Ever Trend Zone Which is the best mini Alexa speaker for you?
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Amazon has several Echo devices, from Echo Pop and Echo Spot (2nd generation), to Echo Dot, Echo Show displays, and Echo Hub. Therefore, choosing the right one for your home is not an easy task. The Echo Dot has long been heralded as one of the most affordable Alexa speakers available and perfect for smaller bedrooms, hallways, or offices.
Then the Echo Pop was introduced, offering several of the same standard features as the Dot, but at a cheaper price and in more interesting color offerings. However, it’s missing a couple of features from the Dot and that’s what we dive into here.
If you’re trying to decide between Echo Dot and Echo Pop, we’ve got you covered. We also have a feature covering Echo Pop vs Echo Spot, and a feature on Echo Dot vs Echo Spot, as that’s also an option to consider. However, let’s get back to what we’re talking about here. Here’s how the Echo Dot and Echo Pop compare and what the differences are between basic Alexa speakers.
Read more about the difference between Echo devices: Best Amazon Echo: Which Echo speaker or display is right for you?
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: price
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation) launched in 2022 and costs $49.99/£54.99. Meanwhile, the Echo Pop was released in 2023 and costs $39.99/£44.99, so there’s not a huge price difference between these two devices. Just for reference, the Echo Spot (2nd generation) costs $79.99 / £79.99, making it slightly more expensive than both options.
As you’d expect, you can find the Echo Dot and Echo Pop on Amazon and in a selection of countries, including the US and UK.
The most important thing to remember, as with all Amazon devices, is that these prices are always drastically reduced during Prime Day, Black Friday, and holidays, so keep an eye on Amazon for discounts.
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: Design
The Echo Dot and Echo Pop may be small Alexa speakers, but they have pretty clear design distinctions that set them apart from each other. The Echo Dot offers a spherical form factor, while the Echo Pop has what Amazon calls a hemisphere design thanks to its flat front and domed back.
Both speakers have LEDs to indicate activity, but you’ll find them in different places. The Echo Dot features an illuminated ring surrounding its base, while the Echo Pop has a small illuminated section on top when in use.
Otherwise, both speakers respond to the wake word “Alexa”, as you’d expect, and also feature volume controls and microphone mute buttons.
However, the Amazon Echo Dot offers an additional button compared to the Echo Pop, known as the Echo button. This button enables a number of useful functions, including activating Alexa without saying your name, managing incoming calls, and programming compatible smart home devices.
In terms of color options, there are some notable differences here as well. The Echo Dot comes in Charcoal, Glacier White, and Deep Sea Blue.
The Echo Pop opts for a more vibrant approach with Lavender Bloom, Midnight Teal, Classic Gray and White all options. However, it doesn’t stop there, as the Echo Pop also offers silicone cases in blue, red, orange, grey, lilac, purple and glow-in-the-dark variants, making it perfect for the little ones in the house. or to add a special touch. of color to the living room.
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: sound quality
The Echo Dot (5th generation) packs a punch with a 1.73-inch driver under the hood, generating decent bass despite its compact size. Its 360-degree design allows it to disperse sound evenly and adapts well to various room configurations.
On the contrary, the Echo Pop houses a larger 1.95-inch speaker inside, although size does not always matter. However, the Echo Pop is optimized for small spaces with forward-facing sound projection and is perfect for smaller areas or when you just want to put on a track while you’re making dinner, rather than entertaining. Place the Pop in a corner, on a shelf, or on a nightstand and it will serve you well, but expect it to pump enough for a crowded room and you’ll be disappointed.
So, for those who prioritize sound quality, the Echo Dot reigns supreme, delivering richer, more immersive audio that fills the room.
The Echo Pop is better suited to quieter environments and solo listening experiences, as it lacks the room-filling ability of its counterpart, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a place in the home, it just depends on what you’re into. searching. from your Alexa mini speaker.
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: Alexa and smart home features
While their designs and sound architecture may be different, both the Amazon Echo Pop and Echo Dot are powered by the same processor: the AZ2 Neural Edge processor. That means you get pretty much the same experience from both when it comes to Alexa response times and accuracy in its voice recognition. You also get pretty much the same features on both, whether you’re asking about the weather or demanding they turn off the lights, as they both use Alexa’s universal capabilities.
The other feature that both the Echo Pop and Echo Dot offer is the ability to act as extenders for those using Amazon’s Eero mesh network. Of course, this is more of a niche feature for now, but if you’re using the Eero, Echo Pop or Echo Dot can offer an extra 1,000 square feet of coverage, which is no small feat.
However, as with the design and sound, there are some additional differences in terms of features. After all, not all Echo speakers are created equal.
The Echo Dot incorporates a temperature sensor and accelerometer, allowing for temperature-based automations and room temperature reporting. It can also be used to disable alarms and serves as a Zigbee hub, making it easy to directly control compatible smart home devices without the need for a central hub.
The Echo Pop doesn’t have these features, so it’s a little less capable overall, but that’s reflected in its price.
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: verdict
Echo Pop and Echo Dot are small Alexa speakers, and with them come the extensive capabilities offered by Amazon’s smart assistant.
The Echo Pop is more interesting in terms of its color offering and is perfect for a child’s bedroom, for example, offering good sound and features in its small package at an affordable price.
The Echo Dot is more capable, not only in terms of sound performance, but also features. It has additional sensors on board and the additional echo control button, which adds a couple more strings to its bow.
Neither will be able to stream music in a crowded room (look at the Echo Studio for that), but both will give you Alexa capabilities in a small, compact form factor, and the Echo Dot offers a couple of extras.
Frequently asked questions
Technically, the Dot is the better device, at least on paper.
The Echo Pop was launched in 2023, the Echo Dot (5th generation) was launched in 2022.
Yes, Alexa is on board the Echo Pop.
