Amazon Echo Spot Review: The Last Alarm Clock You Will Need

Seven years have handed because the first Echo Spot from Amazon. In 2024, the e-commerce large relaunched it and offered it as a compact speaker with a small show—and with out a digital camera. Is the Amazon Echo Spot (2024) greater than only a sensible alarm clock? We discover out for you on this take a look at.

Abstract
Purchase

Good

Pleasantly easy design
Small and compact
Very straightforward to arrange
First rate sound for the dimensions

Dangerous

Costly
Alarm clock settings solely within the app

Amazon Echo Spot (2024): All offers

Abstract and buy

Amazon offered the second-generation Echo Spot in July. The sensible clock radio with Alexa on board is obtainable at a beneficial retail worth of $79.99. In my view, the vary of capabilities is just too restricted for the value, so remember to hold an eye fixed out for gives—for instance, the gadget was accessible for simply $45 for the launch and Prime Day, which I believe is an especially honest worth.

What can the brand new version of the Echo Spot do? It’s compact, can after all be operated by voice, and has a small however enticing show with good animations. Logically, this isn’t supposed for watching YouTube however primarily reveals the time, the climate and the music at the moment enjoying. You may also management your sensible dwelling through Alexa/voice and the ultrasonic sensor and arrange automations, however the gadget doesn’t change a sensible dwelling hub.

When you can stay with the truth that you may configure the alarm clock through voice or within the app and never on the gadget itself, and may wait till a suggestion of round $50 is accessible, you are welcome to go for it. On this case, you continue to have the selection: the Echo Spot is accessible in black, blue, and white.

Design and show

The Amazon Echo Spot (2024) solely has a small 2.83-inch show and is subsequently not supposed for YouTube or Netflix. The show is completely suited to those different duties, which we will additionally say for the general interesting and compact design.

Professionals:

Lovely, easy design.
Show with properly carried out animations and evening mode.
No digital camera.

Cons:

Night time mode doesn’t work with voice instructions.

Amazon Echo Spot displaying the time on its small display. — Do not be fooled: The show is smaller than the tinted, crescent-shaped glass would have us consider. / © nextpit

At 11.3 x 10.3 x 11.1 cm, the brand new Echo Spot is kind of comparable in form to the fifth-generation Echo Spot we examined a number of months again, however slightly bigger. Nevertheless, it’s compact sufficient for the bedside cupboard and that’s precisely the place the gadget belongs. We’re subsequently coping with a sort of hemisphere with a flat entrance. You may clearly see the division of duties within the image above: slightly greater than the higher half is devoted to the show, the decrease half to the 44.5 mm speaker.

Keep in mind that though the crescent-shaped glass appears nice, it’s considerably bigger than the precise show, which has a display screen diagonal of two.83 inches. There are three controls on the highest: Within the center is the change with which you turn the microphones on or off, which is framed by the “quantity up” and “quantity down” buttons – so previous Echo palms will discover their means round immediately.

When you miss one thing like alarm clock buttons: Sure, I miss them too, we’ll discuss them later. By way of connectivity, there is just one connection, which is logically for the 15 W energy provide unit that’s included within the field.

The Spot has a slimmed-down show in comparison with the unique Spot. Seems like a downgrade, however I do not suppose it truly is one. The show with its 240 x 320 pixels does not have video assist for YouTube or different video apps, and concentrates on rudimentary shows such because the time, songs being performed, or the climate.

There’s additionally not a built-in digital camera. I additionally suppose that is factor—no person must see me mendacity in mattress within the bed room. And I watch video content material on every kind of shows, however definitely not on the lower than three-inch panel of my alarm clock!

The presentation on the show is nice, you may have numerous coloration schemes and good animations at your disposal—no person actually misses OLED right here. There’s only one factor concerning the show that annoys me: in the event you change to the evening mode, the gadget dims the show down pleasantly—nevertheless it lights up once more at full energy as quickly as you give a voice command, equivalent to beginning a podcast.

Lastly, a phrase on sustainability: In keeping with Amazon, the gadget is comprised of 36% recycled supplies.

Setup and operation

The Echo Spot is fast to arrange and is basically managed by voice or the Alexa app. This additionally applies to the alarm operate, the place a setting choice on the gadget itself would have been fascinating.

Professionals:

Fast, uncomplicated setup.
Intuitive operation.
Sufficiently good sound.
Cool snooze operate through tapping the gadget.

