The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is an impressive upgrade in the Echo lineup, blending smart home capabilities with improved sound quality and new features. Priced affordably at $49.99, this compact speaker offers excellent value for those looking to integrate voice control into their smart home or enjoy music with Alexa’s assistance.
Design and Features
The Echo Dot (5th Gen) retains the spherical design introduced in the 4th generation but adds a few tweaks to enhance usability. It’s small, lightweight, and available in multiple colors (charcoal, deep sea blue, and glacier white) that can easily blend into any room. One notable feature is the new temperature sensor, allowing the device to adjust home routines based on room temperature—perfect for automating smart home setups.
Additionally, the tap-to-control feature is new in this generation. You can tap the top of the Echo Dot to pause music, dismiss alarms, or end phone calls, providing tactile feedback that complements voice commands. Alexa, the built-in assistant, remains just as responsive and helpful, controlling everything from smart lights to playing your favorite music across multiple streaming services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Sound Quality
For a small speaker, the Echo Dot (5th Gen) provides a surprisingly deeper bass and clearer vocals compared to its predecessors. Equipped with a 44mm front-firing speaker, it delivers vibrant sound in small to medium rooms, making it ideal for casual listening. However, while the sound is more robust than previous models, it still struggles with clarity at high volumes, particularly in bass-heavy tracks.
Smart Home Integration
The Echo Dot remains a top choice for smart home enthusiasts. With Alexa, it can control compatible devices, set up routines, and even integrate with Fire TV for a more immersive home theater experience. Moreover, for U.S. users, the Echo Dot (5th Gen) also doubles as an Eero Wi-Fi extender, making it easier to expand your network coverage.
Pros:
- Improved sound quality with clearer vocals and deeper bass.
- Temperature sensor for enhanced smart home automation.
- Tap-to-control feature for quick interactions without voice commands.
- Affordable price for the features offered.
Cons:
- Bass clarity can become muddy at higher volumes.
- No 3.5mm audio jack, so it can’t be connected to larger speaker systems directly.
- Volume limitations in larger spaces.
Overall Rating: 8.8/10
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is an excellent budget-friendly option for anyone looking to dip their toes into smart home automation or enhance their Alexa experience. Its improved sound and new features make it a worthy upgrade, though audiophiles might find it lacking in bass clarity at higher volumes.