Nobody saw it coming. While Apple and Google were busy trying to beat each other to the smart home with HomeKit and Nest, respectively, Amazon snuck in from nowhere with the Echo and its Alexa voice assistant and embarrassed them both.
When I reviewed it last year the Echo could only do a handful of things like play music, read the news, tell you the weather and set timers. Today, the Echo's a full-featured, voice-activated smart home hub thanks to all the third-party devices and services that can connect to it.
The Echo's success pushed Amazon to put Alexa in more devices and now she's available in the Fire TV, Fire TV Stick and two new devices: the Tap (read my review here) and Echo Dot.
Though I found the Tap's push-to-activate-Alexa design a wasted effort, the $90 Echo Dot (half as much as the Echo) and its hands-free Alexa voice commands is every bit as powerful and intuitive as it is with the Echo.
Resembling an oversized hockey puck, the Echo Dot is essentially an Echo without the 2.5-inch woofer, 2-inch tweeter and reflex port. The Echo Dot still has seven microphones arranged in an omnidirectional array so Alexa can hear you clearly from across the room, the same rotatable volume ring that glows blue when Alexa's activated and the same mute microphone and push-to-talk Alexa buttons on top.
The smaller size makes it easier to blend in with furniture compared to the taller Echo cylinder.
Smart home commander
Setting up the Echo Dot is no different from setting up the Echo. It's simple and quick. You download the Alexa app (iOS and Android) and it guides you through connecting to Wi-Fi and all of the various services (Spotify, Amazon Music, etc.). Even connecting smart home devices like the Philips Hue smart lights is pain free.
The first thing I noticed after setting up the Echo Dot is how hollow Alexa sounds, like she's sick or something. The built-in speaker sounds tinny and weak. For alarms and timers, the speaker will do, but you won't really want to listen to music through it.
But Alexa is still Alexa and saying "Alexa, play music" or "Alexa, turn on the lights" still feels like a sci-fi movie and never gets old. Alexa's fast to listen and obey. It's exactly the type of smart home hub you want.
Amazon's updating Alexa every week to be smarter and work with more services and devices. Like the Echo, the Echo Dot can control your smart home (turn on the lights, adjust the thermostat, etc.), call an Uber, order a pizza from Domino's, telling you how many calories you've burned on your Fitbit, read you a Kindle e-book and more. (I'm still getting used to the Domino's command, though. It feels unreal.)
Since I welcomed the Echo and Alexa into my home last fall, the device has become an integral part of my home life. Every morning, I roll out of bed and tell Alexa to turn on my Philips Hue smart lights in the bathroom, tell me the weather, check my calendar, and then play soothing jazz on Pandora -- all before I even make it to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. When I get home, I tell Alexa to turn on my smart lights, set timers when I'm cooking, and read me an audio book.
As powerful as the Echo's Alexa voice commands are, they're limited to a single room. If you want Alexa controls in another room, you needed to buy two Echos. With the Echo Dot's arrival, you can put this little guy in as many rooms as you want. But be careful with how you arrange them. If you have an Echo and Echo Dot that are too close in proximity, they'll both go off at the same time when you issue a command. The only workaround seems to be to name the Echo Dot "Echo" or "Amazon."
Bring your own speaker
The Echo Dot's puny speaker may not be great-sounding, but it has two other audio tricks that make up for it.
Using the 3.5mm audio output jack on the back, you can plug the Echo Dot into your own stereo system. It's great if you've got high-quality speakers. A 4-foot long 3.5mm audio cable is included in the box.
The cooler trick is Bluetooth speaker pairing. With this feature, your music is literally freed from the physical Echo Dot. You can have the Echo Dot tucked away on a bookshelf or in the kitchen and have a Bluetooth speaker pumping music from the other side of the room or in another room (Bluetooth range permitting).
I mentioned earlier that I like to turn on some jazz during my morning routine. With the Echo in my living room, the music always gets muffled from water coming out of the faucet or the shower. That problem is now gone. Now I've got the Echo Dot in the living room and clear Coltrane coming through an old waterproof Bluetooth speaker placed in the bathroom.
Alexa for every room
The Echo Dot, like the Echo, is a must-have if you intend to build a smart home and control everything with your voice, especially if you want to have a multi-room or multi-floor set-up.
It's small, easy to set up, and the Alexa voice commands are as responsive and intuitive as ever. I can't recommend it enough if you don't want to pay extra for the Echo's built-in speaker.
Now if only you didn't need to jump threw a bunch of hoops to get one. In typical Amazon fashion, the company's making it a pain to obtain. Only Amazon Prime Members who own an Echo or Fire TV can order one. (Just say "Alexa, order an Echo Dot.") How absurd is that? For non-Prime members or non-Echo owners, that means you'll need to sign up, buy an Echo or Fire TV and then you can order an Echo Dot. Or, have someone else who fits all those prerequisites buy one for you.
Oof. Amazon seriously needs to get its act together. Making the Echo Dot an exclusive for Echo or Fire TV owners seems dumb to me, and limits the device's potential install base.
Amazon Echo Dot
The Good
Half the price of a regular Echo
Fantastic voice commands
Works with your own wired or Bluetooth speakers
The Bad
Only available for Echo and Fire TV owner
The Bottom Line
The Amazon Echo Dot does everything the Echo does, but at half the price.