Cons:

No alarm settings on the gadget.
No temperature sensor.

For a tech journalist, I’ve a comparatively small expertise in establishing new sensible dwelling elements. This isn’t an issue with the Echo Spot, as setting it up is extremely easy. Merely plug it in and both scan the QR code on the show or begin the Alexa app instantly in your smartphone. After connecting to the Wi-Fi, merely observe the displayed steps and also you’re able to go.

Amazon Echo Spot 2024 viewed from the front. — Not a lot is displayed, however that is not crucial – the show is ideal as it’s. / © nextpit

There are a number of completely different designs accessible for the show – you may also select whether or not the climate is proven. As normal, you may after all ask Alexa for the climate forecast at any time, and the Spot responds in a short time to your instructions.

Amazon Alexa app screenshots — If you’d like extra in depth settings for the Echo Spot, you need to dive into the Alexa app. / © nextpit

You may also play music by voice enter, for which you need to briefly join your trusted streaming companion within the app first. The spot is subsequently able to the same old methods, so you may ask your new alarm clock to play a sure album, a sure band, or perhaps a particular playlist, for instance.

Talking of music: The sound is loud and ok for the bed room. So you may swap the playlist for a couple of minutes longer whilst you’re dozing off—or take heed to your favourite podcast whilst you go to sleep. Nevertheless, the sound wouldn’t be ok for me as a main music supply in the lounge.

Amazon Echo Spot viewed at an angle. — The speaker is completely satisfactory for the bed room, however would typically be too skinny for sound reinforcement. / © nextpit

Intensive alarm choices might be discovered within the Alexa app. Ought to the alarm repeat on sure days? What sound do you wish to be woken up with? You may outline this and far more there. What I miss: The choice to set the alarm on the gadget with out the app. You may solely flip off the alarm through the touchscreen or faucet the highest of the gadget for the snooze operate.

There are 4 choices on the contact show while you swipe down:

The home icon all the time takes you again to the beginning display screen.
When you faucet on the solar, you may manually configure the brightness of the panel.
Use the crescent moon to activate “Don’t disturb” mode.
Lastly, the cogwheel takes you to the settings. Nevertheless, these settings are far more rudimentary than within the Alexa app.

Due to the ultrasonic sensor, you may also configure the Spot in order that the sunshine is robotically switched on while you enter the room at a sure time, for instance – this will also be set within the app. Basically, you may work with routines on the sensible Amazon alarm clock in order that, for instance, the specified playlist is performed and the sunshine is switched on on the identical time after you get up.

The field helps Matter and Zigbee, is multi-room-capable with appropriate gadgets, however doesn’t change a fully-fledged sensible dwelling hub such because the Amazon Echo Hub (overview).

Drop-ins for appropriate gadgets additionally work with the Echo Spot, and you may also provoke calls by voice. What’s not included is a temperature sensor that robotically regulates the heating at a sure temperature. However as I stated, this gadget shouldn’t be designed to be a serious management heart for the sensible dwelling.

Amazon Echo Spot (2024) technical specs

Conclusion

Do you have to purchase this sensible alarm clock? I say “no” for one cause—the value is just too excessive for me. The Echo Spot does precisely what you’ll anticipate from a contemporary alarm clock: It wakes you up on time, switches on the sunshine and/or the specified playlist if you want.

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You may work with routines, the well-designed, useful show will not disturb you at evening and the speaker’s sound is completely satisfactory for the bed room. As with Echo gadgets and the Alexa app, you may make a variety of granular settings through the app, outline routines, and extra. Sadly, you may solely set the alarm clock through the app or by voice, not on the gadget itself.

Are you primarily thinking about listening to music or managing your personal sensible dwelling? Then it is higher to make use of an alternate. Happily, there are many Amazon Echo gadgets to select from.

Amazon Echo Spot viewed from the side. — This sensible alarm clock appears good in any bed room. / © nextpit

Visually, the Echo Spot can match the decor of any bed room, is pleasantly compact and I see the dearth of a digital camera as a function relatively than a bug. In different phrases: If the gadget wasn’t so costly, it might be virtually excellent! That is why I wish to give it a restricted suggestion to purchase: Get the Spot—however solely as soon as Amazon will get it again to $55, as a result of the Echo Spot is well value it. Keep in mind, the following Black Friday is simply across the nook!

Amazon Echo Spot (2024)