I would like to think that Amazon’s smart assistant Alexa is a key component of the smart home device ecosystem in the country. Alexa can of course be found in many devices these days, but the Echo smart speaker is where it all began, and the newest member of the group comes in the form of the fifth-generation Echo Dot. Replacing the previous generation model, this baby comes off as an affordable Echo speaker and, as such, has big shoes to fill.
The Echo Dot 5th-gen retains the spherical design from before and comes in blue, white and black. Slightly larger than a cricket ball, the device comes with volume controls on top, along with a microphone off button and a switch for calling Alexa. The soundbar promises “bigger sound and smarter controls,” which isn’t to say it’s weak in mind. And having used it for a bit, I can certainly vouch for its audio capabilities. The speaker puts out rich, room-filling sound, and although the bass is still a bit lacking, the sound is surprisingly good for a speaker this size. There’s no clock display on this device, and unfortunately, there’s no 3.5mm audio output either, but you do get Bluetooth to pair your phone or laptop, if you want to do so.
Alexa, of course, is easy to use, and the smart assistant just keeps getting better and better. You can say a nudge word to wake her up and make her respond to voice commands, and as always, she can handle most queries and respond with her soulful voice — from getting weather and news updates, to setting alarms and reminders, to cheeky responses to dumb questions like, “Alexa, will you marry me?” ” She has an answer for everything. One of the main use cases is playing music, which it does quite well, and the improved sound quality adds to the experience.
Another major aspect of the Echo smart speaker is the control of compatible smart home devices, and there is a healthy ecosystem of devices that it can work with. The Echo Dot 5th-gen brings with it a feature that I think is pretty cool and promises to add to your smart home setup in a big way. I’m referring to the motion and temperature sensors, which, when combined with the incredibly useful Alexa Routines, can help automate a variety of things around the home, depending on what you want to accomplish and other Alexa-enabled devices. . Let me explain.
The Echo Dot 5th-gen features a motion detection sensor that can detect movement in close proximity, for example when a person enters the room where the device is placed. And since this motion detection can be used as a trigger in an Alexa routine, you can use it to perform certain actions — like alerting you with a notification or turning on an Alexa-enabled smart bulb. So it can act as a home security device when you’re away, or turn on a light automatically when you enter a room. Similarly, the Echo Dot 5th-gen also features a temperature sensor, and as I mentioned above, you can set up custom actions in the Alexa app to accomplish different tasks. For example, you can set up a routine to turn on an Alexa-compatible smart air purifier or air conditioner when the room temperature reaches 27 degrees. Some of these things, like the air conditioner I just mentioned, may sound completely fancy, but you should know that you don’t necessarily need to buy an Alexa-ready air conditioner for this purpose — your existing air conditioners can be made smart and Alexa-compatible in simple, affordable ways. If you have AC that plugs into a wall outlet for example, you can get a smart plug that works with Alexa. And if you have an air conditioner with indoor wiring, you can get smart keys to replace your existing ones. Or do what I did – buy a universal smart remote control that can control your air conditioner using infrared rays. Again, let me stress that some of this sounds more complicated or expensive than it actually is.
Coming back to the topic at hand, the capabilities of the Echo Dot can be very useful, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the possibilities are endless. I’ve tried the routines I mentioned above with a 5th generation Echo Dot myself, and I think they work reasonably well. One needs to keep a few things in mind – like the fact that the Echo Dot can only detect significant movement (someone entering a room for example), not small movements like someone working on a laptop or reading a book. Also, routines run once every 30 minutes, so you can’t expect alerts frequently. It’s worth noting that motion detection sensitivity can be customized and you can find this option under your Echo Dot’s settings in the Alexa app, and you’ll need to experiment with it yourself to see what works best for you.
to rule
So, a small smart speaker with loud sound and some great capabilities is how I would sum up the 5th generation Amazon Echo Dot. It’s affordable too, carrying a sticker price of Rs 5,499… and could be a great starting point if you’re just starting to explore the world of smart speakers and add audio capabilities to smart home devices like smart lights and plugs. Motion and temperature sensors add an extra layer of smarts to the setup, provided you can take advantage of them, making it a device worth considering in your accommodation.
Editor’s rating: 4/5
Positives:
- Good sound
- compact design
- Useful sensors for motion and temperature
