Amazon has a number of Echo devices so picking the right one for your home is no easy feat. The Echo Dot has long been heralded as one of the most affordable Alexa speakers available, and perfect for smaller rooms, hallways or offices.
The Echo Pop was then introduced, offering a number of the same standard features as the Dot, but at a cheaper price point and in more exciting colour offerings. It does lack a couple of the Dot’s functions however and that’s what we are diving into here.
If you’re trying to decide between Echo Dot and the Echo Pop, we have you covered. This is how the two compare and what the differences are between the entry-level Alexa speakers.
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: Price
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation) launched in 2022 and it costs $49.99 / £54.99. The Echo Pop meanwhile, was released in 2023 and it costs $39.99 / £44.99 so there isn’t a huge difference in price between these two devices.
As you would expect, you can find both on Amazon and in a selection of countries, including the US and UK.
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: Design
The Echo Dot and Echo Pop might both be small Alexa speakers, but they have quite clear design distinctions, setting them apart from each other. The Echo Dot offers a spherical form factor, while the Echo Pop has what Amazon calls a semi-sphere design thanks to its flat front and domed rear.
Both speakers feature LEDs to indicate activity, but you’ll find them in different places. The Echo Dot features an illuminated ring encircling its base, whereas the Echo Pop sports a small illuminated section on the top when it is being used.
Elsewhere, both speakers respond to the “Alexa” wake word â as you would expect â and they feature volume controls and microphone mute buttons too. The Amazon Echo Dot offers an additional button compared to the Echo Pop however â known as the Echo button. This button allows for a number of handy features, including activating Alexa without saying her name, managing incoming calls, and programming compatible smart home devices.
In terms of color options, there are some notable differences here too. The Echo Dot comes in Charcoal, Glacier White, and Deep Sea Blue. The Echo Pop opts for a more vibrant approach with Lavender Bloom, Midnight Teal, Classic Grey, and White, all options. It doesn’t stop there however, as the Echo Pop also offers silicone sleeves in Blue, Red, Orange, Grey, Lilac, Purple, and Glow in the Dark variants, making it perfect for the little people in the home or adding a slash of color to the living room.
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: Sound quality
The Echo Dot (5th generation) packs a punch with a 1.73-inch driver under its hood, generating decent bass despite its compact size. Its 360-degree design enables it to disperses sound evenly adapts well to various room setups.
In contrast, the Echo Pop houses a larger 1.95-inch speaker inside, though size doesn’t always matter. The Echo Pop is optimized for small spaces with forward-facing sound projection however, and it’s perfect for smaller areas or when you just want to put a track on while cooking dinner, rather than entertaining. Pop the Pop in a corner, on a shelf, or on a bedside table and it will serve you well, but expect it to pump out enough for a room full of people and you’ll be disappointed.
For those prioritizing sound quality therefore, the Echo Dot reigns supreme, providing richer, more immersive audio that fills the room. The Echo Pop caters better to quieter environments and solo listening experiences, lacking the room-filling capabilities of its counterpart, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a place in the home â it just depends on what you’re looking for from your mini Alexa speaker.
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: Alexa and smart home features
While their designs and sound architecture may be different, both the Amazon Echo Pop and the Echo Dot run on the same processor â the AZ2 Neural Edge processor. That means you get pretty much the same experience from both when you’re talking about response times from Alexa and accuracy in her voice recognition. You also get pretty much the same features across both, whether you’re asking about the weather or demanding your lights to be turned off, as both use Alexa’s universal capabilities.
The other feature both the Echo Pop and Echo Dot offer is the ability to act as extenders for those using Amazon’s Eero mesh network. Of course, this is more of a niche feature for now, but if you are using Eero, the Echo Pop or Echo Dot can offer an additional 1,000 square feet of coverage, which is no small feat.
As with the design and sound however, there are some extra differences in terms of features. Not all Echo speakers are created equal after all. The Echo Dot incorporates a temperature sensor and accelerometer, allowing for temperature-based automations and reporting room temperatures. It can also be utilized to deactivate alarms, and it serves as a Zigbee hub, facilitating direct control of compatible smart home devices without the need for a central hub. The Echo Pop doesn’t have these features so it is slightly less capable overall, but that is reflected in its price.
Echo Pop vs Echo Dot: Verdict
The Echo Pop and Echo Dot are both small Alexa speakers, and with them both comes the vast capabilities offered by Amazon’s smart assistant. The Echo Pop is more exciting in terms of its colour offerings, and it is perfect for a child’s bedroom, for example, offering up good sound and features from its small package at a budget price point.
The Echo Dot is more capable â not just in terms of sound performance, but features too. It has the extra sensors on board, and the extra Echo control button, which adds a couple more strings to its bow. Neither will be capable of pumping the music over a room full of people â look at the Echo Studio for that â but both will give you Alexa capabilities in a small and compact format, with the Echo Dot offering up a couple of extras.
