Amazon’s Echo Spot is a smart speaker with a screen. It is designed to sit in your bedroom or office. On the day of its release, it was clear that Amazon aimed to bring Alexa into smaller spaces. The Echo Spot is more than just a voice-controlled speaker; it has a small round display that adds extra functions. In this review, we’ll explore the design, features, pros, and cons of the Echo Spot.
Design and Build Quality
The Echo Spot is small and round, about the size of an alarm clock. Its size makes it perfect for bedside tables or small desks. The device has a 2.5-inch circular screen, which is easy to see from across a small room. The screen is bright enough to use in daylight, but there is also a night mode that dims it when it’s dark.
The device comes in two colors: black and white. Both colors blend in well with most bedroom or office décor. The overall build quality is solid. It feels well-made and sturdy for its size. There are a few buttons on the top for volume and muting the microphone. This is helpful if you ever want to turn off Alexa’s listening feature.
Alexa Integration
Like other Echo devices, the Echo Spot is powered by Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa. You can use your voice to control smart home devices, ask for weather updates, set alarms, and much more. Alexa responds to commands just like she does on other Echo devices, but the screen adds an extra layer of usability.
For example, when you ask Alexa for the weather, the Echo Spot will show you a visual forecast along with the voice response. You can also watch news videos, make video calls, and view camera feeds from compatible smart home cameras.
However, the screen is small, so don’t expect to enjoy full-length movies on it. It’s better for quick glances or short clips.
Features
1. Video Calls
One of the main selling points of the Echo Spot is its ability to make video calls. You can use it to call other Echo Spot or Echo Show devices, or even the Alexa app on smartphones. This can be a useful feature for staying in touch with friends or family. The camera quality is decent for its size, but it’s not as sharp as you would find on a smartphone or dedicated webcam.
2. Smart Home Hub
If you have smart home devices like lights, thermostats, or security cameras, you can control them through the Echo Spot. You can ask Alexa to turn the lights on, adjust the temperature, or show you the feed from a security camera. Having the screen makes it easier to interact with these devices since you can see what’s happening without needing to look at your phone.
3. Music and Video Streaming
The Echo Spot can stream music from services like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Pandora. While the sound quality is good for such a small device, it’s not as rich as what you’d get from larger speakers like the Echo Studio or even the Echo Dot with an external speaker. You can also watch video clips from Amazon Prime Video or news briefings, but due to the small screen size, it’s not ideal for watching longer videos.
4. Alarm Clock Features
Given its size and design, the Echo Spot fits naturally as a smart alarm clock. You can set alarms with your voice or use the touchscreen. The screen will also show the time, which you can customize with different clock faces. When the alarm goes off, you can simply tell Alexa to snooze or stop it. It’s a handy feature for those who don’t want to fumble with buttons first thing in the morning.
5. Privacy Concerns
Like other Alexa-enabled devices, the Echo Spot is always listening for the “Alexa” wake word. Some people may feel uneasy about having a camera and microphone in their bedroom. However, Amazon has included a physical button to turn off both the camera and microphone for added privacy.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Compact Design: Its small size makes it perfect for nightstands, desks, or small spaces.
- Screen Adds Versatility: The screen enhances many Alexa features, such as weather updates and video calls.
- Smart Home Integration: The Echo Spot can control smart home devices, making it a useful hub for your home.
- Video Calls: The ability to make video calls is a handy feature, especially for family communication.
- Customizable Clock Faces: You can customize the display to show different clock faces, which adds a personal touch to the device.
Cons:
- Small Screen: While the screen is useful for quick glances, it’s not ideal for watching videos or doing anything that requires detailed visuals.
- Sound Quality: The speaker is good for casual listening, but it doesn’t deliver the rich sound you’d get from larger Echo devices or dedicated speakers.
- Price: At launch, the Echo Spot was priced higher than the Echo Dot. Some people may find it expensive for what it offers, especially since larger Echo devices are similarly priced.
- Privacy Concerns: The built-in camera and microphone may make some people uncomfortable, especially if placed in the bedroom.
Verdict
The Echo Spot is a great device for those looking to add Alexa to smaller spaces like bedrooms or offices. Its small size and versatile screen make it more than just a smart speaker. The ability to make video calls, control smart home devices, and use it as an alarm clock are all great features. However, the small screen size limits its usefulness for watching videos, and the sound quality isn’t as rich as other Echo devices.
If you’re already invested in Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem and want a smart speaker with a screen, the Echo Spot is worth considering. However, if you’re mainly looking for a smart speaker with great sound, the Echo Dot or Echo Plus might be better choices.
In conclusion, Amazon’s Echo Spot is a well-designed device that brings a lot of smart features into a compact package. It’s perfect for those who want the convenience of Alexa in their bedroom or small spaces. However, its high price and privacy concerns might make some users hesitate. Overall, it’s a good device for the right user, but not without its flaws.
