What are the precise variations?

• Amazon

  Amazon Echo Dot (fifth Gen)

  Editor’s Selection

  The sound high quality is healthier than it ever has been, with the identical capabilities as its larger, dearer siblings. It is the one to decide on.

  Execs

  • Improved sound
  • Temperature sensor
  • All of the enjoyable of Alexa

• 

  Amazon

  Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen)

  A less expensive different

  The older speaker affords a lot the identical expertise and Alexa is simply as succesful – however there are fewer options and it does not sound nearly as good.

  Execs

  • All the abilities of Alexa
  • 3.5mm connection
  • Might need extra reductions

The Echo Dot is one in all Amazon’s hottest gadgets and it is simple to see why. The lovable little speaker offers you all the abilities of Alexa, whereas being compact sufficient and reasonably priced sufficient to position in nearly any room of the home.

Launched initially in 2020, the spherical Echo Dot was up to date in 2022, taking it from 4th to fifth era. Apparently, the Echo Dot is now a era forward of the bigger Echo, which suggests to us that there is better demand for the smaller speaker.

However with what appears to be like like a superficial replace, there’s extra that you must learn about, so we’re working a full comparability so you may see precisely what the variations are and allow you to determine whether or not to seize that Echo Dot 4th Gen, or gun for the 5th Gen Echo Dot instead.

Worth and specs

The Echo Dot (4th Gen) launched in 2020 at a price of $50, earlier than being up to date by the Echo Dot (5th Gen) at same price of $50. Amazon gadgets fluctuate in value rather a lot, nonetheless, by way of numerous gross sales like Prime Day and Black Friday, so it is usually obtainable for cheaper. It is also one in all Amazon’s hottest gadgets. It is broadly obtainable by way of retailers, however you would possibly discover that the Echo Dot 4th Gen is now more durable to search out, as a result of it is older.

Subsequent you will discover the specs, so you may rapidly look and see what the variations are.

• 	Amazon Echo Dot (fifth Gen)	Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen)
  Dimensions	100 x 100 x 89mm, 340g	100 x 100 x 89mm, 328g
  Woofer Dimension	1.73in	1.6in
  Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Matter	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm, Matter
  Others	Temperature sensor, Accelerometer	None

Design and construct

The design of those audio system is just about the identical, with equivalent dimensions, however you will discover that the Echo Dot fifth Gen is heavier, little question as a result of it is obtained extra tech inside. That weight does not make a distinction, as it’ll simply be sitting on a shelf in your house.

Whereas each are fabric-covered spheres with the Alexa mild ring across the base of the machine and 4 buttons for management on the highest, there’s really a distinction across the again of the machine. Sure, there’s a front and back to those audio system, with the plastic of the bottom elevating up the again half. Right here you will discover that the brand new mannequin solely has an influence connection, whereas the 4th Gen has a 3.5mm audio output as nicely.

In any other case, each audio system can be found in Charcoal and Glacier White colors, however the Echo Dot fifth Gen provides a brand new Deep Sea Blue possibility. Each are additionally available as the Echo Dot with Clock too, with the newer machine providing a extra detailed show. So visually, there’s not lots of distinction.

Sound high quality

The large change is within the audio high quality that it’s going to produce. The speaker inside is definitely totally different, with the fifth Gen Echo Dot having a barely bigger driver. It is a single-speaker system and it has all the time sounded good with that 1.6-inch driver, however now you will get higher audio efficiency from it.

There’s now a 1.73-inch driver and as we present in our assessment of the most recent Echo Dot, the brand new speaker ends in richer audio, for a greater expertise total.

Pocket-lint

Options and {hardware}

Each of those gadgets are hooked into Alexa, Amazon’s good assistant. That service is common, so you’ll entry the identical providers and data, or get it to work together along with your good dwelling in the identical methods. In each instances, that is managed by the Alexa app in your telephone.

However the fifth Gen Echo Dot has further sensors. This features a temperature sensor, which can be capable to provide the temperature for the room the Echo Dot is in – mirroring the characteristic on a number of the bigger Echo gadgets. That temperature sensor will also be hooked as much as Alexa Routines, so it might act autonomously, for instance turning on the fan if the room will get to a sure temperature, or turning off the heating, for instance.

The opposite addition is the accelerometer. This permits faucet interactions past the buttons on the highest of the machine. You’ll faucet to snooze an alarm or faucet to pause music for instance. The Echo Dot 4-gen lacks these further sensors, so lacks these features. Each will be stereo paired, added to teams and supply all the opposite options of Alexa, comparable to Alexa Calling.

Each of those gadgets can develop into a part of an Eero network (when you’ve got one in your house) extending that community for higher connectivity, whereas each are additionally Matter suitable too.

Conclusions

The variations between these two audio system is minor – however the fifth Gen Echo Dot opens up a spread of prospects by way of these new sensors that the 4-gen Echo Dot does not supply. These issues are good to have, however most individuals purchase the Echo Dot to make use of as a wise speaker – and apart from a slight raise in sound, the expertise right here goes to be very related.

Amazon Echo Dot (fifth Gen)

Editor’s Selection

The sound high quality is healthier than it ever has been, with the identical capabilities as its larger, dearer siblings.

It is arduous to suggest the older speaker. The newer Echo Dot sounds higher and has that helpful temperature sensor, so is ready to do extra. You would possibly discover that the older Echo Dot is not obtainable too, so it is a simple advice for the Echo Dot fifth Gen.