Amazon Echo Pop & Dot Hit Lowest Price in Months
▼ Summary
– Amazon’s Echo Pop and Echo Dot entry-level smart speakers are on sale at their lowest prices since June, available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
– The Echo Pop is Amazon’s cheapest smart speaker at $24.99, offering basic Alexa functions and smart home control but lacking a dedicated Alexa button.
– The Echo Pop can extend an Eero Wi-Fi network by up to 1,000 square feet and is compatible with the early-access Alexa Plus AI assistant.
– The fifth-generation Echo Dot, priced at $34.99, has better sound quality, built-in motion and temperature sensors, and serves as a more capable smart home hub.
– Both speakers are compatible with Alexa Plus and can function as Wi-Fi range extenders, with the Echo Dot being the better option for casual music listening.
Amazon’s entry-level smart speakers, the Echo Pop and Echo Dot, have just hit their lowest prices since June, making them an excellent buy ahead of October’s Prime Big Deal Days. These screen-free devices let you use Alexa to manage compatible smart home gadgets, set timers, and get updates on news, weather, and more. The same discounts are available at Best Buy and Target for shoppers who prefer those retailers.
The Echo Pop stands as Amazon’s most affordable smart speaker, currently on sale for $24.99, a $15 discount at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. While its audio quality won’t impress audiophiles, it handles voice responses and alarms clearly. You can operate smart plugs, light bulbs, thermostats, and even microwaves using voice commands. Unlike most Echo models, the Pop lacks a physical button for activating Alexa. It also supports Alexa Plus, Amazon’s generative AI-powered assistant currently in early access, though performance during testing has been inconsistent.
An added benefit is its ability to extend an Eero Wi-Fi network by up to 1,000 square feet with speeds reaching 100Mbps, effectively eliminating dead zones. For basic tasks like voice-controlled lighting or quick weather updates, the Echo Pop delivers reliable performance at a budget-friendly price.
Stepping up, the fifth-generation Echo Dot offers richer sound and enhanced smart home capabilities, now discounted to $34.99, also $15 off, at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. This model includes built-in motion and temperature sensors that can trigger compatible accessories, for example, switching on a fan if a room gets too warm. While you’ll need additional hardware to use these sensors fully, it’s convenient having a speaker prepared for extensive smart home integration.
Like the Pop, the latest Echo Dot works with Alexa Plus and can similarly boost Eero Wi-Fi coverage. In side-by-side comparisons, the Dot’s compact design produced noticeably better audio, particularly in bass response. For casual music listening, the Echo Dot is clearly the superior option. Given its current price, the fifth-generation Echo Dot represents one of the standout early October Prime Day deals available.
(Source: The Verge)
