Verdict
An audio upgrade on the old model , the Amazon Echo Dot ( 5th generation ) is now a capable music speaker , as well as a not bad sassy speaker for saucy home restraint and general enquiries . Overall , this is the best note value impertinent speaker you may buy , although owner of the previous propagation will struggle to justify the upgrade .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
After the first Echo sassy speaker follow out , Amazon went on a spree of releasing Brobdingnagian numeral of new models on a yearly cycle . More recently , things have slowed down , and it ’s been a two - year wait for the Amazon Echo Dot ( fifth generation ) .
While nothing has switch on the outside , with the same spherical trunk , Amazon has modernize the utterer scheme , making this a far more accomplished all - round impertinent loudspeaker .
Design
The Amazon Echo Dot ( fifth generation ) reckon just like its predecessor . I do n’t have an number with that : the spherical pattern that Amazon introduce with theEcho Dot ( fourth Generation ) , looks as near today as it did when the product was launched two years ago .
About the same size of it as a baseball , this smart verbaliser is a great size and will fit middling much anywhere you ’d want to put it , from a bedside table to a kitchen sideboard .
This variation is useable in Charcoal , Glacier White and the rather fetching Deep Sea Blue I have on review here . Finished in a mild material , Amazon has got the balance post on with this gimmick : it has been designed to fit into a menage , rather than looking like a bit of tech . Amazon enjoin that 55 % of the materials are recycled and 95 % of the textile is reprocess .
There ’s the received button layout on this model , too , with book ascendancy key , a microphone mute button for concealment and an action button that stupefy the utterer mind for voice command without having to say ‘ Alexa ’ first .
As with last yr ’s model , the light ring is at the bottom of the utterer . It radiate different colour , depending on what the talker is trying to show : chicken for notifications and gloomy when Alexa is listen , for instance . I like the means that the ring alight up in segments as the volume is increased or decreased , too .
The light ring at the bottom make a great deal of sense , too . In this placement , it ’s easygoing to see , but it does n’t light up the room in such a distracting way as on elderly Echo devices when the light was placed on top .
Gone from this modeling is the 3.5 millimetre output , although the Amazon Echo Dot ( 5th coevals ) can be plug in to an external speaker via Bluetooth , or used as a Bluetooth speaker itself . I do n’t miss the audio output , and if you did want to plume an Echo up to more powerful audio recording , you could pick up the Amazon Echo Flex alternatively .
Features
There are some new tap controls built into the Amazon Echo Dot ( 5th generation ) . If an alarm goes off , a quick spigot on top can quieten the speaker , order it into catnap mode . That ’s useful for a sleepy morning , but it would be even better if there was a pat legal action to wrick off the warning machine altogether without saying , “ Alexa , stop . ”
rap activity can be used to play and pause music , which is often more convenient than using a representative instruction .
In the US , the speaker mould with Amazon Eero , acting as an additional Wi - Fi guest to increase insurance coverage , but that ’s not an option in the UK , which is a disgrace .
Low - power mode has been improved . Previously , speakers would n’t accede this mode is Spotify was linked , but that ’s no longer list as a confinement . Only Echo speakers in Eero mode or those with move detecting preferences , ca n’t go into low - top executive mode .
raw to this model is a built - in temperature sensor , which was antecedently only available on the Echo ( 4th Generation ) . This can be used to create Alexa Routines that automatically bleed agree to the temperature , such as turn on a wise devotee when it gets red-hot .
This speaker also has Ultrasound Motion Detection built - in , which can be used in modus operandi , say turn on a lighting when motion is detected , or turning off the heating system when motion is not detected . Due to the way that Ultrasound make for , it ’s better at picking up big motion ( walking around a room ) rather than small movements ( wave a hand about ) . look on what you want to achieve , you may need a traditional PIR motion sensor for routines that require more sensitivity .
Otherwise , it ’s business as usual with Alexa melt down in the swarm . As myguide to Amazon Alexagoes into more detail , I wo n’t plunge too deep into what the voice assistant can and ca n’t do here . In summary , Alexa is now very mature and respond well to most queries .
Smart household accompaniment is splendid , with Alexa still coming out on top for both the range of supported devices , and the reflexive routine you’re able to work up .
Alexa has closed the crack slightly on the Google Assistant , and now has pretty good local business search and traffic updates . Plus , Alexa is better for communicating : you could link a Vodafone or EE earpiece issue to make and pick up calls , or you could just make destitute UK land line and Mobile River calls directly .
Sound quality
Although the Amazon Echo Dot ( 5th generation ) is not any bigger than its predecessor , there ’s a declamatory 1.73 - inch front - firing talker ( the previous generation had a 1.6 - in speaker ) . The difference is impressive .
While the sure-enough speaker fight with more demanding tracks , the Amazon Echo Dot ( fifth genesis ) sounds a caboodle better . There ’s now a lot more bass part , with the speaker delivering more of a thump than its forerunner .
It still struggles a picayune with very bass - sullen racecourse , such as OK Go’sAll This Too Shall Pass , with a slightly woolly-headed mix of audio , but the Brobdingnagian majority of songs fathom pretty skillful . Overall , Amazon has ameliorate the correspondence , with the Amazon Echo Dot ( 5th generation ) extradite smooth , less abrasive audio .
Range is n’t as good as with the standard Echo speaker and some racecourse and the high - terminal is a fiddling indistinct . However , for the price , this smart loudspeaker system delivers a surprisingly full audio experience to the point where I ’d more gayly listen to euphony on this speaker unit , which is not something I ever intend I ’d say about an Echo Dot speaker .
As with the old propagation , if you buy two Amazon Echo Dot ( 5th contemporaries ) speakers , you could make a stereophonic system pair , which give better stereo separation .
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Should you buy it?
If you ’re in the market for a new smart speaker , the balance wheel of price , feature article and sound quality are surd to scramble .
If you want the expert music experience there are better sounding wise speaker system . Those with the previous generation wo n’t see much reason to elevate .
Final Thoughts
The Amazon Echo Dot ( fifth generation ) is a definite advance over its predecessor , with the tap controls giving a spacious chain of control and the improved sound making this a half - nice medicine utterer . Overall , this is the good all - rotund smart speaker for the money ; even though the Amazon Echo Dot ( fifth genesis ) costs £ 5 more than its predecessor , it ’s still corking value .
There ’s also a novel competitor from Amazon , theEcho dada , which costs £ 15 less . This new impudent speaker does n’t go as respectable , does n’t have the temperature or motion sensors , and does n’t have rap - ascendency . Overall , I would n’t bother with the Pop and would buy the Echo Dot any Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
For those with an Amazon Echo Dot ( quaternary generation ) there ’s no reason to upgrade , and those that desire a bedside companion may favor the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock ( 5th multiplication ) .
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FAQs
The new model has a larger speaker , improved hydrant ascendency but it mislay the 3.5 mm audio yield .
Yes it can , and it can also send off audio frequency via Bluetooth to an external speaker .
