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Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Specifications

Design: We appreciate the variety of colors

The Echo Dot and Echo Pop are almost identical in size, but the Echo Dot features a round shape, while the Echo Pop boasts a flat front. It essentially resembles a cross-section of the Dot.

The Echo Dot (left) and Echo Pop (right) — as observed, the Dot has been touched by toddler spaghetti fingers. Credit: SaVAnna Shoemaker / Mashable

The Echo Dot presents in three fairly subdued colors (gray, white, and blue), but the Echo Pop shines with more vibrant options (lavender and teal alongside gray and white).

Overall, I prefer the look of the Echo Pop slightly more. The vivid colors introduce a playful touch to a corner shelf. The Pop can act as a more subtle Alexa assistant than the Echo Dot (which is widely recognized as a smart home device).

Both exhibit a contemporary, stylish design that can seamlessly complement or integrate into your home decor.

Winner: Echo Pop

Setup and user-friendliness

Amazon has simplified the setup of these devices significantly. You will need the Alexa app on your smartphone, which guides you through the setup process step-by-step. The app is also where you’ll connect other services like Spotify or Audible to stream them on your Echo devices via Alexa voice commands.

SEE ALSO: Echo vs. Echo Dot: Which Amazon gadget should you purchase?

The devices themselves are also quite intuitive. The physical buttons allow you to mute and unmute the microphone as well as adjust the volume. All other functions can be controlled via voice commands or through the Alexa app. I encountered no issues setting up either device, and both reacted promptly to my “Hey, Alexa’s.”

Winner: Tie

Sound quality is nearly identical

Amazon describes the Echo Pop’s audio as a “full sound” suitable for bedrooms and small areas, while the Echo Dot’s audio is characterized as a “larger vibrant sound” for any space.

In my comparisons between the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop, I could not perceive a difference in audio quality between the two gadgets. Both performed excellently for playing background music in my office or listening to podcasts while managing household tasks, delivering richer, clearer sound and greater volume compared to my smartphone.

The Echo Pop has a slightly larger speaker. However, the Dot’s round form can help it project sound into a space regardless of where it’s positioned.

Winner: Echo Dot

Alexa integration and smart home compatibility

Both the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop connect with Alexa through the Amazon Alexa app. You can utilize Alexa to inquire about various topics, check the weather, set timers and alarms, and launch connected applications (such as music or streaming services including Spotify, Pandora, Audible, and Amazon Music).

Personally, I have always found Alexa devices particularly useful in the office and the kitchen. They provide a hands-free, screen-free method to set timers (for productivity or pizza) or stream audio. A centrally-located Echo device is also an excellent way to declutter your mental load. I’ve utilized Alexa to remind me to water my plants, send birthday cards, and check the water level in the swimming pool at regular intervals while filling it for the season.

However, the Echo Dot surpasses the Echo Pop in two significant aspects: temperature sensing and motion detection. Therefore, your Echo Dot can execute Alexa Routines that involve temperature or motion, while the Echo Pop cannot. Examples include:

– The Echo Dot can modify your smart thermostat settings when it detects a specific temperature
– The Echo Dot can activate smart lightbulbs upon detecting motion in a space

Winner: Echo Dot

Considering extra features

Both the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop can function as WiFi extenders if you have an existing Amazon Eero network, providing up to 1,000 square feet of additional WiFi coverage.

Nevertheless, once again the Echo Dot surpasses the Echo Pop regarding additional features. As noted earlier, the Dot is equipped with motion and temperature detection capabilities.

Winner: Echo Dot