Echo vs. Echo Dot: What's the difference?

It is becoming more and more the norm. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of voice recognition assistants and connected devices to make our busy lives more transparent. With a few chat commands, we do not need to lift a finger to listen to music, stream content, turn off lights, or pick up the phone to call family members. With these advanced products, we can eliminate stress from the tasks of everyday life and have the time to live activities that we really like.

However, with this technological boom, it can be difficult to move your home from "basic" to "smart home". First of all, there is all the convenience factor, since some gadgets may be too complicated to use or require advanced Wi-Fi to work. In addition, smart lifestyles are not always expensive, as you will probably lose a lot of money to access hands – free control, voice recognition and other advanced features. Seriously, who has the budget to replicate the high tech pavement of Disney Smart home movie?

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Establishing a friendly home is not always easy, but there is hope. are an excellent start, as they are affordable, require minimal effort to operate, and help you perform small tasks at home. They are pushing voice recognition technology to the next level by playing music, looking for breathtaking movies, reading news and adjusting room settings. They will do the work for you so that you can relax and take care of things that really matter without interruptions.

There are many smart speakers available for your smart living needs. Amazon, a recognized technology leader, has been evolving in space for some time. The company is constantly rethinking how to add technology to people's daily activities through developments such as its virtual voice assistant that responds to verbal demands.

Amazon currently offers a robust range of smart speakers, including the and the. The echo received a small upgrade earlier this year, while the latest version of Dot Echo debuted last month. Unlike other smart speakers, the echo offers crisp sound quality, multi-room music, speech recognition technology and other Alexa features. Echo Dot, a popular voice-activated speaker, offers similar benefits at home, such as speech recognition and Alexa-compatible features, with the difference that it has a compact form ideal for compact living spaces.

Even though the two smart speakers share the same goal: to make intelligent life less tedious, they both offer different benefits for convenience and hands-free control.

Ready to give your home all that technology brings you? You have arrived at the right place. That's what you need to know if you decide to choose between Echo and Echo Dot.

The basics

Echo

Play your favorite beats and make sure that all #smartlivinggoals goals happen with the. This speaker is not just your party companion. It's a smart speaker with tangible benefits, including high-quality sound, voice recognition technology and Alexa for hands-free control.

The configuration of the echo is transparent and you can use it in a few minutes. First, download the Alexa app and log in. Connect the supplied AC adapter to the Echo, then plug the Echo into a wall outlet. The light ring of the echo will turn blue if it is lit, then orange when Alexa greets you. Then connect the Echo to your home Wi-Fi network. To begin, simply say "wake up" and the Echo will answer your request. (For example, say "Alexa, play Red Hot Chili Peppers" or "Alexa, call mom.") Echo connects to the Alexa Voice service so you can listen to music, make phone calls, or control from other smart devices with simple voice. orders.

The Echo kit comes with an Amazon Echo, AC adapter / cable, quick start guide, Things To Try card and an Echo decorative shell.

Echo point

Smart speakers can go beyond the basics and move to a higher level of intelligent living. This device offers many practical benefits at an affordable price. You can listen to songs from your favorite streaming music services, make phone calls to loved ones, get help for home reminders, and use voice control for other smart devices at home. .

The installation is also a child's play with the point of echo. Start by plugging it into a wall outlet and open the Alexa app to start the setup. (You must first download the Alexa app on your smartphone.) Once you have opened the app, select "Devices" and then select the "+" icon. Follow the instructions to configure the echo point by clicking "Add Device" and then "Amazon Echo" when it asks you what type of device you are configuring. When this is done, you can start using Echo Dot for your smart home needs.

When you buy Echo Dot, you get an Echo Dot, a 15 watt AC adapter and a quick start guide.

Smart life features

Echo

Would not it be great to control the tasks with your voice? Well, Amazon makes it a reality with the smart speaker that connects to the Alexa Voice service to make your life easier. Ask Alexa to help you play music, make phone calls, set timers and do other small chores at home. Advanced sound technology allows the echo to respond immediately and recognize your voice.

Quick answer: Beam training technology, noise cancellation and seven microphones will allow echo to hear you nearby. Just say "wake up" and ask questions such as "Alexa, find a Pandora playlist" or "Alexa, call dad" for immediate assistance.

Beats master: Of course, the echo can play music, but it's not your typical smart speaker. Its Dolby processing offers excellent bass response, crisp vocals and 360-degree omnidirectional sound, allowing you to hear your favorite songs without choking.

Playing music inside: You can play music from your favorite music streaming services, including Amazon Music, Pandora, and Spotify, for customizable listening. And that's not all. There is a multi-room music feature where you can tell Alexa to play on other Amazon Echo devices at home. You can hear techo in the bathroom, jazz in the kitchen and country in the living room at the same time.

Hands-free communication: if you need to send a message or call your loved ones, the Echo will answer you. You can use Alexa to communicate with your loved ones by phone or SMS on the echo. So you will not have to grab your smartphone. In addition, Alexa can also make domestic announcements on Amazon Echo devices at home so your family can know if the dinner is ready or if guests arrive. Use the Drop In feature to connect to other Amazon Echo devices and you're ready to go.

