Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) with Clock review: Good gets better with 'time'

Smart home speakers, which is a comparative niche market in India, is slowly picking up pace. Recently, Amazon launched a revamped edition of its Echo Dot smart home speaker with the addition of an LED clock to the device. Called Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) with Clock, it is priced at Rs 4,999. In India, the device comes in one colour variant -- White.

Here’s what we think about the device.

Design

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) with Clock has an almost a similar design as its predecessor. The device offers a circular design with fabric style grills on the sides. On the top are the four buttons placed circularly. Of the four, two are the volume control buttons while the other two are microphone mute and Alexa buttons. They are accompanied by microphones placed right next to them.


An only noticeable change is the addition of an LED clock. The LED turns warm when the lights of the room are turned off. At the back of the device is the charging/power port and a 3.55 aux audio outport which can be used to connect Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) with Clock to another speaker.

The device features an ergonomic design which is ideal for the bedroom, kitchen, desks and more. It comes with a power adaptor that needs to be plugged in always.


Performance

For starters, the device is simple to set up and use. An Amazon account and Alexa app on your phone are the two essentials, after which you are good to go. As the ring light around thia Echo Dot device turns orange, the device comes in setup mode. This is followed by a set of simple instructions that need to be completed via the Alexa app.

Like any smart home speaker, Amazon Echo Dot with Clock can switch On/Off the lights in your room. It can play music, give you information about weather and traffic details in your area. By setting up home and work locations in the Alexa app, one can obtain commute details like faster routes, the time it might take to travel and more. When asked about the weather, the device tells you about the current temperature at your set location and likely weather conditions in your area. Setting reminders, creating a to-do list are other useful functions of Echo Dot. It can also be used to make online purchases via Amazon, track orders and more.

The key highlight of this edition of Echo Dot is the addition of a clock that shows the time 24x7 using the LED display. As per Amazon, “Alexa, what is the time” is the most asked question to Alexa and hence the addition of LED display clock to the device. The new feature does come in handy and is definitely a good upgrade. Another new feature is the ability to tap on the device to snooze an alarm. This can be done with a single tap only.

One can also use Amazon Echo Dot to book an Ola cab for themselves using the ‘Ola Skills’. One simply needs to link his/her Ola account with the device using the Alexa app. We tried booking an Ola and the device simply got us an Ola cab without asking destination or any ride detail.

Features, like setting an alarm or getting traffic details, comes handy with the device. Once an alarm is set, a small dot appears on the display beside the time. Recognised voice is another feature that we found interesting. Using this feature, one can create a voice profile of its own. This enables Alexa to provide an enhanced personalized experience by learning your voice and call you by your name.

As far as connectivity is concerned, Amazon Echo Dot requires a working Wi-Fi system to function. The device offers far-field voice control. Although the device was kept in our room, Alexa was able to recognise voice commands from the kitchen as well.

On the calling front, the device manages to deliver good call quality. There is a dedicated microphone On/Off button on the top of the device. Then there are Drop-In and Brief Mode that were available on the previous generation as well.


Amazon Echo Dot with Clock offers almost the same sound output as its predecessor. The sound delivered was loud enough to fill a room. There are different sound levels ranging from 1 to 10. The device by default uses Amazon Music, Hungama Music, and Jio Saavn to play songs. However, one can customise the settings by linking to services like Gaana, Apple Music and TuneIn.

Verdict

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) with Clock is both durable and portable and flaunts a modern home design. From controlling lights to ACs to playing songs and setting reminders, the device can be categorised a ‘must-have’ gadget for a smart home. However, the device comes with a price tag of Rs 4,999 which is Rs 500 more than its predecessor. And as we mentioned before, this new edition is almost the same as its predecessor, except for the LED clock.

For those looking to buy a smart speaker for the first time, Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) with Clock is definitely a good choice. Although priced at Rs 4,999, it can be purchased for a lower price during Amazon sales. However, those already using the Echo Dot can skip the upgrade.