Echo Dot (5th generation, 2022 release) | Big vibrant sound Wi-Fi and Bluetooth smart speaker with Alexa | Charcoal

Product Information

If you own other smart devices that support Alexa, you can set up and control them through your Echo Dot. However, a device that "Supports Alexa" or "Works with Alexa" won't share the same features and capabilities. The best part of the Echo Dot is how easily it does menial tasks you’d normally need to pull out your phone for. Of course, you need to be close enough to your Echo Dot that it can pick up your voice---it works best when you're within 10 meters. While you’ll use voice commands most of the time with the Echo Dot, we appreciate voice isn’t the only method.

With the features and skills that we mentioned earlier, you'll see how valuable and fun Alexa can be. For starters, to keep it simple, use your Echo Dot as an alarm clock, to play music, to set reminders, and to create to-do lists. You can ask Alexa for a weather report as you're getting ready in the morning so that you'll know what to wear.The virtual assistant is more capable than you might think, so don't be afraid to ask complex or difficult questions.

It’s a bit more civilized than yelling across the house and significantly cheaper than installing an actual intercom system. Alexa will scrape the web and gather reliable information to answer any questions that you might have. For recipes, Alexa will verbally list the steps to follow a recipe or ask to send the recipe to your phone---so you can watch or read it there. Christina Bonnington is a tech reporter who specializes in consumer gadgets, apps, and the trends shaping the technology industry. Particularly if you already have one or more Alexa-enabled devices in your abode but want to expand.However, for a low profile device, Dot’s cloth covering is harder to clean than the original plastic. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the smart home market, the Echo Dot is a great place to start. While it can be controlled by voice and the Alexa app, the Dot also has physical power, mute, and volume controls on top. We highly recommend it, although the larger Echos offer better sound quality, if that's what you're looking for. Yes, you can control the smart plug with Alexa, but you won't be able to talk to the plug to use any of Alexa's features or skills.