Amazon’s Echo Spot is a smart speaker with a screen. It is designed to sit in your bedroom or office. On the day of its release, it was clear that Amazon aimed to bring Alexa into smaller spaces. The Echo Spot is more than just a voice-controlled speaker; it has a small round display that adds extra functions. In this review, we’ll explore the design, features, pros, and cons of the Echo Spot.
Design and Build Quality
The Echo Spot is small and round, about the size of an alarm clock. Its size makes it perfect for bedside tables or small desks. The device has a 2.5-inch circular screen, which is easy to see from across a small room. The screen is bright enough to use in daylight, but there is also a night mode that dims it when it’s dark.
The device comes in two colors: black and white. Both colors blend in well with most bedroom or office décor. The overall build quality is solid. It feels well-made and sturdy for its size. There are a few buttons on the top for volume and muting the microphone. This is helpful if you ever want to turn off Alexa’s listening feature.
Alexa Integration
Like other Echo devices, the Echo Spot is powered by Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa. You can use your voice to control smart home devices, ask for weather updates, set alarms, and much more. Alexa responds to commands just like she does on other Echo devices, but the screen adds an extra layer of usability.
For example, when you ask Alexa for the weather, the Echo Spot will show you a visual forecast along with the voice response. You can also watch news videos, make video calls, and view camera feeds from compatible smart home cameras.
However, the screen is small, so don’t expect to enjoy full-length movies on it. It’s better for quick glances or short clips.
Features
1. Video Calls
One of the main selling points of the Echo Spot is its ability to make video calls. You can use it to call other Echo Spot or Echo Show devices, or even the Alexa app on smartphones. This can be a useful feature for staying in touch with friends or family. The camera quality is decent for its size, but it’s not as sharp as you would find on a smartphone or dedicated webcam.
2. Smart Home Hub
If you have smart home devices like lights, thermostats, or security cameras, you can control them through the Echo Spot. You can ask Alexa to turn the lights on, adjust the temperature, or show you the feed from a security camera. Having the screen makes it easier to interact with these devices since you can see what’s happening without needing to look at your phone.
3. Music and Video Streaming
The Echo Spot can stream music from services like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Pandora. While the sound quality is good for such a small device, it’s not as rich as what you’d get from larger speakers like the Echo Studio or even the Echo Dot with an external speaker. You can also watch video clips from Amazon Prime Video or news briefings, but due to the small screen size, it’s not ideal for watching longer videos.
4. Alarm Clock Features
Given its size and design, the Echo Spot fits naturally as a smart alarm clock. You can set alarms with your voice or use the touchscreen. The screen will also show the time, which you can customize with different clock faces. When the alarm goes off, you can simply tell Alexa to snooze or stop it. It’s a handy feature for those who don’t want to fumble with buttons first thing in the morning.
5. Privacy Concerns
Like other Alexa-enabled devices, the Echo Spot is always listening for the “Alexa” wake word. Some people may feel uneasy about having a camera and microphone in their bedroom. However, Amazon has included a physical button to turn off both the camera and microphone for added privacy.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Compact Design: Its small size makes it perfect for nightstands, desks, or small spaces.
- Screen Adds Versatility: The screen enhances many Alexa features, such as weather updates and video calls.
- Smart Home Integration: The Echo Spot can control smart home devices, making it a useful hub for your home.
- Video Calls: The ability to make video calls is a handy feature, especially for family communication.
- Customizable Clock Faces: You can customize the display to show different clock faces, which adds a personal touch to the device.
Cons:
- Small Screen: While the screen is useful for quick glances, it’s not ideal for watching videos or doing anything that requires detailed visuals.
- Sound Quality: The speaker is good for casual listening, but it doesn’t deliver the rich sound you’d get from larger Echo devices or dedicated speakers.
- Price: At launch, the Echo Spot was priced higher than the Echo Dot. Some people may find it expensive for what it offers, especially since larger Echo devices are similarly priced.
- Privacy Concerns: The built-in camera and microphone may make some people uncomfortable, especially if placed in the bedroom.
Verdict
The Echo Spot is a great device for those looking to add Alexa to smaller spaces like bedrooms or offices. Its small size and versatile screen make it more than just a smart speaker. The ability to make video calls, control smart home devices, and use it as an alarm clock are all great features. However, the small screen size limits its usefulness for watching videos, and the sound quality isn’t as rich as other Echo devices.
If you’re already invested in Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem and want a smart speaker with a screen, the Echo Spot is worth considering. However, if you’re mainly looking for a smart speaker with great sound, the Echo Dot or Echo Plus might be better choices.
In conclusion, Amazon’s Echo Spot is a well-designed device that brings a lot of smart features into a compact package. It’s perfect for those who want the convenience of Alexa in their bedroom or small spaces. However, its high price and privacy concerns might make some users hesitate. Overall, it’s a good device for the right user, but not without its flaws.
