Amazon has also cornered the market on cheap and easy-to-use smart home devices Eco lineup. Its two smallest (yet feature-packed) offerings are the Echo Dot, now in its 5th generation, and Echo PopWhich started in 2023. Both Alexa smart speakers are priced under $50 and go on sale regularly in the meantime. President’s Day events
And while the two devices are remarkably similar, there are some key differences you should know before choosing one. Here’s how the Echo Dot (5th generation) and Echo Pop compare, based on my first-hand experience using them both.
Echo Dot vs Echo Pop: Specs
Credit: Chart: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable
Design: We love the color options
The Echo Dot and Echo Pop are roughly the same size, but while the Echo Dot is round, the Echo Pop has a flat face. It basically looks like a cross-section of a dot.
Echo Dot (left) and Echo Pop (right) — As you can see, the dot is drawn by little kids’ spaghetti fingers.
Credit: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable
The Echo Dot also comes in three fairly muted colors (grey, white and blue), but the Echo Pop is available in some, well, PopPear colors (lavender and teal in addition to gray and white).
Overall, I like the look of the Echo Pop a little better. Bright colors add a lovely splash of color to a corner shelf. Pop can serve as more insightful Alexa assistant than the Echo Dot (which is widely recognized as a smart home gadget).
Both have a modern, sleek look that can easily complement or blend into your home decor.
Winner: Echo Pop
Ease of setup and use
Amazon has made it very easy to set up these devices. You’ll need the Alexa app on your phone, and it’ll walk you through the setup step-by-step. The app is also where you’ll connect other apps like Spotify or Audible to stream them to your Echo devices using Alexa voice commands.
The instruments themselves are also very straightforward. Physical buttons on them allow you to mute and unmute the microphone and adjust the volume. Everything else is done through voice commands or the Alexa app. I had no problem setting up either device and both were very responsive to my “Hey, Alexa.”
Winner: Tie
The sound quality is almost the same
Amazon describes the Echo Pop’s sound as “full sound” that’s a good fit for bedrooms and small spaces and the Echo Dot’s sound as “big vibrant sound” for any room.
In my side-by-side comparisons of the Echo Dot and Echo Pop, I couldn’t find a difference in sound quality between the two devices. Both devices were great for playing background music in my office or listening to podcasts while doing housework, providing full, clear sound and enhanced sound compared to my smartphone.
The Echo Pop sometimes has a slightly larger speaker. However, the round shape of the dot can help it fill with sound no matter where it is placed.
Winner: Echo Dot
Alexa integration and smart home connectivity
Both the Echo Dot and Echo Pop integrate with Alexa through the Amazon Alexa app. You can use Alexa to ask questions, check the weather, set timers and alarms, and open connected apps (like music or streaming apps like Spotify, Pandora, Audible, and Amazon Music).
Personally, I’ve always found Alexa devices most convenient in the office and kitchen. They provide a hands-free, screen-free way to set timers (for productivity or pizza) or stream audio. A centrally-located Echo device is a great way to free up space in your brain. I’ve used Alexa to help me water my plants, put birthday cards in the mail, and check the water level in the pool at regular intervals while filling it for the season.
However, the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop here in two key ways: temperature sensing and motion detection. So your Echo Dot can run Alexa routines that include temperature or motion, while the Echo Pop can’t. Some examples:
Winner: Echo Dot
Considering the additional features
Both the Echo Dot and Echo Pop can act as WiFi extenders if you have an existing Amazon Eero network, adding up to 1,000 square feet of additional WiFi coverage.
However, once again the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop in terms of additional features. As mentioned above, the Dot is equipped with motion and temperature detection capabilities.
Winner: Echo Dot
