The Echo Dot is designed to be an affordable and versatile smart speaker that can control smart home devices, play music, answer questions, and interact with various Alexa skills. In 2022, it received an update that included an optional clock.
The Echo Pop is the entry-level Alexa smart speaker in this brand’s lineup. Its signature features let you do various tasks, including run timers and stream music.
Although there are similarities between the two Amazon products, it is essential to explore their differences to ensure you’re purchasing the best option for your home or daily needs.
What Are The Main Differences?
1. Shape and Color
The Echo Pop offers four color choices while delivering a new semi-spherical aesthetic that looks more like a traditional wall speaker. When you work with the Echo Dot, you have a product that looks like a hockey puck with the older models. In 2020, Amazon updated the look to be more spherical, including three color choices.
You can purchase silicon sleeves for the Echo Pop to change its look for an additional cost.
Both have LED illumination, though the Echo Dot has it around the ring. The Echo Pop puts a small section at the top of the device.
2. Sound Quality
The latest Echo Dot uses a 1.73-inch driver, while the Echo Pop offers a slightly larger one at 1.93 inches. Amazon says the larger speaker delivers a full sound for virtually any bedroom or small space in the home.
With the Echo Dot, you’ll get more sound in the lower end of the audio spectrum. That lets it fill a living room or entertainment area without having the mids sound tinny.
Both products do a reasonably good job of replicating audio performances, but neither reaches audiophile quality.
3. Connectivity
The Echo Dot and Echo Pop use Amazon’s AZ2 Neural Edge processor. That allows both products to deliver a similar Alexa experience. The response times are quick, and the voice recognition abilities are quite reliable.
When looking at differences in this category, the Echo Dot has extra sensors that provide more information. It comes with an accelerometer and a temperature sensor, so you can create temp-based automation, like tapping the product to stop an alarm.
4. Price
The Echo Dot is in its fifth generation. It comes with an MSRP of $49.99, but Amazon often discounts this price during sales promotions. You can often save 20% or more, especially near Prime Day.
As for the Echo Pop, it retails at $39.99. That makes it the most affordable speaker in Amazon’s lineup when everything is charged at the MSRP rate.
5. Audio Projection
The Echo Dot uses its spherical design to project audio outward in all directions. This shape helps it fill a space evenly, especially in the middle of the room. With the Echo Pop, you have a directional design that works better in a corner or against a wall.
Both Amazon devices perform as expected, which means the choice is yours. By examining the differences between the Echo Pop and Echo Dot, you can select the one that best meets your needs.