Amazon has cornered the market on cheap and easy-to-use good house units with its Echo lineup. Two of its tiniest (but nonetheless feature-packed) choices are the Echo Dot, now on its fifth technology, and the Echo Pop, which debuted in 2023. Each Alexa good audio system value underneath $50 and usually go on sale throughout Prime Day occasions. Talking of which, Amazon Prime Day 2025 is subsequent up, and we predict to see each units obtain worthwhile reductions when the occasion takes place from July 8 by way of 11.
Whereas the 2 good audio system are remarkably related, there are some key variations you need to know earlier than you decide one. Right here’s how the Echo Dot (fifth gen) and the Echo Pop examine, based mostly on my first-hand insights utilizing them each.
Your Amazon Echo will begin reporting to Amazon on March 28
Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Specs
Credit score: Chart: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable
Design: We like colour choices
The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop are practically the identical dimension, however whereas the Echo Dot is spherical, the Echo Pop has a flat face. It principally appears like a cross-section of the Dot.
The Echo Dot (left) and Echo Pop (proper) — as you possibly can see, the Dot has been graced by toddler spaghetti fingers.
Credit score: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable
The Echo Dot additionally is available in three pretty muted colours (grey, white, and blue), however the Echo Pop is offered in some, effectively, poppier colours (lavender and teal along with grey and white).
Total, I like the looks of the Echo Pop slightly higher. The brighter colours add a cute splash of colour to a nook shelf. The Pop can function a extra discreet Alexa assistant than the Echo Dot (which is pretty universally acknowledged as a sensible house gadget).
Each have a contemporary, modern look that may simply complement or mix into your house decor.
Winner: Echo Pop
Setup and ease of use
Amazon has made organising these units extraordinarily simple. You’ll want the Alexa app in your cellphone, and it walks you thru setup step-by-step. The app can be the place you’ll join different apps like Spotify or Audible to stream them in your Echo units utilizing Alexa voice instructions.
Echo vs. Echo Dot: Which Amazon system must you purchase?
The units themselves are additionally very simple. The bodily buttons on them let you mute and unmute the microphone and modify the amount. The whole lot else is completed by way of voice instructions or by way of the Alexa app. I had no issues organising both system and each had been extremely aware of my “Hey, Alexa’s.”
Winner: Tie
Sound high quality is sort of an identical
Amazon describes the Echo Pop’s sound as a “full sound” that’s a superb match for bedrooms and small areas and the Echo Dot’s sound as a “larger vibrant sound” for any room.
In my side-by-side comparisons of the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop, I couldn’t detect a distinction in sound high quality between the 2 units. Each units had been wonderful for enjoying background music in my workplace or listening to podcasts whereas doing home tasks, offering fuller, clearer sound and elevated quantity in comparison with my smartphone.
The Echo Pop does have an ever-so-slightly bigger speaker. Nonetheless, the Dot’s spherical form can assist it to fill an area with sound irrespective of the place it’s positioned.
Winner: Echo Dot
Alexa integration and good house connectivity
Each the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop combine with Alexa by way of the Amazon Alexa app. You should use Alexa to ask questions, verify the climate, set timers and alarms, and open linked apps (like music or streaming apps together with Spotify, Pandora, Audible, and Amazon Music).
Personally, I’ve at all times discovered Alexa units most helpful within the workplace and within the kitchen. They supply a hands-free, screen-free technique to set timers (for productiveness or pizza) or to stream audio. A centrally-located Echo system can be an effective way to release area in your mind. I’ve used Alexa to remind me to water my crops, put birthday playing cards within the mail, and verify the water stage within the pool at common intervals when filling it up for the season.
Nonetheless, the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop right here in two key methods: temperature sensing and movement detection. So your Echo Dot can execute Alexa Routines that contain temperature or movement, whereas the Echo Pop can’t. Some examples:
Winner: Echo Dot
Contemplating further options
The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop can each function WiFi extenders when you’ve got an present Amazon Eero community, including as much as 1,000 sq. toes of further WiFi protection.
Nonetheless, as soon as once more the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop by way of further options. As talked about above, the Dot comes outfitted with movement and temperature detection capabilities.
Winner: Echo Dot
Our winner: Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop
The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop are extra related than they’re totally different. The Echo Pop is about $10 cheaper and slightly bit cuter (and out there in additional enjoyable colours). Nonetheless, it lacks the movement detection and temperature sensing that might enable it to execute among the most useful and sensible Alexa instructions and routines.
If you happen to’re simply in search of an easy-to-use speaker to play music or set alarms in your house, the Echo Pop is a superb selection. For a extra useful good house assistant, pay the additional $10 and buy the Echo Dot.
