have her turn on the lights, turn up the heating and switch on my smart fan. For now, as a speaker, she’s brilliant. She’s better than brilliant – she has incredible features that I’m not sure how I lasted so long without.
The metrics that matter
Value for moneyAt less than £55, it’s almost as if you’re getting a discount on this piece of tech. It works so well and looks so good that it feels as if it should be much more expensive.
Ease of use Complicated set-ups and me really don’t go well together, so myself (and my neighbours) were pleased to know that this really was as simple as plug-in-and-go. No painful installation, no need to set hours aside for it. Simple.
Sound satisfaction Like I said, this is small but mighty. It packs a powerful punch and although I haven’t quite dared to put it up to full volume yet, the depth that I’ve got so far is really impressive.
Why do you need it?
If you’re looking for an affordable way to elevate your home, the Echo Dot is it. It projects a genuinely brilliant sound, thanks to its round shape and therefore 360° speaker. It’s super easy to work too, which is not something I can say for a lot of smart speakers with complicated apps (I shan’t name names). You literally plug it in, download Alexa, connect to your preferred music streaming service (mine is Spotify, which the Echo Dot is fully compatible with), say a few things so Alexa gets used to your dulcet tones and you’re away. It’s truly that simple – I was quite shocked. Did I mention it looks good, too? If this sounds like a love letter to the Echo Dot, it’s because it is. I love it.
