Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen Review: A Totally Smart Speaker

Currently, the voice assistant Alexa can be found on various devices, but it all started with the smart speaker Echo, and now the company has released the 5th generation of this gadget. The Amazon Echo Dot 5th generation, which replaces the previous model, is now rightly considered the most technically advanced speaker in the Echo series. Let’s take a closer look at this new product and explore the functional and technical capabilities of the smart speaker.

Design

The Echo Dot 5th generation retains the previous spherical design and is available in blue, white, and black colors. The device, slightly larger than a tennis ball, features volume controls on its top, as well as a microphone mute button and a key to summon the voice assistant Alexa.

According to the manufacturer, the speaker promises “more powerful sound and smarter control,” which is significant given its small size. During testing, the speaker was indeed able to live up to its claimed sound capabilities. The speaker delivers a rich, room-filling sound, and although it still lacks a bit in bass, the sound is surprisingly good. Since the device is small, a display reflecting the clock was not installed on it, and unfortunately, there is also no 3.5 mm audio output. To pair with the user’s smartphone or laptop, the speaker uses a wireless Bluetooth interface.

Alexa

The Alexa assistant, like any other similar analog, is quite simple to use; it is activated by saying the trigger word and is immediately ready to respond to voice commands. In addition to handling standard requests such as weather information and news, setting alarms and reminders, like any other assistant, this version is capable of answering any questions, including the most silly or provocative ones like: “Alexa, will you marry me?”. One of the main uses of the gadget, of course, is music playback, which it does quite well, and the enhanced sound quality brings positive emotions.

Additional temperature and motion sensors

Another important aspect of the Echo smart speaker is the control of compatible smart home devices integrated into a single ecosystem. The 5th generation Echo Dot has a feature that, in my opinion, is quite useful for integration into the smart home system – it is the motion and temperature detection sensors. They, combined with Alexa’s functionality, help to make the most productive use of the gadgets and functions under control.

In other words, the 5th generation Echo Dot is equipped with a motion detection sensor that is triggered by a person’s movement nearby, for example, when a person enters the room where the device is located. And since this motion detection can be used as a trigger in the Alexa routine, the user can tie specific actions to this event, such as notification alerts or turning on an Alexa-compatible smart light bulb. Additionally, the gadget can function as a home security device when the user is not at home.

Similarly, the Echo Dot 5th generation is equipped with a temperature sensor, and the user can similarly set up certain procedures in the Alexa app. For example, it becomes possible to set up the activation of a smart air purifier or an Alexa-enabled air conditioner when the indoor temperature reaches a certain level.

At the same time, it is worth noting that the Echo Dot only detects significant movement (for example, when someone enters the room), and not small movements, such as when someone is working on a laptop or reading a book. However, the sensitivity of motion detection can be adjusted to meet the individual needs of the user.

Conclusion

A small smart speaker with powerful sound and a set of excellent smart capabilities — this is the Amazon Echo Dot 5th generation, and the motion and temperature detection sensors add a new level of intelligence to the functionality of this gadget.

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