While Amazon does regularly update their Echo devices, it’s often hard to discern one version from the next these days as most are more revisions versus something totally new. But the other day Amazon released their latest Echo Spot that looks and operates a little differently than the others. You can see more in my latest review.
Unlike the more versatile Echo Show, the Echo Spot is being marketed primarily as a smart alarm clock. This device lacks a camera and has a more limited display functionality, but at the same time it’s not displaying ads to the user as a means of subsidizing its cost.
The design is reminiscent of other Echo devices, with a cut-off sphere look. It comes with a low resolution display that is mostly dedicated to showing the time and weather conditions. Unlike the Echo Show, it cannot display video footage from security cameras or provide the same depth of visual information. However, it will provide basic visual responses to certain queries, such as showing the weather or the current music track playing.
While it is capable of performing many of the same tasks as other Echo devices, the limited display means it might not be as suitable for tasks that require more visual information, like kitchen timers. The Echo Spot can also handle multiple countdown timers, although the small display makes it challenging to manage several at once.
Amazon offers some limited customization of the clock face, including choosing from a few different layouts for the clock display along with the base color it uses. The clock faces can be adjusted using the touch functionality of the display but it’s much easier to do it via the Alexa app.
Amazon also built in a night mode that dims the display and switches to a red color for the clock to avoid disrupting sleep. Night hours can be set within the app. The alarm clock functionality is also intuitive; you can set alarms by voice and snooze them with a simple tap on the top of the device. There are different alarm tones available, including some celebrity voices, which can add a fun element to waking up.
In terms of audio, the speaker on the Echo Spot is decent, offering a richer sound than the entry-level Echo Dot but not quite at the level of higher-end audio devices. It’s suitable for background music or podcasts, especially when getting ready in the morning.
The physical controls on the top include a mute button for the microphone and volume buttons. The Echo Spot’s microphones are quite sensitive and can pick up commands from across a room, making it a convenient addition to a bedroom or office.
Overall, the Amazon Echo Spot serves well as a smart alarm clock, offering basic smart assistant functionalities without the added complexity or privacy concerns of a camera. It integrates smoothly into Amazon’s ecosystem and provides a balance of features for those looking for a simple, voice-controlled device for their bedside table.