Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
The Echo Dot 3rd Generation is perhaps the most enticing way to bring Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant into your home. And if you like the idea of a smart assistant combined with a simple music speaker, it’s hard to argue against the Echo Dot.
The small, puck-shaped design remains but it has been jazzed-up and improved upon. Fabric replaces the hard exterior of the previous model and the controls on top of the device have had a makeover, too. It looks noticeably smarter as a result.
Once powered up, it’s simple to use the Amazon Alexa app and get it connected to your wi-fi network. The 3.5mm audio output and Bluetooth is about as much as you get for connectivity, but if you do want a bigger, better sound than the Echo Dot can deliver, then you can make a wired or wireless connection to another device.
Otherwise, it’s all about Alexa in terms of features. Alexa can still play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms and control compatible smart home devices, from TVS to home cinema amplifiers and speakers. And you can control Spotify and Tunein, as well as Amazon Music. Voice calls are a relatively new addition, while the number of Skills – devices that work with Alexa – are constantly growing and include a whole suite of products from Sonos to Domino’s Pizza and Uber.
What is new, is a new driver and a change to the microphone layout. There’s a 4cm driver here as opposed to 3cm on the previous model and Amazon claims it is 70 per cent louder as a result. There are fewer microphones, four rather than seven, but tweaks to the design aim to make performance every bit as strong.
The previous Echo Dot was already impressive in terms of hearing your commands, and we’re as pleased with the performance here. Even with music playing, a clear command will wake Alexa.
But the sound quality is arguably the most impressive upgrade here. Despite similar dimensions, the change to the driver has had a positive effect. It’s louder, but the lean, thin sound of the previous models has been replaced by actual bass notes, full-bodied voices and a smoother treble.
This means the Echo Dot works as a background music device for the kitchen or kids’ room, or for the occasional convenience. Alexa sounds more agreeable at all times: clear, loud and easy to understand and the Echo Dot remains a simple and effective smart speaker that’s easy to recommend.