Control of smart devices: If you have other smart devices running with Alexa, you can easily control them with Echo. Just ask Alexa to turn down the light, set the room temperature, or find content on your HDTV when you pair it to an Amazon streaming media player. This feature is very useful if you have smart bulbs, thermostats and HDTVs at home. You do not press any buttons because you can use your voice to create the ultimate smart home environment.

Echo point

Making smart lifestyle change is not always economical, but it is affordable and offers great voice control features. You can listen to your favorite tunes, receive reminders, communicate with loved ones and monitor smart devices with this powerful little device.

Companion Listening: We have all tried the classic speaker setup, which usually involves too many plugs and cables. Echo Dot offers the reverse experience for all your listening needs. You can use your voice to play music through streaming services, including Amazon Music, Pandora, and Spotify. In addition, you can hear Audible and other forms of media with Echo Dot. Ask Alexa to find the perfect playlist or podcast. You'll have something to listen to when cooking in the kitchen, sitting on the couch or practicing in your living room.

Help with the task: There are times when we would like to have a personal assistant for small things, like making lists and calendars. Echo Dot can help you make your daily routine more transparent with voice control. You can use your voice to request reminders, check the weather and search for local restaurants.

Voice conversation: Like Echo, Echo Dot allows you to send messages, make phone calls and use other Echo devices such as intercoms. Enjoy hands-free communication with your loved ones and make announcements via Drop In so that everyone is in touch at home.

Monitor your smart home environment: Echo Dot also offers the ability to monitor smart devices at home. If you have Alexa-compatible light bulbs, thermostats or media players, you can control their activity with Echo Dot. Just talk to Alexa in the room of your choice and you can easily monitor lighting, temperature and more with verbal commands.

Price

Echo

At $ 80, the price is moderate, but it has benefits that go beyond other smart speakers. With its high-tech audio features, including Dolby processing, excellent bass response and clear vocals, you'll be able to enjoy your favorite beats at the right volume. When entertaining guests, you can use the Multi-Room Music feature to turn your pad into a dancefloor. In addition to playing music, the echo allows you to control smart devices and communicate with your loved ones via voice control.

For this price, you'll get an Amazon Echo, a power adapter / cable, a quick start guide, a Things To Try card and an Echo decorative shell. You can buy Echo on Amazon.

The Echo comes with a one – year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. If you want additional protection, you can benefit from a two or three year extended warranty separately from Amazon.

Echo point

For those with a technology budget, offer all the benefits of smart speakers at a fraction of the price. At $ 50, it is more affordable than other Amazon Echo devices and still has desirable features such as advanced voice recognition, smart device control, and support for small tasks via Alexa. It does not have the same sound technology as Echo, but you can still hear your beats, no matter where you are in your home.

Each Echo Dot set includes an Echo Dot, a 15-watt AC adapter, and a quick start guide. You can buy Echo Point on Amazon, Best Buy and Target.

Unlike Echo, Echo Dot is only covered by a 90-day limited warranty. This applies to defects in materials and workmanship and you may contact Amazon Customer Service for assistance. Even though the Echo Dot warranty period is shorter, you can also purchase an optional extra warranty of one, two or three years for an additional fee.

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Echo

An Amazon customer says:

"I've had this echo refurbished for about a month. I was hesitant to make the purchase, but after having had it for a while, I love it! Just for the music, it changes the deal. Music Unlimited ($ 4 / month) with a free trial month is definitely the way to go. I ask her to play whatever artist, genre or playlist I want, and she does it. I have not seen him yet unable to find a song. We also bought 4 LIFX twilight intelligent light bulbs at dawn for the living room and made some predefined "scenes" with different temperatures and brightness, and they are great. This can really change the mood!

, another Amazon critic, said:

"The sound quality is exceptional, very rich in deep sound quality of the speaker. Fills the room extremely well. Originally, I had the Dot and the sound quality was nowhere near this level. I love all the features, high recommended. I have walnut finish, it blends with the decor and does not stand out. If you like good sound in a system that takes up so little room, it's for you! "

Echo point

, Best Buy customer, writes:

"I would say that I was the first person to whom I bought the third generation of Amazon Echo Dot in [the] The Woodland Hills store is working properly and it's easy to connect to the smart home system, just update the firmware as soon as you connect to your home Wi-Fi. "

And another reviewer of Best Buy said:

"The sound quality is so much better than previous generations, not an exceptional audio quality, but certainly better. Perfect for a bedside table, a kitchen counter or a small room. "

So which one should you choose?

Enhance your intelligent living environment with Amazon, a smart speaker delivering high quality sound, playing music in your rooms, allowing you to control your hands free and use your voice to communicate with your loved ones. Another advantage of this device is that it is customizable. You can choose a decorative shell to complete the ambiance of your decor. Even though it costs $ 80, the echo offers all the benefits of smart speakers and more for a high-tech home. Plus, it works with other Amazon Echo devices for ultimate sound setup whenever you need it.

If you do not want to spend a lot of money on a smart speaker, this is a great choice of device. At just $ 50, it's a benefit compared to other devices connected to Amazon and offers most of the same benefits for smart speakers. With Echo Dot, you can use your voice to listen to music, engage in a hands-free conversation with loved ones, get help with small household chores, and monitor other smart devices at home. It does not have the same sound technology as Echo, but you can still listen to your favorite melodies in your main living spaces.